The Stylish Furniture Item That Instantly Makes A Room Look Larger

It can be tricky trying to find furniture that makes a room look larger since the shape and size of your furniture can affect how big or small the space looks. You might think adding large furniture would do the trick, but it actually makes the room look instantly smaller because it overfills the space. Instead, add built-ins to make your room look larger. 

Built-ins don't take up obvious floor space; instead, they are exactly what they sound like – furniture or shelving that is permanently built into the walls of a room. Typically, they extend from floor to ceiling, sometimes even spanning wall to wall. The key is for them to appear as though they were built as part of the house. They also transform flat walls into interesting architectural features. 

While the most common built-ins are cabinetry and bookshelves, like a custom designed built-in bookcase, there are lots of other options that will make your room appear larger. Hutches transformed into pantries, closets converted into vanities, and even bunk beds tucked into nooks are all ways you can maximize the vertical space in a room without leaving an obvious footprint. 

Choosing what built-in works best for your room is entirely dependent on the function of your space. Are you trying to make a small living room look larger? Consider adding bookshelves to either side of a window or fireplace for added storage; you can even DIY a built-in bench to sit and read under a window. For bedrooms, any flat wall or unused closet can become built-in bunk beds or vanities to free up valuable floor space in some of a home's smallest rooms.

Many old homes have most of the kitchen storage built into the walls. You can mimic this by using hutches and cabinetry for a built-in pantry. Another small room that would benefit from a built-in is a home office. The space will look much larger with the desk and storage shelving all blending seamlessly into the wall, and you can get a built-in look for your home office using IKEA IVAR cabinets. Extend this idea to the dirtiest area of your home — the mudroom. Whether your mudroom is an actual room or a small corner near the entryway, open up the space with built-in cubbies, hooks, and benches. Creating a storage area for every family member's coat, book bag, and shoes while keeping the room stylish and orderly is a huge plus for busy families.