Has your home seen better days? Are you swamped by clutter or surrounded by toys, books, and boxes full of clothes and shoes? If you’re keen to open up the space and create a bright and airy home, don’t lose hope just yet. Before you throw the towel in and start looking for a bigger house, here are some simple tips to help you maximize your home space.
Perfect paintwork
Be honest. When was the last time you got a paintbrush out and freshened up those walls? If it has been a long time since you did any decorating, now is the perfect time to bring new life to your home and make the most of the space you have available. If you’ve got dark shades or clashing colors around the house, this isn’t going to do you any favors if you’re tight for room. If you’re trying to create the illusion of brighter, larger rooms, a paint job is a great place to start. Opt for light colors and neutral shades, which will reflect light. White is an excellent choice, especially for modern homes, but if you fear it may look a little clinical, there are other options. Pale greys, duck egg blue, and sandy tones work well. If you have got white walls, you can add color using accessories and soft furnishings.
Storage solutions and decluttering
Before you start looking into storage solutions, it’s a really good idea to have a clear-out. It’s very easy to accumulate clutter and find every spare corner clogged up with stuff. If this scenario sounds familiar, go through every room, creating piles of items you want to keep, those you could sell, and those you want to donate to charity. If you do this in every room of the house, you’ll probably find that you can get rid of a lot of stuff and free up some space. If you are thinking of selling items, you can use online auction sites or have a look into car boot sales in your local area.
Once you’ve decluttered, have a think about the storage you have available. If you’ve got a loft or a basement, buy some sealable plastic boxes, fill them up with items you’re not using at the moment, and put them away. If you’ve got piles of winter coats and hats lying around, for example, you’re not going to need them during the summer months. If you don’t have a lot of storage, there are some really clever solutions out there, like these handy Lifewit large storage bags. They can fit a lot of clothes inside and you can easily stack them in a closet or under the bed. By using these you're having everything nicely organized and protected from dust and dirt.
Another good storage option are the Lifewit collapsible storage cubes. These can be used for a lot of things. I personally use them in the living room to store all my kid's toys and in the closet because they are wonderful to store small things like scarfs and hats. You can even use them for your laundry room, the sky is the limit really when it comes to them because they can be used for a lot of stuff.
Making the most of the space
If your home is packed to the rafters, it’s really important to make the most of the space you have available. You may think that the walls and nooks and crannies are redundant, but they’re not. If you’ve got an area under the stairs, for example, you could box this in and create a storage cupboard, or you could make a feature of it, fit some shelves and add a desk and chair and make a handy workspace. Vertical column radiators are a fantastic option for people who want to save space in bedrooms, bathrooms, and living areas. With these stylish, sleek radiators, you can heat your home without taking up an entire wall. Having a vertical radiator will give you more flexibility when you’re planning the layout of your room. If you have open plan living spaces, for example, a kitchen-diner, consider using dividers or screens to make your room more versatile. Using a screen doesn’t take up any space, and it can help you section off areas for chilling out, cooking, eating, watching TV, and even doing work or homework.
Finishing touches
If you’re eager to turn cramped rooms into sun-drenched, spacious areas, the finishing touches are all important. Take advantage of natural light by hanging mirrors, which will bounce the sun’s rays around the room, and give the room a fresh, clean feel by scattering some potted plants or vases filled with fresh flowers around the shelves. Avoid going overboard with decorative details, and adopt a simplistic approach when it comes to soft furnishings. Add a few cushions to the sofa, lay out a rug on the floor and opt for understated curtains or blinds.
Most of us appreciate light, open spaces, especially during the summer months when it’s warm and bright outside. If your home is cluttered and cramped, you don’t have to resign yourself to moving house just yet. There are ways of opening up spaces, finding homes for items that always seem to be in the way and giving your home that fresh, airy feel. Stick to light colors and muted shades and keep things simple when it comes to accessorizing. Open the windows wide, and make use of natural light. Hang mirrors on the walls to reflect the sun’s rays, and try and keep the floors free from clutter.
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