When trying to sell your home, appealing to new buyers should be the goal.

And one thing that will always be appealing is spacious rooms. Even if you feel you are limited with the small rooms you have, there are some tricks you can take advantage of that help make a room appear larger and are worth considering:

1 Lighten up

If you have windows in the room, make sure to always have them open prior to any potential buyers viewing the space. This may seem like an obvious thing, but surprisingly a lot of people don’t always think of this, especially if they don’t utilize the windows themselves day to day. This instantly brightens and opens up a space.

2 Curtains : Take Down or Make ‘em Match

If you have curtains up, consider taking them down during the time your home is on the market, as this will further open up the space. It really is impactful for rooms with full length curtains spanning across the majority of the wall the windows are on. If you still want curtains (or perhaps need them because there is TOO much sunlight coming in from that window(s), consider a tone that matches the color of the wall so it blends in and gives the same open effect as sans curtains.

3 Draw the Eye Up

If you keep the curtains up, ensure you have the curtain rod hung high enough. Hanging it above the window(s), will help create wider windows and also draw the eye up when entering the space, creating a larger overall room. Another way to use this tip is through art placement on the walls— consider raising the height of any large wall art if you can, as it will equally raise the eyes up.

4 Focus on a Focal Point

What is the area of focus you want to emphasize in your room? By taking advantage of a focal point, you direct viewers’ eyes to a key area of focus initially upon entering, which can help them not focus on overall size of the room. In having a focal point, it helps create balance for a space, as well. Some common focal points are: fireplaces, windows, built-in shelving unit, large art piece or mirror on a wall. It should be the first thing you see when you enter the space, so if you are blocking yours, there may be some reconfiguration needed for the layout of your furniture. For instance, if you have a beautiful fireplace on the dominant wall (the wall opposite where you enter/exit the space) when you enter the room , you don’t want a sofa or chairs in front of it. Consider a “U” layout instead for that scenario by moving a sofa to the right side wall, and 2 chairs to the left side wall (or another sofa). Not only will this open up the space dramatically, but will also put the fireplace now in the spotlight. You can then showcase art or a mirror on the mantel to make it appealing.

5 Space Layout

As previously mentioned, the overall space layout may need to be looked at to maximize the best results for your space, even if you have a small space. Walk the room as if you are a potential buyer viewing it for the first time. If it is a living room, enter and sit on the sofa and then try any further seating options, paying attention to how easily it is to maneuver around, any limitations to feeling at ease in the space, and what might be removed or relocated to create a more open space. Some common obstacles I’ve seen that are easily fixable to maximize a space are: too much furniture (consider storing any unnecessary pieces in a garage or storage unit or spare room if needed) and cramming all the furniture against the walls.

6 Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Adding a large mirror to a wall or mantel will always help to expand a room. It can help to reflect another part of the room, giving the illusion of added dimension. Make sure any mirror is still at a height to be viewed by the average person, otherwise it can end up looking awkward and turn into a hindrance instead of positive aspect. Who wants to see a mirror on the wall that is too high for them to actually look in?

7 Cohesive Color

Creating a balanced, open space is achieved through cohesive color throughout. If you really want to try to open a space, consider painting the walls and ceiling the same color, which will expand the eye upward. For minimal effort, consider just repainting the walls if they are too dark or dated looking — a white or off-white freshly painted room never goes out of style and always help open up a space.

8 Adding White

Going along with lighter walls, adding white wherever else you can will only work in your favor for opening up a cramped space. White throw pillows, white blanket, white duvet cover are examples of how to incorporate more white into the space. Make sure you don’t eliminate any color in doing this,though. For example, adding a white duvet cover to a bed is great for giving the look of a bigger bedroom, but add in colored pillows so it still looks appealing!

9 Rug Size

A very common mistake to making a room look too small is having an area rug that is too small for the space it is utilized in. Ideally, you want all the furniture pieces to have some, if not all, the legs on the rug. Consider a larger rug or packing away your current rug if it is too small. As area rugs are used to frame the space of a room, having one too small will only limit you to have to keep furniture closer together, which is definitely not going to help maximize the space.

10 Contain the Clutter

Last, but certainly not least, getting rid of any unneeded clutter will only work to your advantage in opening up your space and appealing to buyers. Get rid of anything that will distract from all the hard work you put into opening up the room (i.e. steps 1-9) . There is the obvious clutter to get rid of, like toys, excess magazines, piles of paper, etc. But even a tidy and well decorated space can be guilty at times of having “too much” which can be a distraction to buyers.

Less is more always wins here, so less on the bookshelves, tabletops, and counters is ideal. Another way to think about it is by asking yourself “how much of the furniture can be seen?” — do you have so much on the coffee table that you can’t really see the coffee tabletop itself? Maybe consider removing an item or two to open it up more. Utilizing storage bins and baskets is a great way to contain magazines, books, & toys, and like the picture here, works great for small spaces as you can store them under coffee tables or side tables.