***Collaborative post***
You worked hard to get onto the property ladder, but now you feel like your home is not clicking anymore. So many people talk about getting onto the property ladder as a short-term stepping stone to their dream home, but what happens when the honeymoon period is over a year or so after you’ve moved into a property that is so “cosy” you start to bang your elbow on the wall every time you attempt to open a door or your children amass more stuff? What does it really take to make the most of a small space?
Assessing Whether You Can Extend or Upgrade
Upgrading your property can be a lot of work, but when you live in a small home, structurally speaking, you need to spend the time assessing if you benefit from an upgrade. If the problem is storage, you could easily invest in a larger shed you can place at the very end of your garden, or if you need a breakout space, you could upgrade the loft. Small homes come with smaller lofts, sometimes known as a low pitch loft, but there is the potential for low pitch loft conversions wherever you are.
Is Your Furniture Too Big?
A very simple thing you can do is to actually check if your furniture is the reason everything feels so cramped. For example, if your sofa doesn’t have exposed legs, upgrading to a smaller sofa can make the space feel more practical, such as by putting things underneath the couch. However, it’s important to get into the habit of cleaning under the couch properly. You can also incorporate more storage in terms of floating shelves, but there is also the potential for underfloor storage. This requires a bit more work in a structural sense, but if you are tripping over your children’s toys, it’s a very quick fix at the end of the day, by sweeping everything into this type of storage!
Is It You?
We can all feel like we need more space, but sometimes it’s the perception of everything that is playing tricks on us. You can create the illusion of a more spacious room by installing mirrors. There are a number of ways for you to use mirrors and reflective surfaces to open up the feeling of a space.
Slimming Down the Appliances
If you have a pokey kitchen, there are two things you can do here. The first thing is to opt for slimmer appliances that are a little bit taller, and the second thing is to use texture to add more style to the space. This means that when you’re staring at a small kitchen you’re not thinking that it is completely impractical. Your kitchen can also benefit from doubling up where possible, for example, a side table can act as storage underneath but still be a breakfast bar of sorts.
When it comes to renovating your home there’s always a lot you can do, and when you have a small home it can feel like it’s not working with you. Hopefully, some of these suggestions can help you make the most of it.
