Open floor plans are popular among homebuyers, but traditionally homes were built with individual rooms that served specific purposes. However, with some affordable adjustments, you can make your house appear more spacious.

Knocking down walls can be expensive and time consuming. Luckily, though, you can open up your home a bit without a massive remodeling project. Doing so may help bring your home’s appearance in line with modern trends. This is especially helpful if you plan on selling your property soon. Real estate sales are often driven by a number of trends, and this year, spaciousness is among them.

There are a number of affordable ways to open up the rooms in your homes and create the illusion of larger spaces. Even a few small changes like switching out the drapes on your windows can make a huge difference by opening up rooms. If you don’t have an open floor plan, but would like to imitate one with more spacious rooms, read the tips below:

1. Let the Light into the Windows
   Windows that aren’t blocked by heavy drapes or curtains make rooms seem bigger by letting in more natural light – the most attractive sort – and extending spaces. You can still hang thin curtains that aren’t completely opaque to achieve a similar effect. This way, it is possible to maintain a degree of privacy. You have windows, so use them to open up the rooms of your home!
2. Match the Furniture Palette to the Paint
   Try finding at least a few pieces of furniture that match the color of the walls. This will blend couches, tables or chairs into the walls a bit, and make the room appear larger than it actually is. Maintaining unity in your palette is a great way to expand a space beyond its physical limits.
3. Keep the Clutter Away
   When you’re staging a home, you typically hide items that you don’t use at least daily. To make a room seem bigger, you can take a similar approach. Keep plenty of efficient storage space in each room, and stow away most items around the house until you need them. Too much clutter can significantly change how a room appears, in terms of size.
4. Make Room for Mirrors
   Mirrors serve a similar function to windows, minus the natural light. Similar to how a window creates the illusion of more space by expanding the room, a mirror’s reflection creates the impression of more space where there is none. Make sure that the mirror fits the theme of the room to ensure unity among various decorations and furniture.

Opening up your floor plan is expensive, but creating the illusion of more space is affordable and easy. Create an impression of spaciousness through mirrors and windows, cleaning consistently and thematic unity.

Brought to you by HMS Home Warranty.  HMS is an industry leader with over 30 years of creating success for clients and providing peace of mind for customers. To learn more click www.hmsnational.com.