JG Contracting

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How to Make a Small Room Feel Bigger with the Right Flooring and Tile

When living in a smaller home or apartment, making a small room feel bigger can be a challenge. Whether it’s a cramped living room, tiny bedroom, or narrow hallway, the right flooring and tile choices can create the illusion of more space. A thoughtful combination of color, pattern, and material can transform your small room into an open and airy environment.

If you live in the Greater Toronto area and are looking to renovate or upgrade your home, JG Contracting is here to help. We specialize in interior renovations and home upgrades, offering a wide array of services that cater to both homeowners and businesses alike. Our expertise includes bathroom and kitchen remodels, painting, flooring, tile and grout installations, and much more. With a proven track record for delivering superior quality and ensuring timely project completion, we provide exceptional customer care and expertise across all facets of construction and renovation.

In this blog, we will explore how the right flooring and tile choices can help you make a small room feel bigger. From color selection to installation techniques, we’ll walk you through various tips and design elements that can open up your space. If you’re ready to get started, don’t hesitate to contact us for a complimentary estimate. Simply email jgcontractingyyz@gmail.com or call 437-259-9632 to discuss your project.

The Power of Flooring in Creating Space

A nice Kitchen with new floor tiles

The flooring you choose plays a pivotal role in shaping the overall feel and perception of space in any room. In smaller rooms, the wrong flooring can create a sense of confinement, while the right choices can make the space feel expansive and open. Color, material, and layout all contribute to how a room is perceived. For example, light-colored flooring reflects more light, which in turn makes the space appear brighter and more expansive.

Choosing the right material, such as hardwood, laminate, or tile, can also make a huge difference in the room’s ambiance. Some materials, like glossy tiles or polished concrete, can create a smooth, uninterrupted surface that enhances the sense of space, while others, like textured stone or carpet, might add visual clutter in a small room.

Choose Lighter Colors for Flooring

Light colors reflect more light, making a room feel brighter and more open. Opt for light shades of wood, stone, or tiles to instantly create the illusion of more space. White, light gray, and beige are excellent choices for flooring. They help to visually expand a room by bouncing natural light around. Light-colored floors can make a room feel less enclosed and more inviting.

Another advantage of lighter floors is that they pair well with any color scheme for the rest of the room. Whether you opt for colorful walls, neutral furniture, or minimalist décor, light floors serve as a versatile base that complements various interior styles.

Consider the Size of the Flooring Planks

Professional installation of floor covering, the worker quickly and qualitatively mounts a laminate board

In a small room, larger flooring planks can help to create the illusion of more space. The key is to avoid small, busy patterns that can make the room feel cluttered. For hardwood floors or tiles, larger planks make the room appear more expansive by minimizing visual interruptions.

On the other hand, smaller tiles or planks, while beautiful, can break up the space into sections. This can make a small room feel even more compact. Instead, larger-format tiles, such as 12-inch x 24-inch tiles or longer hardwood planks, help to create a sense of flow and continuity, making the room appear more open.

Use Diagonal Flooring Layouts

One design trick to open up a small space is to install the flooring diagonally. When you lay tiles or planks in a diagonal pattern, the lines draw the eye outward, creating the illusion of depth. This technique can make your room feel longer and wider than it actually is. Whether you’re installing hardwood, laminate, or tile, a diagonal layout adds interest and dimension, helping to expand the room’s visual feel.

Go with Continuous Flooring Throughout the Home

If your small room is part of an open-plan living area or connects to other spaces, consider using the same flooring throughout. When the flooring continues seamlessly from one room to the next, it creates a unified look, visually enlarging the space. Avoid using transitions between rooms, as these can break up the flow and make a space feel more confined. A continuous flooring choice, whether it’s hardwood or large-format tile, will enhance the sense of openness and make the room appear larger.

The Right Tile Choices for Small Rooms

Floor tiles

Tiles are an excellent choice for small spaces, particularly in high-traffic areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and entryways. Not only do they offer durability and easy maintenance, but they can also be a powerful design tool to create the illusion of more space. The versatility of tiles, along with their ability to reflect light and create a continuous surface, makes them an ideal option for small rooms. Whether you’re working with a tiny bathroom or a compact kitchen, choosing the right tiles and layout can transform the room by making it feel larger and more open.

