June 30, 2026 — 7:30pmIn real estate terms, it’s not the size of your floor plan that matters; it’s what you do with it. Small spaces, and smaller windows can leave homes feeling cramped and claustrophobic.Here are the tried and true techniques the design professionals use to make the most of the available space.Everything it needs and nothing it doesn’t. This space designed by Nic Kaiko relies on symmetry and a restrained palette to feel larger than its footprint would suggest.Fiona Susanto/Styling Holly IrvineClear the clutterBefore you do anything else, consider what needs to be in this space. As obvious as it sounds, the fewer things in the room, the larger it will feel.Asking yourself the purpose the room serves is a good place to start. If you need to keep a number of smaller items in the room, whether it is toys, board games, craft supplies, tech, or something else, streamlined or multipurpose storage could be the answer.“[Small spaces] often feel really cluttered,” says Melbourne-based architect Emma Holmes, from Formery. “A lot of people try to fit way too much into a small space.“Good joinery is one of the most expensive things [to add], but you want to have well-designed, built-in storage if you can. Alternatively, multipurpose functional furniture that doubles as storage, like an ottoman with a lift-up lid, is a good option.”Keep it consistentWhether it’s flooring, built-in timber joinery or your wall colour, using the same materials throughout creates a sense of continuity that can give the impression that a space is larger than it is.“The thing that consistently works is continuity,” says Sydney-based interior designer Nic Kaiko, of Kaiko Design Interiors. “Think about continuous flooring that runs without interruption through room to room.“Most people paint ceilings white by default, but if your walls are a strong colour, a white ceiling just cuts the room off at the top. Letting the colour climb up and over creates envelopment rather than confinement.”This room designed by Melbourne design firm Studio Tali Roth applies a variety of techniques, including colour drenching and reflective materials to create a greater illusion of space.