Selecting furniture to create a more open, airy interior
Designing Space with Style: How to Select Furniture That Creates a More Open, Airy Interior
Creating a home that feels spacious, breathable, and serene is not just about square meters — it’s about how you use them. Whether you're working with a compact apartment or a larger living space, the right furniture selection can dramatically influence how open and airy your interior feels.
This guide explores how to choose furniture to visually and physically open up your space, while also enhancing functionality and style. Read on for expert, SEO-friendly insights that balance creativity with smart design.
Why a Light and Airy Interior Matters
A more open interior does more than just look nice. It has psychological and practical benefits:
- Reduces stress by removing visual clutter.
- Improves air flow and light distribution.
- Creates flexibility for movement and future changes.
- Enhances property value by presenting a cleaner, more organized home.
Let’s dive into the furniture selection strategies that can help you achieve this ideal home atmosphere.
Choose the Right Scale of Furniture
One of the most common mistakes people make is selecting furniture that is too large or heavy-looking for their space.
- Avoid oversized sofas and bulky armoires in smaller rooms. They dominate the space and make it feel cramped.
- Opt for compact or modular pieces that fit your room’s scale.
- Leave breathing space around furniture, especially between walls and large pieces like beds or cabinets. This gives the room a sense of flow and openness.
Embrace Minimalist Designs
Furniture with clean lines and simple silhouettes helps make a room feel less crowded.
- Look for furniture with open bases like chairs with thin legs or tables with minimal support structure.
- Avoid heavy ornamentation or overly decorative pieces that visually weigh down the room.
- Keep color tones soft and neutral, which further supports the feeling of openness.
Minimalist does not mean boring — it means prioritizing form, function, and space.
Use Multi-Functional Furniture
Smart, space-saving furniture plays a huge role in creating an open interior.
- Sofas with hidden storage
- Extendable dining tables
- Ottomans that double as coffee tables
- Foldable chairs or stackable stools
These practical choices allow you to reduce clutter and only bring out what you need when you need it.
Let Light Pass Through
Light — both natural and artificial — is key to a space feeling bigger and more open. Your furniture can support this.
- Use glass or acrylic tables that visually disappear into the space.
- Avoid solid-front cabinets where possible — consider open shelving or glass-paneled doors.
- Keep window areas clear of heavy furniture or tall shelving to let in as much daylight as possible.
Mirrored surfaces also help reflect light and visually double the space, making them a great addition in the form of furniture accents or wall décor.
Choose Raised Furniture
Furniture that is raised off the ground on legs helps expose more floor area, which gives the impression of a larger space.
- Mid-century modern furniture is ideal here, as it often features slim legs and elevated designs.
- Avoid floor-hugging sofas or storage units that sit flat on the ground unless space truly demands it.
When more flooring is visible, the room automatically feels more spacious.
Focus on a Cohesive Color Palette
Visually open rooms are often supported by cohesive, light color schemes. This doesn’t mean everything has to be white — but tones should complement each other.
- Choose soft tones such as beige, light grey, pale wood, or muted pastels.
- Match furniture finishes where possible to create a streamlined look.
- Avoid dark, contrasting pieces unless used sparingly to anchor the space.
Consistency in tone between walls, flooring, and furniture pieces encourages visual continuity — an essential element in open design.
Smart Layouts Make a Big Difference
The way furniture is placed in a room impacts the flow and openness more than you might think.
- Avoid blocking pathways with furniture — ensure natural walkways are clear.
- Float furniture like sofas or lounge chairs away from walls to create better air circulation.
- Use rugs to define zones, not to clutter the floor with overlapping patterns.
Your layout should invite movement and guide the eye easily from one part of the room to another.
Prioritize Transparent and Light Materials
Materials make a big visual difference when choosing furniture for a light, airy space.
- Glass, acrylic, or light woods like oak and beech keep rooms from feeling heavy.
- Avoid dark lacquered or high-shine finishes unless balanced by lighter elements.
- Natural materials such as rattan, linen, or bamboo offer a soft, breathable feel.
Even upholstered items should be considered carefully — opt for breathable, light-colored fabrics that reflect natural light.
Keep Storage Solutions Discreet
Clutter quickly destroys an open interior. Choose furniture that hides or organizes your belongings efficiently.
- Built-in storage benches, sideboards with closed compartments, and under-bed drawers are all smart choices.
- Use vertical space with tall but narrow shelving units rather than bulky low ones that take up floor area.
- Stick to uniform storage baskets or boxes that blend with the furniture color scheme.
Less visual noise means a clearer, calmer atmosphere.
Summary: How to Create a More Airy Interior with Furniture
To recap the key tips:
- Choose smaller scale furniture with clean lines.
- Use transparent, raised, and open-design pieces.
- Embrace light color palettes and multi-functional options.
- Allow natural light to flow freely.
- Create smart, open layouts with efficient walkways.
- Prioritize hidden storage and avoid cluttered surfaces.
With thoughtful furniture selection, you can transform any home into a more open, inviting, and breathable space — without having to knock down a single wall.
Final Thoughts for Your Furniture Selection Journey
Designing an open interior is about less, but better. It’s not just what you put in the room — it's also what you leave out. Every piece of furniture should have a purpose, contribute to the space visually, and support comfort and functionality.
When shopping from our webshop, look for lightweight designs, multi-use solutions, and elevated frames that support your goal of a more open, airy home. We carefully curate furniture pieces that align with modern living needs, offering you smarter options for more breathable interiors.
Start your transformation today — create a space that feels bigger, lighter, and better to live in.