See the World in Shades of Gray or White, or Aqua, Or…
One way to create the illusion that your living room extends on and on—in every direction—is to pick similar colors for the walls, trim and doors. Your gaze will continue from one corner of the space to another. Think about it: A navy door on an off-white wall smacks you in the face with a big “Notice me,” whereas a cream door on the same wall blends right in.
Give Your Bookshelves a Growth Spurt
A store-bought bookshelf can end up looking a bit stumpy because, invariably, there are a few inches (or a couple feet) of empty space between its top and your ceiling. That gap can make your living room seem punier than it actually is, because your eyes stop where the shelves stop, which makes your ceiling seem lower than it, is. Add a piece of crown molding to the top of your bookcase to fill the gap, or a custom-built shelf or two to go on top, if it’s a larger space (either option will be cheaper than getting the entire thing made to order). Another space-expander is to attach a mirror to the back wall of the bookcase to make each shelf appear deeper and reflect the room’s light.
Look Up, Way Up
You’ve heard it before—hang your curtains as high as you can—and if you really want to maximize this effect, you’ll want to remember one particular style, Grommet-topped drapes let your window treatments practically kiss the ceiling, since the curtain rod basically threads through the fabric like a shish kabob, drawing the eyes up. This technique won’t make an 8-foot ceiling feel like a cathedral, but it will make you feel as if you have a bit more head room.
