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Do you live in a small house, and feel you could really do with more space? Or maybe your house is not that small, but it feels that way. If you have a large family, or lots of belongings, it can feel like space is at a premium.
It’s not always practical or affordable to move into a bigger home, as much as you might want to, so you have to make do with maximising the space you have. You can’t actually make your home any bigger (except, of course, by building an extension) but there are ways in which you can make it FEEL significantly bigger and turn it into a more functional living space. So let’s take a look at how to maximise space in a small house.
How To Maximise Space In A Small House
1. Insulate your conservatory
If your house has a conservatory, there’s a good chance you’re not using it to its full potential. This is probably temperature related: in the summer, it’s too hot; in the winter, it’s too cold. There may be a sweet spot in spring and autumn, and on cooler summer days, where it’s just right – the perfect temperature to hang out in.
What if you could use your conservatory all year round, as an extra, functional room in your house, rather than just a novelty space on nice days? You can achieve this by adding conservatory insulation: it will make your conservatory warmer in winter and cooler in summer. It’s almost like getting an extension on your house, but with far less expense and disruption. Once your conservatory is insulated, you’ll be able to comfortably use it all year round.
2. Use vertical space
If your home is on the smaller side, it’s important to make use of vertical space. The obvious example of this is to add in extra shelving and hooks to make use of every bit of spare wall for storage. You can also use over-the-door hanging storage. In my own home I use these for shoes (which I think they were designed for) and also for accessories, beauty and bathroom items. Another example of using vertical space is to use bunk beds or high sleepers. These can transform a child’s room, giving them more space to play or study.
3. Invest in collapsible furniture
Using collapsible furniture, such as sofa beds, extendable tables or nesting baskets, is a great way to maximise space in your home. Items and furniture can be kept in their smaller form where possible, to allow you more space, and you can extend them when needed, for example when you have guests to stay.
4. Add mirrors for the illusion of bigger rooms
Of course, mirrors don’t actually give you more space at all – in fact they take up a wall, technically giving you less potential storage space. However, mirrors help to give the illusion of more space. They bounce the light around, making the room feel brighter, airier and more spacious. If you have a free wall where there isn’t space to add shelving or furniture, consider adorning it with a large mirror to create that roomy feeling.
5. Make use of your garden
Many of us have a garden but don’t often venture out into it. This is space you are not using to its full potential! Yes, the garden is exposed to the weather so you can’t exactly use it as an extra room all year round. But you could still be spending time out there when the weather is nice.
Invest in some comfortable garden furniture for the warmer days, keep your garden maintained and pleasant to spend time in, and consider adding some shelter or a summer house so you can use your garden even when it rains. You could also get a fire pit or patio heater so you can use your garden on colder days.
Think of ways you can make your garden functional and take on some roles of your house. For example, add a laundry line, build an outdoor dining area, or install a shed for storage. All these things will free up space in your house by delegating roles to your garden.
6. Declutter!
It’s a very simple formula – if you have less stuff in your home, you will have more empty space. Consider decluttering some things you don’t need or no longer use. You don’t have to get rid of everything, especially sentimental items, but there are sure to be some things you can let go of.
One thing I sometimes ask myself when deciding whether to keep something or not is, would I rather have this item or the space that would be created by decluttering it? This question always reminds me that for every item I own, I pay the price of the space it takes up in my home. In a small home, space is especially valuable.
How To Maximise Space In A Small House – Summing Up
If you have a small (or small-feeling) home and you want to maximise your space, I hope this post has been helpful and given you some ideas. By investing in conservatory insulation and building some garden structures, you can literally add more functional spaces to your house. By making intelligent purchases such as collapsible furniture, mirrors and vertical storage solutions, you can slim down your interior and maximise storage. And by having a good declutter, you’ll free up more space to live and move.
How do you maximise space in your home? Do you have any tips for how to maximise space in a small house? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
I like using hanging storage. Stores have hanging organization storage now that is pretty and functional.
I like using it too – it’s such a good way to use the space, and like you say, it can be pretty too.