subject: Adding Visual Space To A Small Breezeway [print this page] If you have a small breezeway connecting your house to your garage, there are several changes that you can make to it that will actually make it feel larger. The colors that you choose for the ceiling, walls and floors along with any textures or patterns that are included can make a dramatic difference in your perception of the space. The scale and color of the furniture can also play a big role in how big or small the space appears.
Let your Ceilings Soar
If you have a relatively low ceiling in your breezeway and this is what is making it feel small, then simply paint your ceiling a light color. Any shade of white is a great choice for a low ceiling. Keep crown molding and ceiling borders light also as dark colors tend to give the illusion of a lower ceiling. Skylight panels or white, translucent ceiling tiles are an excellent to not only brighten the space but to make it feel more expansive than it actually is.
Walls Can Brighten the Space
By painting all of your walls a light color and keeping your furniture in the same tones, you will actually create a larger visual space. By keeping contrast to a minimum you do not break up the space visually which makes it appear larger than it actually is.
To add additional height to the room you may select tone on tone vertical stripes either painted or wall paper. If instead your breezeway is very tall and narrow, you can bring a darker color to the ceiling and add horizontal stripes to the wall to make everything feel lower and wider. Mirrors can brighten and expand a narrow space further especially when placed directly across from existing windows. By keeping window treatments light in both color and texture, you are visually opening the space just that much further.
Floors Define Space
Take care to not break up the line of the floor with carpeting as it tends to make a space look smaller. Taking advantage of tile patterns can make a room feel longer or wider, or creating an unbroken neutral expanse with plain tile or laminate will keep the room looking spacious.
Organize and Conceal Clutter
As you add function to the space be aware of your overall design so that you do not lose your aesthetic. If your breezeway has a closet you are all set; however if you need to add an armoire to it, consider the scale and find one in the proper size. By incorporating a wooden bench with storage underneath, you can reduce shoe clutter. Then by adding a coat rack, wall hanger or hat rack, you are making it easy to organize all of the outerwear that typically makes a breezeway messy.
By unifying your furniture by design or material you give your breezeway a more cohesive look. For example, you may choose to pair wrought iron with wood throughout your breezeway, or you may choose to dress it with wicker furniture. Whatever style you choose to decorate your breezeway, if you keep it simple and consistent and include ample storage to keep the clutter under control, it will help the space look much larger than it actually is.
