There’s a simple decorating move that interior designers have been relying on for decades—one that instantly makes your space feel more open and considered without requiring any renovations. The trick? Choose some furniture with legs.

We're not talking about spindly, fragile pieces that look like they belong in your grandmother's sitting room. Today's leggy furniture spans the style spectrum—from mid-century-inspired sofas with tapered stainless steel pegs to modern minimalist media consoles and classic bookcases lifted just a few inches off the floor. The unifying principle is this: when you can see the floor beneath a piece of furniture, your room looks bigger and your space feels more intentional.

Interior designers refer to this as “visual weight.” Heavy, bulky furniture that sits flush to the floor eats up space—literally and perceptually. But when a piece has legs, especially slender or angled ones, it lifts the form, allows light to pass underneath, and creates an illusion of spaciousness. That small sliver of visible floor makes a surprising difference in how your brain interprets the room. It's the same principle used in fashion. A cropped jacket or cuffed pants show a bit of skin or sock, adding sharpness and structure. Furniture on legs does the same—streamlining your silhouette, so to speak. To help you get the picture, we've pulled a few of our favorite footed furniture to buy right now.