Small homes can often start feeling and looking smaller and more cramped if the right layout and décor decisions are not made. The wrong paint choice or the wrong lighting can make you start feeling claustrophobic in your own space. However, there are multiple tricks that you can employ for home improvement projects that will make your place look bigger and brighter. We have compiled a list of these tips that will help you make your place feel like home again!
Use large-scale art pieces
The gallery wall art trend is no secret when it comes to home improvement ideas. It is one of the most famous trends at the moment. However, for smaller homes, adding a bunch of art pieces on the wall will end up making the space look smaller than before. Instead of doing the gallery wall art, you can opt for a bigger art piece that covers your entire wall, preferably, vertically. This will create a dramatic focal point and will also make the room feel bigger. This is because with all the eyes focused on the bigger art piece, the dimensions of the room won’t come into focus much.
A tip you can follow is to make sure that your art piece sits between 50 to 60 inches above the floor as this is where the average eye vision sits. This technique ensures that the piece does not feel out of focus or awkward on the wall. It is a good idea to opt for a more intricate and classic piece if you like the traditional style of interior design and a more modern and abstract piece if you prefer minimalism or contemporary.
Lightning
Lightning is an extremely important part of the home improvement ideas, especially with smaller homes where bad or ill fitter lighting can make the entire place feel small and dark. A well-lit room, on the other hand, will feel more expansive. However, don’t make the mistake of placing floor lamps and table lamps all over the place as it will just make the space cluttered and not serve the purpose. If possible, opt for natural light- big windows and skylights are the keys. Skylights, with their sky view, make the room feel bigger. On the other hand, windows make the space brighter, making it look like it has more space. It’s best suited to get skylights on slanted roofs as it offers gentle north-facing sunlight that does not make the room feel heated.
In rooms where having windows or skylights is not possible, recessed and track lighting may be a better choice as it will save you the space from lamps while keeping the place well lit. You can replace the traditional light with tracks. This will provide direct lightning in multiple places and can be adjusted to your liking. When installing track lights, make sure they are at least 40 inches away from the walls. It’s important to remember that track lighting is a specialised kind of lightning. Using other forms of lights is a good idea along with this light- chandeliers, recessed lights etc. This makes the space look bigger and allows for setting different lightning moods according to the user.
Gutter cleaning
Gutter cleaning is an important part of our home improvement ideas. In small homes, it’s easy for gutters to become dirty and clogged. This can lead to a lot of damage in and outside your home so the gutters must be cleaned bi-annually or annually depending on the location and requirement. Clogged gutters can pose multiple problems if left unattended. One of the biggest ones is leaking roofs and flooded basements. This happens when the gutters have been clogged for a while and water has started collecting and pooling on the roof. Eventually, the water will start seeping into the roof and leaking. If you have an attic, clogged gutters will likely flood that as well. Another thing that can occur is that the water is not being drained to the place it’s supposed to. As a result, the water will start draining around the house, getting soaked in the soil. This will cause your basement to flood, shift your foundation, and get mildew and moss on your outdoor walls. This will leave behind an unpleasant smell.
One of the easiest ways to recognise if your gutters have become clogged is by checking if there has been any new and increased animal activity on your roof. Clogged gutters make for perfect spots for pests like mosquitoes and rodents like squirrels and mice to make a home. If not taken care of, you can end up with a pest or rodent infestation. It is always better to get your gutters cleaned by professionals as they have the proper equipment and knowledge to clean and repair them. To get your gutters cleaned by professionals, click here.