Maximize the space you have—taking a small space and organizing it for big results
Small homes are not only less expensive to furnish and maintain and cheaper in taxes and utilities, but also easier to clean and can be more cozy. Making the most of your limited space instead of yearning for more square footage is challenging, but spring may be the perfect opportunity to be creative and resourceful.With the arrival of spring, the coming months are a great time to think outside of that little box called home. Live in your outdoor space as much as possible. Even in Northeast Ohio, where there are reportedly only 180 days of sunshine a year, enjoying outdoor space can make a house feel roomier. Use a small bistro table and chairs or a comfy wicker chair from rooms that open out onto a patio or balcony. Exercise out of doors as much as possible to keep the walls from closing in. Install flower boxes outside as many windows as possible for vegetables as well as flowers.
Next, be choosy about furniture. Small spaces call for furniture that can multi task, so see everything as potential storage. Install drawers under beds or use boxes to seal out dust. Consider folding or nesting furniture for use when company comes. Opt for versatile furniture that can do double duty like storage cubes and trunks for coffee tables and bedside stands, but love whatever you pick because in a smaller home, items are used, seen, and bumped into much more often.
To further maximize a small living space, look for storage everywhere, but most importantly, look up. Install pot racks from the ceiling in the kitchen. Use magnets to hold utensils on the side of the refrigerator. Further use the refrigerator to stack the microwave or other appliances. Like dorm living, consider lofting kids’ beds. Install shelves above doors and windows anchoring the brackets just outside the wood framing. Use hallways for bookcases because they tend to be more narrow. Build furniture like desks, shelves, and dressers into the dead space where the roof slopes downward.
To make a small home or apartment seem larger, leave a blank wall to give the eye a rest from a room that is fully utilizing every nook and cranny. One well-placed large piece of furniture takes the focus off the smallness of the room. Use light colors on floors by staining hardwood floors white. Light colored throw rugs can have the same light airy effect. Vertical stripes make ceilings appear higher, as do floor-to-ceiling window treatments. Repeat colors and prints flowing from one room to another to give the appearance of roominess. Make sure there is enough lighting in small spaces. Install glass shelves and mirrors to give the appearance of more room and sliding or pocket doors to conserve space.
Finally, look for ways to eliminate the need for storage as much as possible. Go paperless by requesting e-billing and back up documents and records with an online service. Scan photos and important documents for online storage as well. A completely organized closet can eliminate the need for a dresser in a cramped bedroom. Not only do small spaces eliminate the luxury of hoarding from big box stores, but they also liberate to really live in one’s home, not just keep a lot of stuff there.