Are you starting to think your home is too small? Are you frustrated by its lack of storage? Fear not, as there are lots of clever tips and tricks to make your home seem bigger. Here are some simple and effective ways to achieve this.
Declutter
Probably the fastest and cheapest way to make your pad appear more spacious is by removing clutter. You don’t have to go crazy and aim for the ultra-minimalist / display-home look, but you will need to roll up your sleeves and be prepared to dedicate some time to sorting through your things. Firstly, figure out what you no longer need and a) bin it with the help of a company like Waste Removal USA, b) sell it, or c) donate it. Then, make sure you’ve got the right storage systems that take up the least amount of space. For example, consider storing your CD and DVD cases in the garage and just using DVD wallets, they take up about 1/10thof the room. There are loads of cheap and clever products and ideas out there, so start your research and make a list of what you need.
Try a home makeover
Perhaps your home feels too small because of the way it’s styled. For example, do you have large and heavy pieces of furniture? Is your furniture dark? What about the colour of your walls, floor and window coverings? Light colours add an impressive sense of space as they bounce more light around.
If you’ve got curtains, consider replacing them with blinds (venetian, roman or roller) to reduce bulk and make rooms feel larger. If you’ve got dark and/or outdated carpet, consider replacing it with a lighter one. If you have dark tiles or timber floorboards, buying some light coloured rugs will do marvels at throwing more light around.
Also take a look at your decor such as cushions, wall hangings and other decorations. Do you have too many things? If so, it might be that you are creating a ‘busy’ look within your home, which is a sure-fire way of making rooms feel smaller.
Lastly, think about the lights in your home. Do you have enough and are they the right type for each room? LED lighting has become far more affordable and offers an energy-efficient way to bring a lot more light into your home. For really dark areas, you want to consider skylights or sky-tubes to bring in lots of natural light. This can significantly open up your home and make it feel larger and more liveable.
Upsize without upsizing
If your home is well organised and styled but you’ve simply run out of space, you need a whole different type of solution. It might be time to take a look at self storage, where can hire a range of different size spaces to store things you don’t use often. You can rent space on a temporary or permanent basis and can access your things seven days a week. Most of these companies (for example, Fort Knox), also provide around-the-clock security and can help you organise insurance if your existing contents policy doesn’t cover you for items taken outside your home.
Small spaces don’t have to feel small if you know how to maximise them. With some simple design concepts and storage solutions, you’ll be amazed at how you can make your home feel bigger.
