Expert says making 1 change will make your home look bigger

Making your home look bigger is not easy but with this simple tip, you can create the perfect illusion. An expert has shared how you can completely transform the look of your home without spending a fortune.

Painting and decorating expert Pat Gilham says the key is all in your paintwork and what you do with your walls. Making your rooms look bigger can improve its aesthetic value and it can make everyday life in your home. You won't need to have an expensive extension to feel a huge difference with Pat's tips.

Pat, from Priceyourjob.co.uk says the key factor is choosing a colour. He says: "You may have a colour in mind for your rooms, drawing inspiration from the furniture, floor or artwork.

"But it's more important to decide whether you are going to go for an all-light look or contrast with darker tones."

Light colours have the effect of receding away from the viewer. As a result, using whites, neutrals, and other light tones gives the impression of a wall or ceiling being further away than it actually is.

Medium shades can shrink a room, and dark, warm colours advance towards you, creating a more enclosed feeling.

These effects can help you decide where to use lighter and darker colours, depending on the shape of your room and the look you want to achieve. For example, you may have a long, narrow room or one with a low ceiling.

In the first instance, using a deeper shade on the two shorter walls and a lighter hue on the longer ones gives the impression of a larger, more square space.

For the second situation, painting the ceiling white and the walls a darker colour makes the room seem vertically larger.

Classically, the favoured colours to make a room appear bigger are neutrals, light shades and various white tones.

Having said that, some rich dark colours can have a type of bottomless effect where your eyes can't actually focus on a definitive depth to the shade, thereby creating the impression of a larger room.

By following these simple tips, you could give your home a whole new look with minimal work.