Most of us would love to have more space around our homes, right? Many of us move into a house thinking it is going to be fine for our needs, but then kids come along, pets come along, stuff comes along, and what once seemed like a spacious place starts to feel a bit…cramped. It’s tough, right?
Sure, some of us will just be able to put our homes on the market and move to a bigger place, but for many of us, whether due to finances, logistics, or life stages, it just isn’t possible, but don’t worry because I’m going to let you into a little secret – you don’t have to move to get new space. Sure, you won’t be able to turn your existing home into a mansion, but you can get more room without having to pack your things up, get a bigger mortgage and move to a larger house. Here’s how:
Declutter
It’s an obvious point, but the more stuff you have in your home, the less space you have available to actually use as a family. So, the first step to having more room in your home is naturally to get rid of anything you don’t really want or need. Marie Kondo says you should only keep things that are practical or which spark joy, and that is definitely a good place to start. Go room by room (you don’t have to do it all at once) and get rid of anything that is never used or loved. And you will very soon find that you have more space to run around after the dog or to put up a desk where your kids can do their homework. It can be truly liberating to live with less when it allows you to actually enjoy life more!
Maximise Wasted Space
Although you don’t feel like you have any space in your home, there is nevertheless, likely to be lots of space you don’t actually use around the house. That dead space under the stairs, the alcove in the corner of the living room the nook in the bedroom – they are all ripe for turning into cupboards, shelving units, maybe even a space for the dog to sleep, and doing so will free up more usable floor space for you and your family to enjoy. Oh, and don’t forget vertical space, too. Going upwards, and installing shelves up to the ceiling, for example, can be great for freeing up more floor space for play, or the furniture you really do need on the ground, for example.
Downsize
No, I’m not talking about your home – that would be madness when you’re already complaining of not having enough space – I’m talking about your tour furniture. Is it just me, or has furniture gotten bigger and bigger over the years? Couches are bigger than some beds these days, and while that is fine if you have the space, when you are starting to feel like your rooms are closing in on your sleeker, smaller furniture is a must. Obviously, you still need a big enough couch that everyone can fit on it, and your finding table needs to be able to seat you all, but chances are you can find less bulky version of your furniture that accommodates you all and takes up less space in any given room. Do that and you will immediately start to feel like you have more space.
Use Your Garden Space
If you are lucky enough to have a garden, then you have options. You can expand out into your backyard to create more space for family living. You can do this in a number of ways, but one of the most affordable would be installing a patio and some patio furniture, and then having an awning installed over it to protect you from the elements. If you have more money to spend, then a garden room that you can use as an office playroom room or teen hangout is a really good choice because they are much more attractive and sturdier than a shed, or you could even think about extending out and building a conservatory too.
The key is to think about your budget and what you would actually use an additional time for – an office separate from the main home would give you more peace and quiet, for example – and to utilise your outdoor space accordingly.
Go Into the Loft
If you have a loft that’s just up there doing nothing except attracting spiders, then you might want to get a tradie in to see just how viable it is for you to convert it into a usable living space. Even if it is not big enough for you to turn it into an extra room, it might be the case that you can turn it into a storage room by installing cupboards and shelving units, and if that is the case, you might be able to hide away most of the clutter you’ve decided to keep up there. It’s always worth seeing what’s possible.
Cosmetic Changes
Okay, so cosmetic changes like the ones we are going to discuss might not actually give you more space, but they can create the illusion of space. Painting your home in lighter, brighter colours, for example, will add spaciousness, as will hanging lots of mirrors that reflect the light, or using rugs and bookshelves to create distinct zones within your home can have a space assing effect too.
Summing Up
As you can see, you really do not need to move house to find more space, so if you are not able to move at the moment, but you are starting to feel the squeeze when all of the family are at home, you might want ot start exploring your options, starting with getting rid of the things in your home you really do not need, and then taking it from there. It’s a process and it takes time, but it will be worth it when you all have more room to breathe.