Whether you are dealing with a small apartment in an urban setting or are simply trying to maximize a space you already have, a key part of design is creating a sense of expansiveness. While it is a very common misconception that in order to have a sense of expansiveness you have to have space, the truth of the matter is that this simply is not true. At Stephanie Kratz Interiors, we make use of all of our knowledge and expertise in order to create a sense of expansiveness in a space.

5 Expert Strategies for Expanding Your Space:

• Embrace Reflective Surfaces: Add elements in your room that can reflect light.

This will include not just mirrors but such things as lacquered cabinetry with a high gloss finish, stone floors polished to a mirror-like shine, tabletops of glass, and mirrored walls. Reflection creates the quickest way to double a room’s depth.

• Master Verticality: Use design elements to draw attention to verticality.

Techniques include using floor-to-ceiling draping, vertical wall treatment with paneling, and using tall lamps make your room look taller. Drawing attention upwards will give an immediate sense of a room being large when in reality it is not.

• Maintain Cohesive Color Flow: Using a single light color.

Using a single light color on different bodies such as walls, doors, and major pieces of furniture will create a seamless boundary for the room. Perhaps this is one of the most effective ways of creating an impression of a room with no boundary.

• Prioritize Multi-Functional Furnishings: All furniture must have a purpose and be proportionate.

Use elevated-leg furniture to allow views of a room's floors, and pick items with storage capacity to address visual congestion.

• Leverage the Power of Light: Maximize light by not using heavy window coverings.

In addition to this, strategic light can remove dark corners in a room. Dark corners make a room appear smaller compared to light strategized angles in a room that make a room appear larger. To achieve these methods, you need accuracy and knowledge of space architecture.