Finding new ways to approach your home’s interior sometimes takes a little trial and error. Perhaps you have an older home that was built for a different lifestyle, or a quirky apartment with a funny layout. Small spaces can be especially difficult to figure out — especially if you have a random nook or alcove that serves no real purpose. But with some planning and creativity, you can find ways to make even the smallest corners of your home shine.
If your plans are ambitious and you need some extra money to make your vision come to life, a home improvement loan from a bank, credit union or online lender could be an option to get the funding you need with fixed monthly repayments.
Here are some ideas for how to make the most of the smallest spaces in your home.
Declutter regularly
Clutter can make small spaces feel even smaller. But it’s often hard to avoid. When space is limited, so is storage — making it all too easy for things to pile up with no place to go.
To keep from defaulting to using open surfaces as storage areas, make decluttering a regular part of your household chores, or commit to a big cleanout once per month — whichever works better for you. Go through each area of your home and empty out drawers, cupboards and storage bins one at a time. See if there’s anything you could recycle, donate or sell. Get rid of duplicate items or clothes and other items you don’t use anymore. Make sure everything is in its right place — if you find something in the wrong drawer, take the opportunity to put it where it’s supposed to be.
Give every space a purpose
Once you’ve spent time decluttering, you may have a better sense of how the small spaces in your home can serve you. For example, if you have a room that’s not big enough to be a bedroom, see if it could function as a craft space, a home gym or even a small library with a reading nook. Or turn a large spare closet that can fit a desk into an office or a dedicated place for your kids to do their homework.
Find storage solutions
Sometimes, you simply need better storage and organization solutions. If you’re short on floor space, consider making the most of vertical storage, such as adding tall bookcases, mounting shelving on your walls or hanging organizers over the back of a door for shoes and other accessories.
Corkboards, hooks and open shelving are also helpful in small kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. Take advantage of your wall space and keep your floors free of clutter. Additionally, rolling carts, stackable storage bins and organization systems are often affordable ways to give a small space more purpose.
Multipurpose furniture could also be useful in small spaces, like a desk with drawers or a futon that can double as a couch and a guest bed.
Get creative
Don’t be afraid of creative solutions, as long as they feel right for your home and your lifestyle. Small-space solutions can be purposeful and decorative at the same time. If you have limited storage in your kitchen, try mounting your pots and pans on a wall or hanging a pot rack from the ceiling. If you have a ton of framed family photos but limited space to display them, hang them close together to create a gallery wall.
Similarly, play around with new ways to organize your furniture — perhaps switching two small armchairs in your living room with that one big chair in your office could create a more functional living space.
Multipurposing is also a good strategy. If your laundry room has an empty wall, you could set up extra shelving for pantry items or use the space as a mudroom where you can hang coats and leave dirty shoes.
Make the most of the space you have
Spending time figuring out how to maximize small, often overlooked spaces can go a long way toward making your home feel more like you. Declutter, give every room a purpose, improve your storage solutions and don’t be afraid to get creative. Sometimes, you don’t actually need more space — you simply need to make the most of the space you have.
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