Interior design takes a lot of skill and ingenuity, particularly when you have limited space to work with. With house prices at an all-time high, many of us are living in homes that are smaller than we need. Smaller houses and apartments can be a real challenge as you try to strike a balance between minimalism and having enough space for all your essential items. In order to live comfortably in a smaller home, it is vital that you utilize every inch that is available.
To help you make the most of your home, here are seven things you can do to maximize a small space.
1. Put Non-Essential Items into Storage
The first thing you need to maximize a small space is to clear out the possessions that you don’t need at this moment in time. If you have an attic, basement, or garage, you can store your possessions there until the time when you need them again. The folks at E-Z Garage Storage Systems explain that there are different kinds of shelving units that can be attached to the ceiling of your garage to create even more storage space. These units can hold massive weights, so you don’t need to worry about them falling down.
2. Start Minimalist Living
As well as putting things you don’t need right now into storage, you also need to look at getting rid of things you will never need altogether. Look at all of your possessions with a critical eye and identify the ones that you have no use for. These can be cleared out to create more space in your home. If the items are quality and still work fine, you can sell them or donate them to charity. If they are older or have no resale or donation value, just throw them away. Minimizing your life can not only free up space in your home, but it can also give you more space mentally as you won’t be burdened by the sheer scale of the clutter.
3. Use the Height of Your Home Effectively
When you have limited floor space in your home, it is time to think up. Using your home’s height effectively is crucial if you want to make more room and declutter your home. Use floor-to-ceiling shelving to pack your possessions away in an orderly fashion. Put the things you are most likely to use on the lower shelves and things you use less often on lower shelves. Floor-to-ceiling closets in the bedroom are particularly useful, especially if you and your family have a lot of clothes. If the top shelves are too high for you to reach, buy a trendy wooden stool that folds out into a mini set of ladders.
4. Create Smart Storage Solutions
In addition to standard shelving units and traditional storage solutions, in order to really maximize every inch, you should look at innovative ways to create smart storage solutions. In recent years there has been a growing trend of creating space within staircases for storing everything from wine to household items. You can design the staircase so that each individual step can be lifted up to place items inside, or you can create a side-on storage unit in the cross-section of the staircase. Not only will this help you to store away items and declutter your house, but it is also a real design talking point for your guests.
5. Buy Multi-Purpose Furniture
When space is limited, every purchase you make for your home has to be done with an eye for creating more space, and this especially applies to furniture. Big three-piece suites and wooden tables and chairs look great, but they will take up a lot of room. In the first place, you need to downsize each individual piece so that you have only the pieces you need for your family to all live comfortably. Where space can really be saved, however, is by investing in multi-purpose furniture. This can include sofas that fold out into beds and tables with storage capacities underneath. Think about each room in your home and balance furniture style with its size and storage capacity when designing the interior of your house.
6. Keep Your Home Tidy
In bigger homes, a bit of mess doesn’t make too much difference, but when your space is already limited, even a little disorder can throw your home into chaos. It is so important when you live in a smaller house or apartment that you keep it clean and tidy at all times. If you have children and a big family, put a cleaning rota in place so that you are all chipping in to do regular cleans to maintain order rather than one big clean a week when things have already got out of hand. Communal areas like the kitchen, living room and bathroom need particular attention and should really be cleaned on a daily basis.
7. Use Light and Color to Brighten the Room
Often, just creating the illusion of space can help a home to feel like it is roomier. When decorating your home, use bright colors and many whites and off-whites to create the feeling of more space. Ensure that you keep all the windows clear of clutter to allow in as much natural light as possible, and pay careful attention to your light fittings. Light can be a huge factor in creating the perception of space, so try to let as much of it as possible into your home.
Living in a small house can be a challenge, but it can also be an excellent opportunity to minimize your life. Separate your possessions into things you need in your home, things you might need later to go into storage, and things you don’t need which you can get rid of. After that, be smart with what kind of furniture you buy and how you use every last bit of space. Follow these simple tips, and you will be able to live comfortably in even the smallest of homes.
