Have Too Much Space? Here’s How to Make Full Use of It

So you’ve been blessed with plenty of interior space, but don’t know what to do with it? It’s completely understandable; large homes can be just as tricky to decorate as smaller ones! While you probably won't be able to find huge homes in the city, suburban landed homes, on the other hand, can be incredibly spacious. For instance, in up-and-coming areas like Semenyih and with newer Seremban developments, it’s not uncommon to find homes with a sprawling space range of 3,000 sq. ft. to 5,000 sq. ft.

What to do, what to do? If a (too) spacious home is a legitimate problem you're struggling with, here are 7 key design tips to fill up a huge space:

1. Layout Matters

Interior Designer: Zyon Interior Design

The arrangement of your furniture plays (arguably) the most important role when decorating gigantic spaces. To create a homely appearance, arrange your furniture to replicate the layout, but in a smaller, condensed size.

Interior Designer: Torch Empire

For example, in square shaped living rooms, do pull your sofa set forward, away from the walls, and angle it to create a mini-square. Laying out your furniture in this way can help bridge the space gap and cast a cosier appearance.

2. Play with Colour

Interior Designer: SQFT Space Design Management

Where whites and other light neutrals help to expand space, colour has the power to ‘fill’ larger areas. Warm yellow, teal or mauve pastels can bring gentle energy that also cosies up expansive interiors.

Interior Designer: SQFT Space Design Management

If you are looking for a more dramatic look, try deeper hues like navy blue or dark ash with white borders to visually ‘pack in’ the space and set it more intimately.

3. Get Personal

The common problem with very large interiors is that it can appear cold, lifeless or sparse when improperly decorated.

Interior Designer: Torch Empire

One way to give sizeable spaces a lively, ‘real’ or cosy vibe is to add personal touches to the décor. Be sure to display your favourite art pieces, travel treasures, collectibles and handmade items in the home.

4. Carpets are Your Friend

Interior Designer: Meridian Interior Design

While unadorned floors are still very much in fashion, adding a rug or two will easily reign in excessive space and instantly bring warmth.

In larger spaces, especially ones with lighter, colder floor materials (e.g. white ceramic tile or marble); throwing a few rugs down will easily increase warmth and cosiness. In living rooms, a large area rug can be used to carve out the layout and define the space.

Interior Designer: Moonlit Inspiration

Choose a rug with a similar layout shape i.e. rectangular rugs for rectangular floor layouts, squares for squares and with odd plans, opt for an oval or round rug.

5. Go Green

Interior Designer: M Innovative Builders

Fill gaps in any room with the help of taller, potted plants. Add plants that are stalk-slim and which fan out at the top to help a room appear less sparse and decoratively fuller. Plants that flourish indoors in Malaysia include the Yucca Palm, Kentia Palm, Dracaena and Ficus (Fig) plant.

Interior Designer: UP Creations

Remember that greens will also freshen up the décor and bring a relaxing, natural vibe to the home!

6. Pay Attention to Patterns

Interior Designer: X Two Concept

Intricate patterns and designs on furniture, walls, rugs, curtains as well as texturing on other decorative materials can effortlessly add movement to your interiors. Very roomy interiors can appear stylistically stale or boring without at least some patterns or movements that bring vibrancy.

Interior Designer: Surface R

Make a statement and fully embrace the space with patterned indoor partition grills or a textured, patterned feature wall.

7. Let Furniture be Large and in Charge

Interior Designer: The Roof Studio

If you’ve ever wanted to experiment with oversized furniture pieces, then spacious interiors certainly give you the license to do so! Consider heavier sofas, larger cabinetry and less modest coffee tables. Opting for fewer, sizeable pieces instead of many smaller ones, may also translate into a sleeker organised look.

Fill up your space with smart design.

A big home is like a huge canvas that needs the right strokes. An interior designer can help to design a space that's well-balanced yet functional. Request for a free quote here, and we can match you up with 5 interior firms in Malaysia, based on your budget and style.

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