Effective Ways To Maximize and Optimize Space In Small Homes

Having a small home can sometimes be challenging, especially if you have a lot of stuff. Unless you are a professional interior designer, you will need to do some serious maneuvering to fit all your belongings in the limited space you have.

Fortunately, there’s no need to part with your favorite antique armchair just because you think that you don’t have enough space for it. If you need some help furnishing your home smartly and efficiently, you’ve come to the right place. Continue reading for some pro tips on how to maximize the space in your small home.

Use Mirrors Strategically

Mirrors are a great accessory to elongate narrow hallways in your home. However, you need to understand a little about angles and how to place the mirrors right for this effect. If you have a window in the living room area, hang a large mirror facing it to create the illusion that the room is extending further beyond its actual size. You can also use mirrors to disperse the sunlight into dark corners around your home. If your bedroom is small, add mirrors to your cabinet doors to make you feel like your bedroom is much bigger.

Let the Sunshine In

Sunlight can do wonders for any space. Whenever possible use the sunlight to your benefit to light your rooms instead of artificial lighting.  If you have a nice view, draw the drapes wide open. Otherwise, replace your dark and heavy curtains with light airy ones. Your home will instantly feel ten times larger.

Seek the Help of Experts

Interior design experts know how to play with different furniture styles and colors to maximize space. If you have always dreamed of having a home office but you don’t know how to make it happen in your small home, it’s time to call the experts. In exchange for a reasonable fee, you can get professional space planning for your entire home. Experts at this Singaporean furniture shop explain that it’s all a matter of imagination and expertise. Even when you’re not sure what exactly you are looking for, a design expert will help you come up with ideas and give you options accordingly until you find what you like.

Tear Down the Walls

Instead of settling for a small home with two tiny bedrooms, tear the walls down and combine them into a huge master bedroom if you don’t yet need the extra room. Create a space for yourself that you can enjoy now and not five years into the future. When the time comes, if you’re still living in the same place, you can rebuild the bedroom. True, tearing down walls can be a hassle, but it’ll be completely worth it when you no longer have to walk sideways into your bedroom’s narrow entryway.

Use the Space Under the Stairs

If there’s a huge empty space under the staircase, then it would be a waste to not utilize it efficiently. Your small home probably doesn’t come with enough storage spaces, you should find a good contractor to build some storage compartments under the staircase.

You can store your bulky winter coats, as well as extra shoes and your kids’ endless toys. This is a great way to enjoy a clutter-free home and feel like you have more living space for you and the family.

Turn Your Regular Doors Into Sliding Doors

Regular doors eat up a lot of space to open them wide. The extra space behind the doors is unfortunately completely useless. That’s why you should consider turning all of the doors in your small house into sliding ones. However, this is not a simple task. You need to find a good contractor who can make this happen with the least possible damages.

Utilize the Vertical Space

Whether in the living room or the kitchen, shift your focus towards utilizing the vertical space. If you have one single countertop in the kitchen, find smart storage units to help you stack your coffee machine, electric kettle, and food processor all on top of each other. This way you will make enough room for food preparation. Another good idea is to dedicate one of your living room walls to books. Install ceiling-to-floor bookshelves to make the room seem more spacious.

Tuck Your Appliances Away

Whether it’s the iron table in your bedroom or the microwave in the kitchen, these items don’t need to be out on display all the time. You can use retractable shelves for those frequently used appliances without unnecessarily wasting your already limited space.

Go All White

You can paint your walls completely white for a very eye-tricking, fashionable style that will instantly make a space appear bigger and brighter.

Ceiling Meets the Floor

Floor-to-ceiling shelves are one style that is currently popular for maximizing space. When you need to have a place to store everything to keep the clutter at bay in compact places, this is excellent.

Multi-functional Furniture

Introduce a daybed that works as a guest bed and is ideal for daily usage as a place to relax. A C-table for your PC or cup of coffee is another option. Every piece of furniture in a space ought to serve a certain function.

Room Dividers

Instead of walls, use dividers. This will evoke the atmosphere of a historic home without encroaching on available space. Either drapes or glass windows are options.

Overhead Lighting

Add some overhead LED lighting to prominent locations like kitchen cabinets and shelves.

