Optical Effect in Interior Design

Change the color of the walls and ceiling. Paint with white, light cream, eggshell or light neutral colors. The absence of color will create a larger looking space. Conversely, if you want to create a more confined feel for a room, opt for dark paint such as dark blue, deep red, dark brown of forest green. Paint the ceiling white to make it look higher.

Install white ceiling fans with white blades, to make the top of the room appear to be in motion. The fluid movement of the ceiling fan blades makes the room seem larger.

Change the carpeting. White, cream, light beige or taupe will open up the room. The visual effect of light carpeting works with light colored walls to make a room appear larger. Dark colored carpeting will cause the floor to look closer to the ceiling, making it appear that the ceiling is lower.

Reupholster furniture, soft-sided couches, chairs and love seats with light fabric to open up a room. Using solid colors or muted prints further adds to the illusion by not visually distracting from the space as a whole. Fabric in bright, bold and noticeable patterns causes the furniture to contrast with light walls to add spacial distinction. A room with white walls, ceiling and flooring will appear larger. Adding a white couch makes the space appear to be endless, and using a bright red couch will break up the space with the illusion of a partition. Using a bright piece of furniture as a room divider is another way to optically create the effect of room angles.

Install mirrors on walls to create the effect of a continuing space. Mirrors, especially when used in conjunction with bright lighting, create an area which appears to be never ending at points. Hanging a large mirror behind a couch makes walls appear to extend far beyond the physical space. Additional glass decorations, small mirrors and mirrored accent pieces can also enhance the open effect created by reflective surfaces.