Advice on how to make a small space look large?

declutter

If you can, paint the walls a plain boring white. Nobody notices white walls and they make your area appear larger by accentuating the furnishing and reflecting the maximum amount of light available. Also don't use curtains or shades if you can, again the light will open up the room.

use mirrors everywhere to reflect light & they give the illusion that the space is bigger. Use different sizes and shapes such as, mirror picture frames and clocks.

Minimize the decorations. Lighten up the walls - maybe even paint the furniture, if possible, lighter. Less is more.

Use fabric and starch to line your cabinets. This will lighten up the space and give you some pop. If you get tired of the look, just peel the fabric off the back of your cabinets.

2 very important changes, declutter and add mirrors. I bought door closet mirrors and installed them side by side over couch and again at entryway. Made a huge difference.

Good luck.

Light grey walls and paint the furniture white? It would make it look airy. I personally would get rid of the bulky entertainment center and do some open shelving but since you want to keep it that would be my suggestion.

It is difficult to tell if you have windows that allow light in. If you do there is nothing like natural light especially an eastern exposure (morning light).

Hide the wires...either pull them over to the sides or put a false back on your two bottom shelves with the wires behind them. I personally would take everything off the top and put one thing in the center.....a green bushy plant...either real but probably artificial. Take off everything on the shelf above the TV and do away with the shelf if it will come out......really better to have your TV on a shelf than have a shelf over your TV. If you can't take the shelf out, then put your candelabra there....and only that. Then rearrange or lessen the things you have behind the glass doors....your pottery pieces would look good there. Really less is move in this case.

I had a dark buffet that my granddaughter now has. She kept the flat surface dark plus the crown molding and painted the rest a milk white and also updated the hardware. It is beautiful.

Mirrors, mirrors, mirrors. I have a 5'x6' mirror in a small guest room and it makes the room look much larger. The room gets plenty of light and the mirror reflects the light makes it look "airy." Also maybe use glass top end and coffee tables in place of bulky wood tables. If you could mount the tv on a wall you wouldn't need a large entertainment center.

I share the thoughts of painting and mirrors. If you do not want to paint your furniture put white contact paper inside on the back wall to lighten it up. Or have pieces of plywood cut to fit and paint them white. Hang the TV on the wall then hide the wires. IKEA carries tubing that you can put the wires in so they blend with the wall. I would lose some of the stuff inside the cabinets. Too busy. If you want to keep them rotate them out and store the others.

First I would paint the walls a really light green or eggshell white and use light airy fabrics for window treatments. Next, I frame the tv and the back of the cabinets on the side with mirrors. Then I'd move the pictures to the shelf above the tv. I'd declutter the cabinets and the top shelf, after all the greater distance your eye travels to see something gives the illusion/feeling of spaciousness.

Oh, and I agree with Gina Lombardi, definitly hide the wires for a neater look.

Paint walls a light color, use furniture that is not tall. Tall furniture shortens and closes in the area. Try to use furniture that is also light in color.

Is there room for the towers in the dining area? (store the top under your bed) Mount glass shelves between them and tuck in a bar cart. Get a wall mount for the TV and hide the cables. if you have no proper foyer, use 1 tower and the center base to create an entryway. A place for keys, purses. Cover the back side of the pieces with grass cloth painted to match the walls, hang a small piece of artwork on the tower and stash a small stool or puff in the corner you've created.

you could add larger lighting, like tall bright lamps.

I can't believe it! I (had) the same exact wall unit and the same exact problem!! Got rid of it and ordered a beautiful piece to hold my tv. I didn't want to get rid of mine neither but when I asked close friends, they all said dated, too gawdy, too big, and looks cluttered. Simplify, simplify, simplify. Hung curtains for decor; high and only covering the least amount of window. I use mirrors as many others have suggested. I hope by the time you read this... that thing is gone :-)