Make the most of space in your home

We all need space, sometimes personal and sometimes in our homes, there are ways you can create both.

Do you feel like you need more space?

How often have you looked around your house and wished there was more space for all your ‘stuff’?

Try looking at the space you have with fresh eyes as you walk around your home and think about what you can. Let’s start in the hallway…

Do things have a habit of finding their way there whether its their natural home or not? Hallways become a natural ‘dumping’ ground for coats, bags, shoes etc but you can put a stop to this by adding some practical storage. Try some built-in shelves or rails or how about floor to ceiling shelving. The more ‘stuff’ you can tidy away the greater the impression of space it creates.

If you have space under the stairs how about turning that into your home office space, use the natural alcove created by the stairs. Pop some open shelves above a desk, if space is very tight than try a fold down desk to create a small but stylish office space.

Are you using your kitchen space well?

Moving through to the kitchen, this room probably has the most traffic in your home, but are you making the most of it? Clever storage and lighting can make all the difference here. Add more light if possible and let as much natural light in as you can, quite simply the more light will create more space. If your kitchen allows for it can you add bi-folds or retracting doors to welcome in more natural light? Under cabinet lighting will illuminate worktops and fix spotlights into the ceiling rather than having pendant lighting to maximise open space.

No room for a freestanding table and chairs, try creating a built-in storage area with padded seating and storage space beneath. Roller blinds will also add to the sense of size giving a cleaner look. Can you knock through into your dining area to craft a larger space, creating an open plan room?

Perhaps you can knock through into your living room and again smart space is the answer here with floor to ceiling storage, especially useful if you have lots of books or vinyl, not only is it a great way to store it but it also makes for an interesting feature wall – be bold and strike out in colour. Create a media wall with your TV as the focal point and build around it, whether you opt for a DIY approach or professional installation, it’s another solution to tidying and organising everything neatly and tidily and is sure to be a talking point.

Let’s take this upstairs

Moving upstairs to the bedrooms where you should enjoy a sense of calm and rest but perhaps not if you’re surrounded by clutter. If you feel like you’re living in a shoebox, perhaps it’s because you have too many shoes scattered around, a simple solution here is under bed boxes for spare bedding, seasonal clothing and all those shoes.

Simple stacking systems can make all the difference

Mirrors create the illusion of space and again think about floor to ceiling storage, fitted wardrobes are perfect again for alcoves and those awkward nooks and crannies you just don’t know what to do with. These options needn’t cost a fortune, simple stacking systems can make all the difference, try floating shelves, make the most of corners and simple pegs and hooks will keep all those things off the floor.

Loft conversions

Going even further up in your home to the loft offers the perfect space for many to expand and create space, move the Christmas decorations and suitcases aside and make an extra bedroom, office space or den. Well designed and executed it can add value to your property too. Not all lofts are suitable for conversion so make sure you do your homework first – height and roof pitch are major considerations and you’ll also need to check whether planning permission is required, often not but better safe than sorry.

Try these ideas and watch your interior grow on you!

Once you’ve sorted your space indoors, why not take a look at ideas for your garden.