We fall in love with our homes to the point that we do not want to leave them. But, as our families expand, houses become increasingly cramped. Over time, you will notice how your living space quickly fills up with clutter, eating away at your storage drawers.
However, moving to a larger house is not always feasible, even if you live in an affordable area like Orland Park, IL. According to 24/7 Wall St., a single grown-up person spends $37,033 annually on basic needs, including housing, food, healthcare, transportation, etc., in Orland Park, which is less than the national average of $38,433. Yet, the inconvenience that comes with moving and settling into the new surroundings could be pretty off-putting.
The good news is that you do not have to step up for a move. Regardless of your house’s size, there are ways to create adequate space.
Consider Bathroom Remodeling
You can optimize the space by remodeling your bathroom and making it more functional. One effective approach is to improve the layout.
You may start by relocating the toilet to a different area within the bathroom, like moving it to a corner or against a wall. This will free up the central floor and make more open space. Similarly, you can consider relocating the sink or vanity. By moving it to a different spot or opting for a smaller, more compact design, you can create more room to maneuver in the bathroom.
Do not assume a bathroom remodeling project will take an eternity to complete. Depending on where you live, it could be completed in less than a week. Sounds too good to be true? Well, bathroom remodeling in Orland Park can be completed within five days!
Declutter Ruthlessly
We all have clutter around the house, and most of us have a lot of it. In other words, getting rid of items you no longer need means you will have additional storage space in your home. Lay down a comprehensive plan before getting started. Regardless of how much junk you have to deal with, sticking to a well-thought-out strategy will help you avoid barriers.
Subscribing to the 80/20 rule is ideal for getting things off the ground. People typically wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time. The same rule applies to most everyday items, such as books, toys, video games, computers, DVDs, etc. Hence, it would be wise to eliminate these 80% items. In all likelihood, there may be some b bulky items that you would want to use in the future. Consider renting a self-storage unit for them.
Place Your Pans On A Hook
If you are like most people, you may be stashing your fry pans somewhere in the oven or tucking them into a dark corner of your kitchen cupboard. You will likely spend considerable time finding and moving them around if we are right. In addition, they also take up a lot of space that could have been used more efficiently. By hanging them, you can conveniently lay your hand on a frying pan whenever needed, and they will not occupy much of your space either.
Look After Your Doorway
Make sure your doorway is functional. Place a bench where children can remove their shoes and keep their backpacks while rushing to school. A bench could take up a fair amount of space. So not all of us can accommodate it. In that case, you should go with wall-mounted hooks, open shelves for knick-knacks, and a large mirror to keep things tidy.
Stretch Your Headboard
Our beds serve as a place to relax and replenish our energies for the coming day. But, along with that, they might also provide additional space. If your bed had a headboard, adding similar shelving to the headboard means you can use it to stock books, jewelry, linens, etc.
Make Your Spaces Multifunctional
When it comes to small-home administration, having separate rooms for everything is an absolute no-no. There is no need to be constrained by the arrangement of a room just because it has been constructed in a particular way. Combining the functions of two rooms into one is worth it, even if it is just a box room.
For instance, you could easily set up a compact home office in your bedroom. One way to create a bedroom-office combo is to take advantage of the space in your bedroom’s built-in closet. You will need a modest desk that could fit in a little space. The chair you choose should have a slender profile so that when you push it into the room, you are not occupying more space than the wardrobe doors.
Play Around With Lighting
When a room is well-lit, it appears larger than its actual size. Different types of lighting can be used to illuminate and amplify the area’s height. Among other things, consider installing lighting systems with low and high dimmers to let the light in from various directions, heights, and intensities. Also, make it a point to keep your windows as they bring more natural light into the house.
Add Dryer/Washer Pedestals
An appliance pedestal is a great way to increase storage space in a laundry room. Simply put, these are robust platforms that contain built-in drawers. Your dryer and washer units just have to sit on them. Adding two spacious drawers to a small space works like magic. Do not forget to do the necessary leg work to ensure your washer and dryer pedestal match the dimensions and style of your appliance. Since the weight of every washer and dryer varies, you should invest in a weight-rated pedestal.
Think Vertically
Do not overlook spaces above and below your head. They are ideal for storing seasonal and holiday products. Purchase a step ladder so that you can access hard-to-reach places. Avoid storing anything excessively heavy on top. If you have a lot of books or huge appliances, it is best to keep them on the ground. Use compact, lightweight containers for higher spaces. That way, you will not sustain injuries even if they fall on top of you.
Conclusion
Irrespective of whether you have downsized your home or moved into a smaller apartment, living in a compact space comes up with many challenges. Arguably, storage issues are on top of that list. If you want to make your house feel more spacious, follow these tips and enjoy a clutter-free space.