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5 Ways to Add More Apace to Your Humble Abode

January 30, 2023
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The housing market has evolved immensely in recent years. The sprawling lawns and large rooms seem to be a thing of the past. Increased demand and soaring prices mean that affording larger spaces has become something that is pretty out of reach. Especially in a city like Lewes, where the unemployment rate is 6.4%, many people might not want to spend money on extending their homes or purchasing a large one.

Moreover, maintaining such a huge space can be challenging in our fast-paced lives. Thus, in the current climate, smaller homes are rapidly on the rise. Whether you’re in a tiny home or a smaller apartment, affording and managing smaller spaces can be much simpler. However, we totally get it if you’re starting to feel a little cramped in your humble abode. With limited space, it can be challenging to create a space you feel comfortable in. We’ve got some tips to help make your home much more spacious than it is. 

Use a storage unit 

Not having enough space for all of your belongings is the biggest issue that people encounter in a smaller home. There are several items accumulated over the years that you may not be ready to part with. Ranging from furniture to clothes and family heirlooms, stashing everything in your house can make it seem much more cramped and stuffy than it is. 

A storage unit can be an easy way to remove these items from your home without having to throw them away. Storage units are an affordable solution to all your storage needs, big or small. You can find units in several sizes, with affordable leases, for as long as you need. Finding a storage facility that isn’t far from home would be best. You can easily find several Lewes self-storage facilities near you. Moving items to this facility can help make your small home much more spacious.     

Use lighter colors 

You’d be surprised to learn the impact color scheme can have on making your home seem roomier. Although it may seem like an inconsequential measure, lighter colors can make even the smallest of rooms appear airy and open. In contrast, darker colors can make your rooms appear smaller and blocked off. Even if you have one wall painted dark or the ceiling in a darker color, it can make your room look much smaller. 

Consider pastels if you want to add different shades to your room without making it look stuffy and dark. Not only can pastel tones make your space appear much roomier, but they can also lighten the mood and add a soft, romantic touch. This palette is definitely not limited, and you can pick from a wide range of colors depending on the rest of your furniture and theme. These hues can look incredibly sophisticated and add a pop of color without ever being too overbearing. 

Expand the outdoors 

It doesn’t matter how much outdoor space you have – expanding it by making it more usable can help you add more space to your home. One of the many reasons why our homes can seem too small is because we focus too much on the interior. However, adding usable space outside allows you to have another effective wing in your home, thus expanding space. 

If you have an apartment, you can work on improving your balconies. By adding some outdoor seating, a grill, or even some lights and rugs to relax and set the mood, you can have a great outdoor area perfect for hosting. If you have a traditional home, you can add more space by building a deck or patio. Decks and patios can be extremely functional, and you can add plants, seating, grills, and more to make them a multipurpose area. With all that extra space outdoors, not only will you be able to connect with nature better, but you won’t be confined to just a small indoor space. 

Redo your home plan 

If you own your home, you have much greater leeway to switch things around and make even the smallest of spaces appear large and roomy. A revamped floor plan can make a world of difference and can take a space from feeling cramped to feeling airy and luxurious. Since this is a large-scale project, it’s important to think things through before implementation and ensure you have a good budget. 

One of the most important areas to revamp can be the kitchen. A closed-off kitchen can make your house appear smaller and lead to a lot of wasted space. Instead of having separate rooms for your kitchen, dining room, and lounge, consider combining all three. An open floor plan with limited walls can make your home appear larger and airier. Adding a kitchen island, with a lounge seating arrangement nearby, can help you create a pretty cozy space without your home appearing too boxed in. 

Use illusions 

With some smart decorating and redoing, you can make any small space appear much larger than it is. Mirrors can be some of the best tools to make any boxed-in space appear larger. You can create an illusion of a larger space by placing mirrors at the entrance or in some particularly tiny spots. Moreover, you can also add mirrors of all shapes and sizes to create a fluid, creative look throughout your home. 

In addition to mirrors, you can also add windows. This can again be a pricier project to undertake, but one which can be incredibly effective. Windows can connect your home to the outdoors and can create the illusion of your home being bigger than it is. Adding some sheer drapes or blinds can help you add some privacy without breaking the illusion. Moreover, they can also look super aesthetic and lend an incredibly elegant touch to your apartment. 

Conclusion 

It doesn’t matter what the size of your home is – what matters is what you do with it. Following these tips can effectively increase your living space and make your home appear much larger. With a combination of smart décor and a few tweaks, you can revamp your space and make the most of your humble abode.

Many people today are facing the challenge of having a small living space. This is one of the most common disadvantages of living in urban areas. Instead of making it a problem, it would be best to accept it as a fact, and take advantage of what you have until you find something better. Small apartments usually have small bedrooms – which are big enough for a bed, and not for anything else. The key to happy living is to use all the tricks you can in order to turn your small-sized bedroom into a nice and functional one, and yet save space for other things.

Source: Flickr

Use what you have

If your small bedroom does not have enough space for a nightstand, you should use what you have at hands. For example, if you have a deep window sill, move your bed next to it and it can serve as a nightstand. If you have a wall-mounted shelf beside the bed, you can add another one, which would be deep enough so that you can use it as a computer desk while you are sitting on the bed. If you have a desk next to your bed, it is perfectly fine to give it a double duty – to serve as a nightstand as well. A lamp is simply a must at your bedside, so instead of taking up space on a nightstand, you can simply hang one on the wall – this way, you will get direct light from above your head, which is great for reading. Mind you that it should be high enough so that you do not hit your head while sitting up.

Source: Flickr

Additional storage

In a small bedroom, the walls are your best friends. A general rule for small bedrooms is to hang everything you can on the walls. If you have a narrow bedroom, you can put a simple shelf beside or above the bed to make up for a nightstand, and you will get extra space for something else. If you lack space for keeping a bike, you can simply hang it above the bed – the only thing you have to do is to clean its tires every time you mount it on the wall. If you lack storage space, you can find high beds which have enough storage space underneath the mattress – a space which you can use for winter/summer clothes, sheets and blankets, and the like. Do not be afraid to even add cabinets above the bed – they are simply made for small bedrooms.

And finally, the key to a happy home and normal living is not the size of your living space. Rather, it should be the joy of waking up next to the person you really care about and enjoying every moment with them. Even though you cannot magically make the space bigger than it is, you can create optical illusion – by painting the walls white, and using light-coloured sheets (which will additionally make you feel calm and you will be able to take a good rest in it) and hanging mirrors to visually enlarge your small bedroom.