It seems that no matter how many rooms you have in your house, you will always find yourself struggling for empty space. Your living space needs to contain the essential items for you to live comfortably from day to day. These essential items include a bed, couch, fridge, freezer, an oven and lots of storage space.
Although we only require a few essential items, we tend to fill up the rooms that we own. This involves buying extra furniture, shelves and decorations to really make our residences feel lived in. The downside to this approach leaves us with very little extra space to play with, which can make our homes feel cramped or uncomfortable.
What if we told you that there is a way to continue to buy the items that you want without compromising on space? Here are a few tips that you can use to let your house breathe.
Built In Storage
Every time you buy something, you are going to need to find a place to put it. There are some objects that you want to put on display, such as collectables, photos, media, gifts or games. This might be because you need quick access to these items, or because they are part of your homes decoration.
However, you still want to have somewhere to store everything else. After all, there is no need to have your underwear on display for your guests. Wardrobes, cupboards and chests of drawers can be cumbersome, absorbing space that you may have planned out for other activities. Therefore, it may be prudent to use the space that you do not see. Built-in storage for clothes utilises the negative space that you have in the walls, or floor that is otherwise going unused. You will find a large are of unused space in the roof above the stairs. Why not knock through and keep your clothes here?
By switching to a built-in wardrobe, you can save valuable space in your bedroom. To find some examples, check out the built-in wardrobes by Online Bedrooms.
Under Stairs Cupboards
Another example of negative space in your house that is probably going unused is the area under your stairs. Most staircases are built with a cupboard underneath, but not all of them fill the entire space provided. Take a look at where the cupboard walls end and see if there is room for expansion. The only thing better than one cupboard is many cupboards.
Storage is not the only use for the space under your stairs. You could choose to convert this area into another toilet area or an office. Either way, you are making the most out of what you have.
Speaking of which, a new trend for staircases is converting each step into a pull out drawer. This method provides a good place to store shoes, umbrellas or coats- anything you might need to grab on the way out of the house.
Fold Out Furniture
One of the biggest uses of space in your home is furniture. This terms extends to seating, your bed and table surfaces. It is common for many of us to buy these items, find a place for them in the home and leave them there. But, did you know that there is a smarter way to approach our furniture?
The foldaway approach allows you to collapse your large items against the wall, or flatten them for easy storage. You can use this method to fold your bed against the wall, put away tables or remove anything cluttering up the living area. You aren’t going to be using your important items all day, so why not remove them from view?
Technology is also following the foldaway trend, and you can now buy TV’s that fold away into the console unit. You can retrieve this device with just the push of a button.
The Illusion Of Space
Not all the space in your home needs to be physical. Sometimes it is just the illusion of open space enough that can provide the feeling you are after.
The best way to create this illusion is by letting in more light. You can do this by adding more windows to a room, or adding a skylight. If you are struggling for light in the back of the house, a clear screen door might provide the type of light that you seek.
A second tip for creating the illusion of space is by putting up mirrors. A mirror is a good tool for doubling the length of a room, and a floor to ceiling mirror can accomplish this, especially if you have let in more light.
Lastly, the way that you decorate your home will make it feel larger. Using vertical line patterns will make the ceiling feel higher, and horizontal lines will give the perception that the room is wider.
Extra Rooms
It is by no means easy to pull off a conversion or extension in your home, but these methods can provide exactly the type of extra space that you need.
The first hurdle you need to clear when trying to convert a room or extend your property is finding the funding. If money is not an issue, you will then need to gain planning permission from your local council or surrounding neighbours. You can only start making changes to your home once you have received the go ahead.
It is likely that you have an attic space or a basement that is going unused. You could keep using it as storage, or get creative by planning a conversion. Like with the under stairs cupboard, the possibilities are endless, only now you have a lot more room to work with.
The last and most drastic solution to save space is by increasing the size of your home. An extension on your property doesn’t need to be big, but even a single story addition can provide a place to store your washing appliances or kitchenware.
When it comes to saving space around the home, you can make small deviations, or go all out and change your house completely. With that said, one thing remains certain- you are never short on ideas.
