While a cozy space has its merits, many homeowners want their rooms to feel open and spacious. Thankfully, you don’t have to tear down walls or complete a major renovation to make your room look larger. There are ways to create the illusion of spaciousness just by choosing the right windows for your Michigan home.
Here are some tips to help you use windows to make a room look larger.
You might assume a small window would be the best choice for a small room, but in fact, the opposite is true. A larger window, such as a picture window that takes up the majority of one wall, makes a smaller room feel more spacious. There are two reasons for this. First, the larger the window, the more of the outdoors you see. It feels like the outdoor views you see are part of the space, which makes your space feel larger. Second, a larger window lets in more natural sunlight, which illuminates dark corners and makes the space feel more open.
When choosing colors for your window frames and sashes, opt for the same color as your walls. This allows your eye to float seamlessly from the wall to the window, which helps make the outdoor view feel more like part of the room. As always, lighter colors are best in a small space, so stick with options like white, cream, and pale gray.
If your goal is to use windows to make a room look larger, you want to choose shades, blinds, or drapes with a simple design. Stay away from bold patterns or complex geometric designs. If you’re hanging drapes, solid colors tend to be the best choice as they add a pop of color without causing the eye to linger on them for too long. If shades or blinds are more your style, stick with delicate options – like thin mini–blinds or a simple shade with a rounded edge.
Grilles have their place, and they can certainly add character to a window. However, they’re often associated with a cozy, quaint look. If you’re trying to make a room in your Michigan home look more spacious, wide–open windows without any grilles – just plain panels of glass – are the best choice. That being said, if you follow the other tips in this article and find that your room looks spacious enough, you may be able to get away with adding a grille.
The secret to making a space look larger is to keep the “clutter” to a minimum. In other words, this is not the right place to use numerous accent windows or a trio of identical miniature casement windows. If you have the choice, opt for one or two larger windows over several smaller ones. For instance, one large picture window is often a better choice than three side-by-side casement windows if you’re trying to make a room look larger.
With the tips above, you can make any room in your Michigan home look large, open, and inviting. For more tips and advice on choosing the best windows for your space, contact the experts at Renewal by Andersen Michigan. We offer free, in-home consultations and all estimates are good for one year.
