Are the Walls Closing In?

by Sherry Holetzky | More from this Blogger

21 Jul 2007 10:03 AM

A small or dark room, especially one without much natural light or no windows at all, may feel rather claustrophobic. It's probably not a space you, your family members, or your guests enjoy spending much time in.

A woman I know had her basement finished to include a play room for the kids, an extra bathroom, and a guest room. The bathroom had a window, and the playroom had to small vent style windows but the guest room was an interior room due to the layout. Even after painting it a light color and adding more lighting, the space felt rather closed in.

A great trick for making such a space feel more welcoming is adding artwork that brings the outdoors in. The woman decided to have gorgeous photos from her vacation blown up and framed. The one photo, with bright blue sky, water, and sun, looked as if you could walk right onto the beach from the room. It felt as if there was a window looking out onto the beach. It was just beautiful and it made the space feel so much more open and inviting.

Other types of landscapes work well too. It doesn't necessarily have to be a photo either. A great painting or print with an outdoor theme can provide the same effect.

For a modern space, try some perspective. Create a cool accent wall that uses simple boxes to make it appear as if the wall goes out further than it really does. Tape off squares on the wall, using brighter colors for the outside squares and making the center a darker color so it looks like it's pulling away. Or, try a few horizontal stripes at the center or just above the center of the wall to make the wall look longer. Try a few vertical stripes to make the space look taller.

These simple projects can change the entire feel of a space in less than a day's time.

Learn more about Sherry Holetzky

Sherry Holetzky is a work at home mom and freelance writer. Married to her best friend, Sherry and her husband are raising their family in a quiet rural setting in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.

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