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Does your home sometimes feel a little – how should we put this – claustrophobic? If so, you’re not alone. While the size of the average house is getting bigger, most city apartments are actually shrinking in size to make them more affordable.
The good news, though, is that there are ways to fight back. You don’t have to feel like you’re living in a box forever.
In this post, we take a look at some of the factors making your home feel claustrophobic and what you can do to mitigate them.
High Ceilings
As strange as it might sound, high ceilings can make some people feel claustrophobic in their homes. The unusual design changes the proportions of your rooms, making them less cozy.
High ceilings are relatively rare (because of the sheer cost involved in including them in a home). And while they are common on Georgian properties, there are so few of them around that this issue is unlikely to affect many people.
However, if it is a problem for you, remedy it by putting in a false ceiling. These are inexpensive to install and make the room feel cozier and more refined.
Lack Of Natural Light
Your home can also feel pokey if you don’t have sufficient natural light coming in through the windows. Dark or dimly lit spaces make rooms feel smaller than they are, adding to your sense of being trapped or confined.
You can deal with this by adding more light to the room. Natural light-emitting LEDs are a great option for bathrooms and closets while opening the blinds can work in larger rooms.
Extra light won’t solve all your problems. But it can make a substantial difference in how your room feels.
Clutter
Clutter is another issue that makes homes feel claustrophobic. When there’s stuff everywhere, it makes rooms feel smaller.
You can deal with this problem by clearing things away or keeping items in self storage. If you can create a space in the center of the room, this can also help, as can removing clutter from around the walls.
Heavy Decor
Don’t underestimate the effects of heavy decor on making your rooms feel claustrophobic either. Dark themes and lots of furniture can make apartments feel closed-in.
You can quickly deal with this issue by brightening up the walls and other surfaces. Selling old pieces of furniture can also help open up space, particularly if you never use them.
Poor Layout
Finally, poor layout can make your home feel claustrophobic. If everything’s in the wrong place, it becomes much harder to manage.
Poor layouts are obvious in rooms where you aren’t using the space effectively. For example, your dining room will automatically feel claustrophobic if you push the table up against one of the walls.
Sometimes there’s nothing you can do about a poor layout. Architects built it into the design of your home. However, if you own the surrounding building, you can knock through some walls and create a sense of space where there isn’t one.
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