The Imaginary Expansion

As the saying goes, the bigger the better; and we believe it. From SUVs to data plans, we like limitlessness and freedom. The same can be said for our apartments. In out dream land, we all live in penthouse suits with a bathroom the size of a football feild. However, in a reality known as downtown Toronto, most condos are the size of a pinball machine.

As we try to compact our lives into an 8 by 8 living room, certain tricks can be utilized to make us feel like we have a bigger space. We shy away from bright colours, plaster mirros onto walls, and stuff space saving mechanisms into every corner. Although this can all work, the end result can sometimes be a bland, lifeless room.

The trick to expansion is literally a trick, that is to say, a trick of the eye. LUX Design has proven that going against your instincts and following the science of perception can not only add depth to a space, but also a much needed visual boost. Instead of painting all your walls a white, butter cream, or beige, add a dark colour to one wall, most preferably the feature wall, right across from the most frequented line of vision. Although a dark room does in fact make a space seem smaller, just one wall adds depth to a space. It sucks the space back giving you an extra few square feet without so much as hammering in a nail.

Other than making your space look larger, it can also add some visual interest. Although dark colours work best for this, LUX has experimented with different shades, patterns and textures. Your space might not be the biggest on the block, but that does not mean it cannot be the most interesting. All it takes is a little optical illusion.