Want a larger home, but can’t afford one? Think out of the box and rethink the place where you spend most of your time.

If you want a home that feels more spacious without depleting your life savings, forget about moving and get beyond a room addition.

All you need to do is concentrate on a few key areas.

Furniture

Group your furniture in small configurations with ample space in between. This clever technique will fool the eye into focusing on the space rather than the lack thereof.

Your home will feel larger and more spacious and you may find that you feel more comfortable, too. This may necessitate getting rid of some furniture.

If you’ve been living in the same place for a long while, then chances are good that it may be time to thin out a few pieces you may not need.

Clever dividers

A hanging plant — or a series of them — can act as an effective separator that will give the illusion of separate spaces, yet maintain a great degree of openness. Plants not only create a visual division, they bring the outside inside.

Dressing screens are lightweight and inexpensive. A screen can create a partial barrier while adding color at the same time.

Color

Light colored walls and ceilings tend to increase a room’s size both in area and height. Paint colors can make a room feel cold or warm: Yellow adds a feeling of warmth and shades of blue can make a room feel cold.

Warm or cold, as long as the shade is light and bright your room will look and feel more spacious.

Mirrors

No one can deny that mirrors have the power to make your home look more spacious. A strategically placed mirror can add a whole new dimension to a living space.

Mirrors reflect light throughout a room and give the illusion of depth to a wall. Large, precut mirrors are inexpensive and can be framed to look as interesting as an expensive painting.

Lighting

Light plays an important role in the perceived space in your home. Direct dimmed lights onto the walls behind furniture and close to artwork to draw the eye in several directions.

Flooding the room with bland overhead light loses the accentuation that is achieved through carefully placed fixtures. Also, the addition of rope lighting — hidden beneath and behind furniture — is yet another very inexpensive way of accenting a room’s appearance by creating soft shadows and even softer lighting.

Flooring

Hardwood flooring is rich looking and so is ceramic tile and stone flooring. Enjoy the richness of these elements, but be careful. Walnut stained hardwood may be a hot look, but a dark floor can cause a room to appear tiny.

Keep your ceramic tile and stone flooring light as well. A light wall-to-wall carpet is a safe bet both in terms of budget and design.

We aren’t suggesting that you turn your home into a hospital room. If you’re looking for more space without the cost of moving or adding on, it makes good sense to think in terms of sparse furnishings in light-colored surroundings.

For tips from James and Morris Carey, go to www.onthehouse.com or call the listener hot line, 800-737-2474, ext. 59. The Careys are also on KRKO (1380-AM) from 6 to 10 a.m. every Saturday.