A small space may be warm and cosy but often it can make you feel like you're suffocating! What can you do to change that?

When you find yourself in a small space, especially when that space is your own home, it's almost as if the walls are closing in on you. However, do not despair; we have some easy tips that you could adopt so as to make your space seem roomier and much more pleasant.

A room will never appear small when you choose the right furniture and the objects are placed in a clever way. To find out how you can achieve this, read on………………….

• Make sure you measure your space well before buying furniture. If you don't and the furniture is too big, your room will look smaller than it actually is.

• Get rid of stuff you don't actually need. It's very important to have a good clear out and to perhaps give away things that aren't absolutely necessary.

• Choose multi-purpose furniture. For example, choose a beautiful stool which has storage space under the cushion. The same could apply to a sofa. A sofa bed is also a good option for visiting friends or relatives.

• Another trick to make the room look bigger is to make sure that all large pieces of furniture are at the back of the room and near a wall. Do not place them near doors as this will only serve to make the room look smaller.

• Opt for furniture with thin legs, ideally metallic, instead of furniture with a solid base.

• Choose glass furniture which will brighten the room and, as a result, make the space seem larger.

• If you have a larger piece of furniture that you simply can't part with, you could camouflage it by painting it the same colour as your walls. As a result the visual weight of the room is drawn away from that particular piece. You can do the same with radiators and ceiling fans.

• Even though big works of art and paintings can play an important role in the décor of your home, they will be too much of a good thing in a small room. Choose smaller paintings so as not to overpower the room.

• Decorate your home in light colours such as whites or pastels which create a sense of space.

• Add mirrors. If you hang some mirrors, the room will give the illusion of more depth and brighter as the light reflects.

• Don't block out light from your windows. Allow natural light to brighten your room. Choose unfussy curtains both in pattern and fabric so that the room does not appear cluttered. Avoid long curtains which touch furniture as it will seem as if the walls are moving inwards. Of course, if you don't mind, for say the kitchen, you could even go curtain free!

• Don't overdo the ornaments. Clear surfaces will add to the sense of space and airiness

• If you have lots of bits and bobs lying around that you're not so sure what to do with, place them in such a way that they look like part of the décor!

• Make use of each and every space where you can put things, especially where they won't be visible - for example under the sink or beneath your bed.

We do hope we've helped with these easy and practical tips to make your space as roomy and pleasant as possible!