This easy, affordable furniture trick will instantly make a small room look bigger
It's such a quick fix, you'll wish you had thought of doing it sooner


Truth be told, not everybody's been blessed with the luxury of large rooms – myself included – so oftentimes, we've got to get creative to make the most of even the smallest of spaces.
While there are many different ways to make your home feel bigger without making structural changes, there's one furniture trick, in particular, that does the job without breaking the bank. And when you realise how easy it is, you'll wish you had done it sooner.
Few know that raising your furniture by adding feet or legs to them can instantly increase the look and feel of a room, not to mention, it's quite the novelty as you can turn your furniture classics into bespoke pieces unique to you.
Raising furniture trick to make a room look bigger
If you're trying to take advantage of a small kitchen, or trying to make a small living room look bigger, it's no secret that utilising vertical space is the absolute way forward.
'Whether it's stacking more cabinets or going for extra shelving, whatever it is, use it. If you don't take up valuable floor space, it will feel bigger,' says Jen Nash, senior design lead at Magnet Trade.
Therefore, it's no surprise that raising your furniture to utilise that vertical space will also do the trick in instantly transforming a space and making it look a lot roomier.
Jenny Shu, interiors expert at Property Rescue explains, 'One of the reasons for this is because by raising furniture off the floor, light is able to pass underneath it, therefore creating a feeling of openness and space. It's a visual trick that really creates a perception of more room.'
Get the Ideal Home Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter for style and decor inspiration, house makeovers, project advice and more.
'This new gap between the furniture and floor also allows light to flow under the furniture and around the room, again creating the perception of a larger space. What's more, being able to see under furniture and more of the flooring means your eyeline has a direct path around the room which again can make it feel like a bigger space.'
If you want to up the ante even more with this visual trick, it's important to also consider the colour and finish of the furniture legs.
Jenny advises we opt for light-coloured legs to enhance the overall look and feel, and help to bounce natural light around the room.' She also adds that slim legs will look less obstructive.
'As well as installing legs to your furniture, you could also purchase raised furniture such as bookshelves and cabinets which are secured to the wall. This opens up floor space and creates the illusion of higher ceilings, again increasing the amount of space felt,' adds Jenny.
For the best results, it may be well worth combining this raising furniture trick with the use of light colours on walls, mirrors, and effective storage and organisation solutions.
So, it appears as though cracking the code to utilise the most of small spaces is to keep everything off the floor – who would've thought? It also instantly updates the pieces you love and gives them a new lease of life, in case you were after an easy way to switch things up in your home. So I'd say it's a win-win overall.

Jullia was Ideal Home’s Junior Writer from 2022-2024 and the Ideal Home Certified Expert in Training on Vacuums having spent over 60 hours testing different models. She’s always loved all things homes and interiors, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Studies from the University of Nottingham where her love for writing blossomed following her internship at ArchDaily. Now focused on home tech and cleaning, Jullia works on writing features and explainers to help people make the most of their home appliance investments, putting the newest launches through their paces. When she isn’t writing, she loves exploring the city, coffee shop hopping, and losing hours to a cosy game or book.
-
Outdoor tiles are the versatile and stylish alternative to paving slabs – how to use them to transform your garden this summer
Elevating your garden has never been easier
-
What types of loft conversions are there? I explain the 5 main options and their pros and cons
From cheapest to most expensive
-
Next Home’s new lighting range left me seriously impressed when I saw them IRL - these are the designer-look lamps to add to your shopping cart
I was left seriously impressed by these stunning lamps
-
This controversial new furniture trend has divided opinions on the Ideal Home team – what do you think?
Is it 'dated' or 'cool'? Let us know your thoughts in the comments
-
Show your favourite furniture some love with a refresh this spring
Bring new life to your home with help from Plumbs
-
The low-slung furniture trend could be the most relaxing trend of 2025 - it’s also perfect for small spaces
It's time to sit back and relax
-
The 5 pieces of IKEA furniture to invest in second-hand – some of them have sold for £1000s at auction
The second-hand IKEA market is booming and these are the design classic that can command a serious premium
-
IKEA will buy back your old furniture for an extra 25% this month through its BuyBack scheme - here's everything you need to know
IKEA is sidestepping the Black Friday sales with an enticing BuyBack and Re-sell offer
-
Burnt orange is the new furniture colour to embrace – this is why it's everywhere right now
The rich and juicy trend we're loving
-
10 children's bedroom furniture ideas for a stylish yet practical kid's room
Children's bedroom furniture ideas that will see them from toddler to teen
-
IKEA has launched a collection of furniture for gamers - but it looks comfy and stylish enough for every home
The range will be released later this year…