How to fake a bigger home: Smart space hacks for tiny flats

In Dhaka, a 900-square-foot flat is now considered a luxury. With rents soaring and every square inch worth its weight in gold, we're all trying to do the impossible: fit our full lives into half the space. The good news? You can make your home look and feel bigger, without knocking down walls or knocking out your savings.

We asked local real estate agents, interior designers, and people who've mastered the small-home game for their best tricks. Here's how you can do it too.

But just because your home is compact doesn't mean it has to feel cramped. With the right tricks, even a tiny flat can feel open, airy, and dare we say roomy.

Mirror, mirror on the... balcony wall?

Ever walked into a local barber shop where there's barely space to squeeze in without your butt grazing a chair or a customer's knee? But then—boom—you look up, and it hits you: infinity. Thanks to mirrored walls on every side, that cramped 50-square-foot shop suddenly feels like the TARDIS, stretching into endless reflections and spatial sorcery.

Nothing doubles a room like a well-placed mirror. A large mirror opposite a window reflects light, scenery, and space, creating a visual echo that makes the room feel twice its size.

Interior designer Nilima Hossain shares, "In smaller apartments, I always place a tall mirror near the dining space or hallway. It instantly adds breathing room." Even a slim, mirrored wall panel behind a shoe cabinet or bookshelf can trick the eye. Think of mirrors as windows you get to install anywhere.

Lighten up (your fabrics, not just your mood)

Sometimes, it's not the walls, it's the stuff inside them. Heavy, dark fabrics can make a space feel dense and weighed down, especially in the sweltering Dhaka summer. Lighter materials and paler shades don't just look cooler, they feel cooler too.

Swap out deep velvets and dark drapes for cotton, linen, or voile in soft neutrals or pale pastels. Think whites, beiges, and powdery blues-colours that bounce light and create a breezy, open vibe, even when the humidity's trying to strangle you.

Personally, I go seasonal. When summer hits, in come the white curtains. It brings down the heat, if not literally, then psychologically, by at least four degrees.

As architect Momena Karim puts it: "People often underestimate how much a light curtain or neutral rug can open up a room. It's the difference between feeling boxed in and feeling like you can breathe."

Look up, not around

When you run out of floor space, it's time to think vertical. Tall bookshelves, overhead cabinets, and wall-mounted storage units let you keep your stuff and your sanity. Use your walls. Floor-to-ceiling units create the illusion of height. And you free up the floor for things like walking.

Bonus: You're less likely to stub your toe on floating shelves than on a rogue side table.

Furniture that pulls double duty (or triple)

When every square foot counts, your furniture better hustle. Think beds with storage drawers, ottomans that open up, folding dining tables, or study desks that tuck away when not in use.

Architect Imran Rahman puts it bluntly: "In Dhaka flats, storage is often an afterthought. But multifunctional furniture makes everyday life smoother."

It's not just practical, it's liberating. You start to think like a magician. Now you see the clutter, now you don't.

Declutter like you mean it (but keep your stuff)

Yes, minimalism is having a moment. But no, you don't have to Marie Kondo your life into a hollow echo chamber. You can keep your stuff. Just be a little more strategic about it. Rotate seasonal items, stash things in hidden storage, and try not to use every flat surface as a dumping ground. When I got married, we moved into a roomy 1400 sq ft apartment. Later, we downsized to a compact 900 sq ft flat. My wife panicked: "How will we breathe in there?" But within a few weeks, something clicked. Once we stopped keeping everything everywhere, the space didn't just feel livable, it felt generous.

Your home isn't too small. Your stuff is just misbehaving.

Little tricks that fool the eye

Use lightweight curtains hung from just below the ceiling to elongate your windows.

Rugs help define "zones" in a studio or combined space: dining here, TV corner there.

Leave walkways open and uninterrupted. Your eyes (and your hips) will thank you.

Fake it till you feel it

Living in a small Dhaka apartment doesn't mean giving up on style or comfort. It means getting clever, intentional, and maybe just a bit ruthless with your choices. You're not downsizing, you're optimising.