Under Bed Storage

The space under your bed can be used for storage, just like the space under your stairs. Purchase some affordable bookcases for this.

Use Double-Duty Furniture

Furniture with several uses is always a wise choice in a small area. Consider using a gorgeous side chair in place of an end table next to your sofa, for example. When you have visitors, it can act as extra seats in this way. Replace your coffee table with a bench that has concealed storage. A table, seating, and storage are all incorporated into one in this way. Obviously, consider furniture that can be changed, like sofa beds.

Make Use of Awkward Spaces

You can fit custom shelves into odd nooks and crannies, and they are not expensive (they can be a simple DIY job). Consider having bespoke shelves made to fill any awkward corners or protruding walls where furniture cannot be placed.

Think Less is More

You want your space to have an impact without being overly cluttered. Many people believe that smaller furniture is the logical choice yet doing so frequently makes an area feel cluttered. Making the impression you want while choosing larger furniture with fewer pieces will help keep the area uncluttered.

Utilize a Kitchen Corner

Small homes have beauty due to their nooks and crannies, but what do you do with them? Consider installing a built-in banquette in a forgotten kitchen nook to create additional seating. Seats and cushions resemble a restaurant booth, while concealed drawers store kitchenware, tablecloths, and other needs.

Make the Most of Windows

Windows optically extend a tiny space because they draw your eye beyond the wall to the outside vista, bringing it into your living area. Use the bare windows to create an expansive effect, or cover them with drapes that complement the color of the walls for a seamless appearance. Install basic blinds or shades that may be folded up throughout the day for privacy.

Limit Patterns

Let color and texture, rather than patterns, be the main considerations when decorating a tiny space. Confusion results from adding too many prints in a small space. A little amount of design on the bedding does wonders in this bedroom. The delicate, little patterns add a sense of texture to the monotone blue color scheme.

Float Furniture

Large furniture should be moved away from the walls to give the room a sense of movement and to make it appear larger. Why? Leaving space for the elbows between the wall and the chairs creates the illusion of depth and space. The furniture in this open floor plan “floats” in front of the fireplace to create a separate living area within the bigger room.

Opt for Oversize Art

A small space will feel cluttered if there are numerous small pieces of art dispersed throughout it. However, one large work of art can make a strong focal point that actually widens a small area. A large artwork has a chance to stand out because the rest of the space is neutral and understated.

Open up your entryway

The first room in your house that guests enter and where you send your family off to school each day should be practical and have enough of space to move about swiftly and effectively. Increase room by adding a bench or sitting area where children may quickly take off their shoes and put on their backpacks before running off to school. Lack of room for a bench? Make sure you have open storage, wall-mounted hooks, and a big mirror on the wall to reflect the rest of your house.

Kids’ rooms are not just for sleeping

A child’s room should be a reflection of their aspirations and still be functional for studying, playing, and unwinding whether they are a newborn or a teenager. It may be beneficial to divide the space into areas designated for sleeping, playing, and quiet time or study. To make the most of available space, hang projects and artwork from art wire, bulletin boards, or other organizational tools to keep desks and other areas clutter-free.

Do not hide junk in the garage

Contrary to popular belief, the garage is not just for keeping things you never want to see again! By getting rid of old furniture, damaged appliances, and other items, you can make the most of the storage space in your garage. Install overhead ceiling racks for baggage, sporting goods, holiday decorations, and lawn equipment to make the most of the space you do have so you CAN put your automobiles in the garage.

Mount your TV

In your family room, an entertainment center may be a significant waste of space. If you put your TV on a wall or above a fireplace, it will take up less space and look more modern and uncluttered.

Ottoman Tables

You can purchase ottoman tables from a high-end home furnishings retailer. Books, DVDs, and various arts and crafts can all be kept on the tables, which can also be a fantastic spot to keep other stuff. The tables can be positioned in any space to make them appear larger and less crowded.

Summing it Up!

The above tried-and-tested tips will help you organize and maximize the limited space you have in your small home. It’s ok to feel frustrated at times or even to second-guess your decision to buy this house. However, when you change your mindset and start seeing your small home as a chance to get creative rather than a challenge, you will be surprised at the ideas you’ll come up with. Most importantly, remember to have fun throughout your home transformation process.