Downsizing Your Home: How to Maximize a Small Living Space
Moving
One of the challenges that come with downsizing your home is learning how to maximize a smaller space than you’re used to. However, not all hope is lost; small space living really is doable without feeling crowded or having to climb over all your belongings to get to the next room. Here are a few ingenious tips to make your mini castle navigable.
Downsizing Your Home: Tips for Maximizing Smaller Living Spaces
1. Zoning
Create separate zones dedicated to certain activities. For example, eating, working or sleeping. This can be achieved with subtle demarcations that’ll help create the illusion of a bigger space. Carefully arrange your seats so that they demarcate a new “room” without walls or bulky furniture.
2. Use Furniture that Can Multitask
Maximize the space even further by choosing furniture that can serve more than one purpose. For example, choose a desk that can double as a dining room table, or choose a coffee table that doubles up as storage space. You could even invest in a sofa bed for guests instead of buying another bed or squeezing two beds into your living room. Alternatively, you could invest in a Murphy bed. These beds pull out from the wall, allowing you to use the floor space when the bed is tucked away in the wall.
3. It’s Just an Illusion
Strategically placed mirrors and see-through furnishing like a glass table can give the illusion of a bigger space. Another trick is to use bright colors when painting your home. According to Freshome, dark colors absorb light, which gives the effect of a smaller room. Bright colors make the walls more reflective, giving the feeling of an open space.
4. Take Advantage of Natural Light
When downsizing your home, opt for one that has lots of natural light coming in and big windows, if possible. Natural light brightens up the space, connecting the outdoors with the indoors and makes the space feel bigger than it actually is.
5. Less Is More
Instead of a chunky coffee table, use two small round tables. Get rid of dressers and armoires because they take up valuable floor space. On the other hand, you could purchase bigger furniture, but fewer furnishings. One or two grand pieces can also make a room feel bigger and grander.
6. Stack It Up
Invest in storage that allows you to stack your belongings. Think vertically. Use the walls. Install shelves instead of using a book case, and make sure the shelves go really high. This will allow you to create more floor space, which will, in turn make the room feel larger.
You Can Live Large in a Small Space
Remember that it definitely helps to keep things organized. Keep what you use, make sure the things you use often are within reach, and make sure everything has an assigned spot. If downsizing your home seems a bit overwhelming, enlist the help of a designer. They can show you how best to maximize your living space, no matter how small.
