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This section of our Web site is intended to help inform the public with information about home buying, and home selling, as well as our "Real Talk" section. Since we know that many real estate terms are unfamiliar, we have also included an online glossary for your use.

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Enlarge Your Home Without Spending a Lot

One of the main reasons people move is to gain more room. If this is the situation you find yourself in, you will want to make your home appear bigger, both for your own enjoyment and to make it more attractive for getting it sold. Here are several easy things you can do to make your home appear larger to guests and prospective buyers. This can be to your advantage when you are selling a small house.

1. Using Light -- Sufficient lighting makes any space seem more inviting and larger. In order to make a room seem larger there should be enough light to suggest a feeling of openness. Shine lights on walls so they will seem to be brighter. You might want to have lighting controls installed that will allow you to dim or increase the intensity of the lights in each room as you wish.

2. Paint Choices -- Use only light shades of warm colors such as red, orange and browns. These colors can make a room seem larger and more open. To give a particular room added depth, you might try the technique of using light shades on three walls of the room and a coordinating darker tone of the same color on the other one.

3. Minimize the Furniture -- Rooms that have too much furniture tend to look smaller. The more crowded a room is, the smaller it will appear. Be sure not to crowd your furniture together when you want to make the room look larger than it physically is. Avoid placing bulky armchairs and overstuffed sofas in small spaces. To maximize the utilization of space, try to use dual purpose furniture. For instance, a hassock that has room inside for magazine storage saves the space that would be needed for a second dedicated piece.

4. Be Mindful of Your Choices in Decorator Items Too -- The accessories you choose have an impact on the appearance of overall size. Use curtains in a light color, which allow the entry of light during the day. Select light colored furniture, or as a minimum use light colored covers for the furniture, because light colors will generally give a feeling of extra space.

5. Get Rid of Unattractive Clutter -- Effective use of storage is important, especially in small spaces. The more junk in your home, the smaller it will look. Select storage systems and solutions that fit your family's needs and lifestyle. By reducing clutter, your home will instantly look better to guests and homebuyers -- and you will be happier there too.

6. Using Mirrors -- Use large framed mirrors strategically to give depth to the room. This is one of the simplest and best things you can do. Mirrors can serve as attractive in and of themselves, and they serve the additional and very pertinent purpose of adding apparent size directly to a small room.

These easy techniques can save you expense in the very worthwhile task of making your home more attractive and marketable. In fact, these suggestions are among the most efficient ways to improve the value of your home using just a very modest amount.

Content provided by Automated Homefinder, Colorado's Boulder home experts.