11 Design Mistakes Making Your Space Feel Smaller Than It Is

If you’ve ever looked around your space and thought, “Why does this room feel more like a storage closet than a sanctuary?” — you’re not alone. Even with all the right intentions (and a Pinterest board bursting with dreamy interiors), some design choices may actually be working against the feeling of space and serenity you’re craving.

And here's the chic truth: small doesn’t have to mean cramped. In fact, your home might not need a renovation—just a little reframing.

Whether you live in a cozy studio, a compact condo, or a family home that somehow feels smaller than it is, certain design decisions could be visually shrinking your square footage. The good news? Many of these are easy fixes that don’t require knocking down walls or buying expensive furniture.

1. Choosing Dark, Heavy Window Treatments

There’s something luxurious about velvet blackout curtains or heavy drapes… until they eat the light.

Natural light is one of the fastest visual ways to open up a room. Heavy, dark, or overly ornate window treatments can block light and make the room feel enclosed—even if it’s actually not that small.

Try this instead:

• Opt for sheer or linen curtains in light, neutral tones.
• Hang curtain rods wider and higher than your window to create the illusion of taller ceilings and broader walls.
• Keep them open during the day to maximize brightness.

According to the American Lighting Association, exposure to natural light can make indoor spaces feel up to 30% larger due to the way our brains process brightness and shadow.

2. Skipping Rugs in Small Spaces

We get it—when space is tight, it can feel counterintuitive to add more stuff. But skipping rugs altogether may be a visual mistake.

Rugs anchor a room. Without one, your furniture can appear to be “floating,” creating a sense of fragmentation instead of cohesion. The result? A space that feels smaller and less grounded.

Try this instead:

• Use one larger rug instead of several small ones.
• Let furniture legs partially rest on the rug—it ties everything together.
• Choose low-contrast, soft-patterned rugs in compact rooms to maintain openness.

3. Overstuffing with Oversized Furniture

We love a plush sectional moment—but not every room was built for one. And when furniture is too big for the room, it can throw off the balance instantly.

Large-scale furniture pieces can dominate a space, making everything else feel cramped by comparison.

Try this instead:

• Look for streamlined, leggy furniture (exposed legs keep things airy).
• Choose multifunctional pieces (like an ottoman that doubles as storage).
• Keep a few inches of breathing room between furniture and walls.

4. Using Too Much Matchy-Matchy Furniture

While coordinated furniture sets may feel like the safe option, they can actually flatten the personality of a room—and shrink the visual space.

Uniformity in furniture color, shape, and texture can make a space feel heavy and boxy. There’s less visual contrast for the eye to travel across, which can lead to a sense of restriction.

Try this instead:

• Mix materials and shapes (like a round wooden coffee table with a soft fabric sofa).
• Blend vintage with modern for depth.
• Let your space breathe with a little intentional contrast.

5. Placing All Furniture Against the Walls

A classic move—especially in smaller homes—but not always the most spacious-feeling strategy. Pushing every item to the perimeter of the room can emphasize the compactness of the space instead of expanding it.

Try this instead:

• Float furniture when possible (like pulling your sofa slightly forward and placing a console table behind it).
• Use area rugs and open shelving to define “zones” even in one-room apartments.

A 2022 Houzz design survey found that homeowners who implemented zoning (defining areas within open-plan rooms) reported improved flow and a perceived increase in space—even without structural changes.

6. Underestimating Vertical Space

Floor plans matter—but so does what’s happening from the floor up.

Failing to use vertical space may leave your room feeling cluttered at ground level, even when there’s plenty of space available above.

Try this instead:

• Install tall bookshelves or floating shelves up to the ceiling.
• Hang curtains higher than window frames.
• Use wall-mounted storage or sconces instead of bulky floor lamps.

Bonus: Drawing the eye upward makes your ceilings feel taller and the room feel grander.

7. Choosing Too Many Small-Scale Items

Small space? Tiny furniture? Not always the best solution.

Filling a room with petite, delicate pieces can actually make it feel busy and cluttered, not spacious. It’s a bit of a paradox.

Try this instead:

• Mix one or two statement pieces with subtle, low-profile items.
• Use a bold armchair or an oversized mirror for visual drama without chaos.
• Keep accessories minimal and purposeful.

8. Going Overboard on Wall Art

Gallery walls are charming, but too much art in a small room can create visual noise. Over-decorated walls may feel chaotic and close in the space. Your eye doesn’t know where to rest.

Try this instead:

• Use fewer, larger-scale art pieces to create impact without overcrowding.
• Embrace white space around your art—it helps the room breathe.
• Align artwork vertically to elongate wall height.

9. Poor Lighting Layering

A single ceiling light? Not enough. And also, kind of sad.

Lighting is one of the most powerful tools in shaping how a room feels. A poorly lit space can appear smaller, flatter, and even a bit gloomy.

Try this instead:

• Layer three types of lighting: ambient (main lights), task (like lamps), and accent (like candles or LED strips).
• Use mirrors to reflect light and create the illusion of depth.
• Swap heavy lampshades for open or translucent styles.

10. Ignoring Negative Space

In design, what you don’t fill is just as important as what you do. Negative space—aka blank areas with no furniture or decor—helps create visual relief. Without it, the room can feel overstuffed and claustrophobic.

Try this instead:

• Leave intentional “gaps” between decor clusters.
• Give side tables or corners a few inches of empty space to breathe.
• Resist the urge to fill every wall, shelf, or nook. Minimalism isn’t boring—it’s spatial brilliance.

11. Using Low-Contrast Color Palettes Poorly

Contrary to popular belief, too much beige—or any single tone—can shrink a space. While light colors are usually your friend, a monochrome room without depth or contrast can feel flat and compressed.

Try this instead:

• Layer in different shades and textures within the same palette (think linen, leather, wood).
• Add strategic contrast with dark accessories, plants, or sculptural pieces.
• Use mirrors and reflective surfaces to create dimension.

Your space doesn't need to be maximalist to feel rich—it just needs layers and light play.

The Radiance Recap

1. Let the Light In. Ditch heavy curtains and go for light, airy treatments that invite brightness and lift the space visually.

2. Float, Don’t Push. Pull furniture away from walls and embrace negative space to improve flow and reduce visual clutter.

3. Play With Scale. Mix statement pieces with delicate ones. Don’t shy away from large items—they may actually make your space feel bigger.

4. Layer Lighting Like a Pro. Ambient + Task + Accent = a room that feels dynamic, expansive, and mood-lifting.

5. Design With Intention, Not Obligation. You don’t need to fill every corner. Let your space breathe—it’s allowed to exhale.

Space Is a Feeling, Not Just a Measurement

Here’s what the chicest homes—and homeowners—understand: true spaciousness is more about perception than square footage. A 600-square-foot studio can feel open and serene, while a 3,000-square-foot home can feel boxed-in and chaotic if the design is off.

By being thoughtful, creative, and just a bit bold with your design choices, you can open up your space in ways that go beyond walls and windows. Each small tweak is an invitation to breathe deeper, move more freely, and feel more grounded in your surroundings.

So the next time your room feels a little too tight, pause before you blame your floor plan. The solution might just be a lighting adjustment, a color shift, or a brave goodbye to that overstuffed loveseat.

Because your space—just like your style—deserves to feel as radiant and expansive as you are.