Use Large Tiles for a Modern Look

Like flooring planks, large tiles can open up a space by reducing the number of grout lines visible in the room. Grout lines can visually segment the space, making it feel smaller. The fewer grout lines you have, the more expansive the room will feel. Large-format tiles, especially in neutral shades like white or light gray, will enhance the open feel of the room.

Tiles that are 12 inches by 24 inches or larger create a clean and sleek look. Large tiles have fewer interruptions, allowing the space to appear seamless and less cluttered. If you have a small room with limited square footage, large tiles are an excellent choice for expanding its visual size.

Vertical and Horizontal Tile Patterns

The way you install tiles can also influence how big the room looks. Vertical tiles can make a room feel taller, while horizontal tiles can make the room feel wider. This is especially useful in smaller spaces where you want to either increase the sense of height or width.

For example, in a small bathroom, vertical subway tiles can help to draw the eye upward, making the space feel taller. In contrast, horizontal tiles in a hallway can make the space feel longer. For the best effect, choose larger tiles in a simple layout, avoiding too many busy patterns that could overwhelm the space.

Glossy Tiles for Reflectivity

Interior of home showing newly glossy tiles

Tiles with a glossy finish reflect light, which helps to brighten up a small room. When tiles reflect light, the room appears larger and airier. Glossy tiles in light colors like white or cream create an open and fresh feel. These tiles are particularly effective in bathrooms and kitchens, where light can easily bounce off the surface and illuminate the entire space.

Additionally, glossy tiles are easy to clean and maintain, making them a practical choice for high-traffic areas. When paired with the right grout and design, glossy tiles can work wonders in making your room feel bigger and more inviting.

Keep the Floor Consistent with the Walls

To enhance the sense of space, choose a flooring and tile combination that complements your wall color. Lighter walls paired with light flooring and subtle tiles will create a unified look that makes the room feel larger. Avoid contrasting dark floors with dark walls, as this can make the space feel boxed in.

Consider matching the tile in the floor with that on the walls, especially in smaller rooms like bathrooms. Continuity between the floor and walls can blur the boundaries, making the room feel bigger and more open. If you want to add accents, you can introduce patterns or colors in the décor or accessories, such as rugs or cushions.

Consider Texture and Material

Classical empty room interior 3d render,The rooms have wooden floors and gray walls ,decorate with white moulding,there are white window looking out to the nature view.

Another effective way to create the illusion of space in a small room is by carefully selecting the textures and materials for your flooring. The texture of the floor can significantly influence how a room feels, so it’s important to choose materials that contribute to an open, airy atmosphere. Flooring options like hardwood, laminate, or polished concrete are excellent choices because they provide a smooth, continuous surface.

These materials help eliminate visual clutter, creating a sense of flow from one area to the next, which is especially important in smaller rooms where every square inch matters. The uninterrupted nature of these materials creates a clean and sleek look, giving the room a more expansive feel.

Trust JG Contracting for Your Flooring and Tile Needs

At JG Contracting, we specialize in interior renovations and home upgrades, including flooring and tile installations. If you’re looking to make a small room feel bigger through thoughtful design and quality materials, we are here to help. We offer a wide range of services throughout the Greater Toronto area, ensuring that each project is completed on time and with the highest standard of craftsmanship.

From bathroom and kitchen remodels to painting, flooring, and tile installations, JG Contracting is your trusted partner for all your home renovation needs. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional customer care and providing tailored solutions that meet your specific needs and preferences.

Contact us today for a complimentary estimate customized to your project. You can reach us by emailing jgcontractingyyz@gmail.com or calling 437-259-9632. Let us help you transform your small room into a spacious and welcoming area with the perfect flooring and tile choices.


With the right approach to flooring and tile, your small room can feel much larger and more inviting. Make the most of your space by choosing materials and layouts that open up the area and enhance the overall feel. Whether you’re renovating a small bathroom, kitchen, or living area, thoughtful design can make all the difference.

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