MAKE SMALL LIVING SPACES FEEL LARGER WITH A FEW EASY TIPS!

 

MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME OR RENTAL. OR JUST MAKE YOUR CURRENT SPACE BIGGER!

Sunday garage sale with the lemonade stand! Over the years we end up collecting far more stuff than we’ll ever need. And at some stage it may be good to get rid of clutter. Rule of thumb – If you haven’t used something for six months, you probably don’t need it. Get hold of old toys, clothes and stuff you haven’t touched in a while to hold a garage sale. Get the kids involved and make a fun day of – complete with a lemonade stand!

Re-think storage at home.  Once you’ve cleared out the clutter you can start making better use of existing spaces at home. You may have completely ignored your attic, which can be cleared out to make for excellent storage. Lofts are a great way to get stuff off the floors. Elevated shelves, wall-racks and in-closet racks are an alternative standard shelving, and they also create a nice optical illusion of space.

Consider multi-purpose furniture. Fold-away beds are great for maximizing space in bedrooms or smaller spare rooms, and can practically create a whole room by folding away. The same goes for a nest of tables, stackable tables and fold-away desks. These can all be folded out of sight when not in use, opening up hidden space. Beds with storage can double up as toy bins and linen cabinets, often eliminating that extra closet hogging up a corner! In any case, heavy, boxy furniture is not really in vogue anymore. Glass-topped tables can make a huge difference and are trendy. Ditch the solid wood swing doors for elegant sliding glass doors. They can really open up cramped spaces,  adding a touch of class.

Off-site Storage is an option. Off-site storage is worth considering, even though there is a cost attached to it. Depending on how much, you may consider lumping it with your other household monthly outgoings. Or consider it just an annual cost to capitalize, if it frees up needed space at home. This can often negate the need for a larger home, and the associated cost.

Walls & Floors make a huge difference. White is the default color for small spaces, but it doesn’t need to stop there, because light pastels are an equally good option. Mix and match white walls with peach, magenta or mushroom blinds or sheers, to create a light and airy feel to the indoors. Soft florals prints are a good match to light colored walls, and consider doing away with the heavier drapes that have “Been there, ever since we moved”! Flooring can make a big difference in how large a room feels, and consider lighter wood and tile options when the time has come! You will be surprised how much you can achieve just by lightening up the floors in a small room.

Lighting & Mirrors add the finishing touch. Brighter lights can help open up a hidden space, and can alter the entire look of a room. The same effect can be achieved with mood lights. If adding an expensive skylight is not an option, you will be surprised with what a stylish over-size mirror can achieve to create the feel of dramatically larger space, using available light.

So, there you are. The next time you’re considering a change of venue, make sure to try out these tips first! Not only can they save you thousands of dollars in expensive moves, but also the pain of moving. And also add demonstrable value to your home. Or rental.

Happy decorating!