India, July 3 -- Compact homes can often leave you feeling grudgingly claustrophobic. Making rooms appear larger with tight floor plans doesn't always require big structural changes like tearing down walls, altering ceiling heights, room extensions or entirely refiguring floor plans. Instead, compact spaces can benefit from smart, innate design principles that create the illusion of openness and make interiors feel visually expanded without any renovations.

Sonali Ashar, founder of Sonali Ashar Designs, shared with HT Lifestyle how homeowners can transform interiors with the help of some smart hacks. She said, "The secret is to create houses that are both aesthetically pleasing and emotionally broadening. One's perception matters more th...