how to make small home feel bigger - Expert uk Guide 2025

Organisation is essential in every home, but when it comes to a house that has a small footprint, it's all the more important.

While some of us like to feel closed in and cocooned within our homes (especially if you lean towards maximalist interiors), in general, people want their homes to feel larger and more spacious. Opening up your space and fostering a sense of airiness in your small home can often come down to how well you organise – and one 'rule' in particular.

The one organising rule that makes small homes feel bigger

Sara Bereika, a certified professional organiser, calls it 'The Rule of Importance'. For every item that takes up space in your home, you can ask yourself: 'How important is it?'

'In a small home, there’s often extra pressure to make sure everything you own is truly worth the space it occupies,' Sara explains. 'You must decide whether you want an organised, functional home or a cluttered one that frustrates you every day. That might mean fewer items, but what you give up in stuff, you’ll gain back in sanity.'

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Manhattan Utility Room in Soft Linen with natural oak slatted feature panels, Sharps

You’ve heard of the importance of setting boundaries in your personal life – but what about in your home?

'A small home offers clearer boundaries to live within. Without those boundaries, many of us would end up buried in belongings,' Sara says. 'When we ask ourselves how important something really is, we’re maintaining those boundaries and protecting our peace of mind.'

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If you’ve reached the point where you feel like your house is closing in on you, Sara says that it’s time to make some tough choices. 'You may need to choose between that beloved Harry Potter book collection, 20 pairs of black pants, years of accumulated craft supplies, or your peace of mind,' she says. 'What’s more important? If an item truly matters to you, you’ll know by comparing it to other items and asking what carries more emotional weight.'

If you’re wrestling with your decisions, Sara recommends using a '1 to 5' scale, where you rate each item on a scale of 1 (least important) to 5 (most important).

'If it’s below a two, it’s probably something you can part with,' she says. 'If it’s above a three, keep it and revisit it after you’ve gone through everything else.'

Edit your knick-knacks

shelving unit organised in a house by a blue bannister

Sharps

Shaker landing in Stone, Sharps

It’s a rule that all of our pro organisers support. For instance, you can apply 'The Rule of Importance' to your decorative objects. As Diane N. Quintana, a certified professional organiser in chronic disorganisation (CPO-CD), says, the more random decorations or knick-knacks you have, the smaller or more crowded your home can feel. 'It feels bigger when you declutter and have only the things you truly love or that serve a purpose in your home,' she observes.

Learn to style your streamlined spaces

As you begin to apply 'The Rule of Importance,' you’ll start to free up your surfaces. From here, you space will start to look different – your shelves will have more room to breathe. Natalie Prince, fitted furniture expert at Sharps, has advice on how you can style these freed-up spaces.

'Overloading your shelves can quickly give a cluttered and unorganised look,' she says. 'Leave space between groups of items to look curated and well thought out. Don’t be afraid of gaps; negative space is essential to prevent shelves from looking too busy. Leaving these spaces clear also helps to highlight the items you do have on display more clearly.'

Now, thanks to some clever styling, your small space will not only feel bigger but look better too.

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