Expand without major renovations!

Did you know that is it possible to expand your rooms without undertaking major renovations? Here are some tips and tricks to offer a great effect to your home.

Colors

Origin ceramic in colour Sand	Harmony grade Maple hardwood floor in colour Beige 042

Your rooms are directly impacted by the colour affixed on your walls. Is it therefore necessary to choose your paint wisely. Pale and cold colours offer lightness and space to your rooms while warm and dark shades make the opposite effect. Light colours create the illusion that the walls are moving away from each other, and the room appears more spacious than it is. Dark shades, on the other hand, absorb the brightness which gives the impression that the walls are closer. For maximum enlarging effect, choose cool shades and light colours!

Lux ceramic in colour Bianco	Belgrade vinyl planks in colour Caraway

Tip: paint your molding the same colour as your wall or opt for a slight colour difference. The tone on tone allows an effect of extension of the walls and provides an impression of height to the room.

Materials

Which flooring should I choose? If you opt for ceramic, choose large format tiles. The joints between the tiles being less present, it lightens the look by offering a more uniform visual. Just like the colour of your walls, don't select tiles that are too dark! You should also avoid ceramics with a lot of texture and patterns. If you want the chic and timeless look of marble, favor a ceramic with delicate and subtle veining to prevent a visual overload. As for the finish, prioritize a shiny or glossy finish, it will be your ally by reflecting light!

Carrara ceramic in colour Bianco	Gemstone ceramic in colour White

For wood floors, select a light shade and set your sights on wide planks. Hardwood and engineered wood planks are manufactured increasingly wider and this offers an elegant aesthetic while providing a feeling of spaciousness to the spaces where they are installed.

Nouveau 6 White Oak engineered wood flooring in colour Valencia	Solidclassic Shade Red Oak hardwood floor in colour Ice

When it comes to wall tiles, stick to pale shades, they stay your best option! For installation, favor a vertical pose, it will remain beautiful over the years, and it gives the impression that the ceiling is higher.

Aquarelle & Aquarelle Oval wall tiles in colour Greige	Multiforme wall tiles in colour Talco

Decoration

The watchword for decoration: refined! Clutter makes rooms appear smaller than they really are. Each item must therefore be well chosen and have its own space. The mirror is a decorative element that you should not neglect. Objects or furniture with a mirror finish as well as the use of mirrors will provide a spacious effect. They are aesthetic, but they also allow you to change the appearance of your rooms. Use a ceiling-to-floor mirror and it will add a sense of height and make it look much airier.

Sahara ceramic in colour White	Onda Costa Nova wall tiles in colour Pink Stoney

Window coverings should not be chosen randomly! If you opt for blinds or shades, it is important that they blend in with the decor; tone on tone is once again to be favored. If you choose curtains instead, stop your choice on pale and light fabrics. White sheer curtains remain the simplest and most effective option. Install them as close to the ceiling as possible and let them drop to the floor. For a maximum effect, it is also suggested that they be a few centimeters wider than the window frame. If your room and the windows allow it, make a complete wall of sheers, small rooms are the perfect place for this!

Bolzanie laminate floor in colour Boreale	Norr ceramic in colour Melk

Brightness is an important element for the ambiance of a room, darker places must benefit from extra lighting. It is therefore imperative to multiply the sources of light for a successful space effect. Add recessed lights and table lamps to dimly lit rooms. However, avoid floor lamps they give the impression that the ceiling is lower than it is and tend to crush the room.

Cool ceramic in colour Ghost	Deco Anthology ceramic in colour Grey & Etnic B Light Blue

 When the room is small, wall space is something tempting to use. Nevertheless, it is necessary to find a middle ground. A wall that is too loaded won't create the desired effect, choose a space where the decorative wall elements will be installed and leave the other walls empty.

Furniture

Métropolis vinyl sheet in colour Otelo White	Koru ceramic in colour Apple

Furniture size plays an important role in a room. Choose small furniture and try to create straight lines. Clawfoot options or those that can be installed on walls are preferred. Sofas or beds are rather massive pieces and when they are clawfoot, they provide an open effect and make the room lighter. Avoid furniture that is too high, they cut the space and give the impression that the ceiling is low. The chosen colour will also have a big impact on the look, just as with the other decorative elements, choose pale colours. If possible, consider reducing the amount of furniture and select multifunctional pieces! A sofa bed or an ottoman that serves both as a sitting area and as a coffee table are some examples that can save you space daily.

In the dining room, reduce the number of chairs around the table, this will provide better circulation space. If your table is rectangular, remove the chairs that are at each end and if it is round or square, keep only four chairs. 

Advance ceramic in colour Vision	Bombay II vinyl sheet in colour Acme Beige

Leave a clear path, the space between furniture is just as important and it will play a crutial role in the visuel effect you want to bring to your rooms. Empty spaces will not only help divide the sections of your home, it will also increase the fluidity of the decor.

Tarzy vinyl sheet in colour Patagonia T34	Genesis Nature vinyl planks in colour Lincoln

It is important to know how to design your home to feel good there! If you want additionnal advice visit our in-store experts in one of our 37 stores accross Quebec and New Brunswick.