Anna Tobin is an interiors stylist. And she's here to help.
She runs the small space interiors blog Don’t Cramp Our Style, and here are her top tips for making a weeny home feel more spacious.
Lift furniture:
Opt for beds, sofas, kitchen units, sinks and baths that are raised up on legs or hung from a wall, so that the eye can see the floor beneath them. The more floor area that can be seen, the larger each of your rooms will appear. you can read more tips about fooling the eye here.
Go see-through:
Follow the transparent furniture trend; being able to see through chairs, tables and sideboards will again lead the eye further into the room and help make your space feel larger than it is. It's true - see-through furniture is a big thing. Here's how to make the most of this new trend.
Go bespoke:
When you live in a tight space, every inch matters. While you may save money by buying furniture off the shelf, this may be at the cost of storage space. Investing in a couple of built-in wardrobes that go from floor to ceiling will give you that extra valuable space. Go for a simple handleless design in the same colour as your walls, so that the units blend into the background.
Multi-task your furniture:
There is a lot of clever furniture around at the moment. My favourites include console tables that can be pulled out to seat 12, chairs that fold up to look like artwork when hung on the wall, sofas that become beds, and wall units that open out into desks; however, there are loads more out there. Look for products that have multiple uses - they will save space.
Be reflective:
Cleverly position mirrors opposite windows or entrances to rooms - they will bounce more light around, and looking into the room's reflection will double its size. Carefully positioned mirrored furniture will have the same impact, and in kitchens and bathrooms mirrored tiles can be very effective in adding depth.
Lighten up:
Light colours will appear to push the walls of your home out, while dark colours draw them in. Avoid dull and dingy shades in everything from wall paint to carpets, duvets to kitchen units, cushions to vases. Go over to the light side and open your rooms up!
Image credit: Flickr, with thanks to Stacie and denise carbonell