My Secrets to Making Small Spaces Feel Grand

Let’s Be Honest Most of us aren’t living in vast, light-filled Georgian townhouses with perfect proportions and grand staircases. If you are, congratulations, pour yourself a glass and enjoy it. But for the rest of us mere mortals in semi-detached homes, period terraces, or 1990s builds, a little creative trickery goes a long way. And here’s the good news: you don’t need high ceilings or original cornicing to create character.

“If your room has no story, pattern will write one for you.”

Pattern is the great equaliser of interior design. It adds depth where there’s none, creates rhythm where walls fall flat, and offers that sense of personality every home needs. When used thoughtfully, it can turn the most awkward corner or narrow hallway into a showpiece.

In one of our Surrey projects a family snug with an awkwardly angled ceiling the brief was simple: make it feel cosy, not cramped. The clients assumed we’d paint everything white to make it “feel bigger.” Instead, we did the opposite. We wrapped the entire space walls, ceiling, woodwork in a soft denim-blue.

The transformation was instant. The angles disappeared, the ceiling felt higher, and the room took on this beautifully cocooned feel. It’s one of those moments that perfectly illustrates how colour and pattern can do what square footage cannot , create atmosphere.

When pattern is used intelligently, it doesn’t just decorate a space; it transforms how it feels. A bold floral can mimic the character of architectural panelling. A fine stripe can elongate a wall. A textured wallpaper can bounce light and create shadow play where none existed before.

There’s an art to getting it right. Pattern mixing isn’t about throwing together everything you love and hoping for the best; it’s about balance and conversation. Think of it as composing music, each print, scale, and tone has a role to play. If one’s bold and dramatic, let another be quieter and more rhythmic. Pair a large-scale floral with a fine pinstripe, or contrast a geometric print with something more organic and free-flowing.

“The key is not to match, but to relate. If your colours talk to each other, your patterns will too.”

When in doubt, start with your hero pattern — maybe a statement wallpaper or curtain fabric — then pull supporting players from within it. Echo one or two tones across smaller accessories like cushions or lampshades to create harmony. That way, your eye flows effortlessly across the room.

Small Spaces, Big Statements Here’s the thing: small rooms actually love pattern. There’s a myth that you should keep compact spaces light and minimal to make them feel larger. In reality, leaning into pattern can make them feel considered and cocooning.

Take the downstairs cloakroom the unsung hero of British homes. In a recent Reigate renovation, we papered one in an oversized botanical print moody green leaves and paired it with brushed brass fixtures and a stone basin. The result? Every guest comments on it. It’s a talking point, not a forgotten corner.

So don’t shy away. Wrap your small room in a statement wallpaper, or drench it in one enveloping hue from skirting to ceiling. When you stop fighting the scale and start embracing it, magic happens.

Respect the Bones One thing I always remind clients: every home has a history even a new build. Pattern isn’t about ignoring that; it’s about enhancing it.

A 1930s semi might call for soft geometrics or Art Deco-inspired prints. A Victorian terrace can handle ornate florals or toile. And a new-build family home? That’s your blank canvas the perfect backdrop for playful pattern mixing and modern flair. The trick is to find that sweet spot between boldness and restraint, between respecting your home’s bones and giving it a new voice.

Pattern is powerful, but it’s also playful. It’s what gives a home its personality, those delightful, unexpected touches that make guests smile.

Try a stripe-lined cupboard interior, a patterned blind in the utility room, or oversized photographic prints that calm the senses in a busy hallway. These are the “wow” moments that elevate everyday living.

“Design isn’t just about beauty; it’s about curiosity, about walking into a room and wanting to stay there a little longer.”

Final Thoughts

Pattern and colour are more than aesthetic choices they’re tools to shape how a space feels and functions. They can balance proportions, soften architecture, and express individuality.

So next time you’re tempted to play it safe, pause. Look at the bones of your house, the way the light moves, and the story you want to tell. Then layer in pattern — with confidence, with curiosity, and with a touch of surprise. Because a home that feels curated, comfortable, and quietly confident? That’s where the real design magic lives.At

Emma Merry Styling, we believe every home no matter its size or shape deserves to feel beautiful, balanced, and deeply personal. Whether you’re wrestling with a tricky layout or dreaming of a full home transformation, myself and our design team can help you bring calm, cohesion and character to your space.

If you’re ready to fall back in love with your home, get in touch we’d love to help you design a space that not only looks stunning but truly works for the way you live.