No matter how big your house is, every square inch matters. Many people throw around their belongings without any plans and end up missing the full benefits of that room. Efficient usage of spaces is a very important skill, especially when you’re living in a small house. Want to make the most of small spaces in your home? Then you’re in the right place. Here, we’ll offer some top tips to help you maximise small or underutilised spaces – so your home functions better than ever before.
To get the best out of these tips, it’s recommended that you understand the exact size of your floor. You can use a square footage calculator to get all the necessary measurements. These values will come in handy in some of your future installations. With that out of the way, let’s see how you can make the most out of that small room.
Take advantage of wall space
One quick and easy way to maximize your storage is to think vertically. Rather than trying to cram lots of bulky furniture into a small space to house your belongings, consider alternative storage solutions. Inasmuch as those mobile cabinets might look classy, they’ll fill up your small floor area. The best option would be to find ways to maximize dead wall space.
For instance, hanging shelves are an effective vertical solution that can be integrated into almost any room of the home. Pop them in your kitchen to store pots and pans, your bedroom to store accessories or bags, or your living room to house books and other items.
Get creative with your storage
Small spaces often require more careful consideration when it comes to buying furniture. For one, your room can only host a limited number of storage furniture, not to mention their sizes. But as you consider using the dead wall space, make sure you do it wisely. This might not seem like a big deal but take traditional freestanding wardrobes, for example. While these items can often fit in rooms neatly, they may mean valuable space is lost above them and to their sides. It’s even more frustrating if the interior of the wardrobe is too small to accommodate all your belongings. So, what’s the best alternative? Well, you should consider investing in built-in wardrobes that can be made bespoke to use every inch, from wall to wall and floor to ceiling. You could also make use of the space under your bed by opting for a frame with storage underneath—such as an ottoman design.
Adopt a ‘broken plan’ layout
To make sure your space functions for all aspects of your life, adopt a ‘broken plan’ layout. This plays on the well-known open-plan layout but involves creating distinct zones for sleeping, eating, cooking, relaxing, and so on. For example, if you have an open-plan space that functions as a kitchen, dining and living space, you can separate each ‘zone’ using sofas, dining tables, plants and other household items.
This will give each area has its own unique purpose and ensure the room truly functions for you. For one, the kitchen will feel more natural and harmonious. Employing this setup will not only maximize the benefits of your small space but also improve your socialization as a family.
Embrace the light
Without adequate lighting, small spaces can feel darker and smaller than they are. Allow as much natural light into the room as possible, avoiding blocking windows with furniture or large ornaments. You can also enhance the lightness and brightness of a room by hanging mirrors on the wall as they bounce the light around the room, making it feel airy. Introduce lamps in dark corners or spotlights in particularly dark spaces to distribute light evenly. Having a small room should never be a deal breaker—it’s all about your creativity. Shifting from traditional storage techniques to a space-saving option could do wonders for you. The broken-plan layout is another alternative that you could adopt if your current design isn’t efficient enough. As you make all these changes, don’t forget about the lighting if you want to enjoy your new home.
But as you plan to start redesigning those small spaces in your home, ensure you carefully consider the costs first. There is little point in pumping loads of money into your home if you won’t recoup this when it comes time to sell. So, it’s important to set yourself a budget before you get to work. Once you’ve established how much you can spend without breaking the bank, you can tailor-fit these tips to suit your budget. Happy renovating!
