Small homes often feel cozy when we first move into them, but as time goes on they can seem a little too tight for comfort. A lot of people give up on the money they save with a tiny home or apartment and opt to live elsewhere. However, there are many ways you can add space to your home without having to bring in the contractors! After a few minor, and I do mean minor, alterations to the home you’ll feel as if you’ve moved into a brand new place. The good news if you won’t have to pay a bundle to work with these solutions either. Many require a little elbow grease and a good imagination which always makes a home look amazing anyway! So, don’t pack up your stuff just yet as you may find your current abode is just waiting for your special touch.
1. Shelves
Every home needs storage space, so what better way to do it than to add some shelves! The best kind of shelves for adding space are floor to ceiling shelves as they bring the eye upward and won’t waste any of the room you do have. You can easily make these with scrap woods if you know where to shop. To make your shelves look even great try color coordinating the items you put on them. This will add a sense of organization to the home, which makes everything look larger. Another simple shelving idea is to build shelves that fit into small spaces you may not be able to use. For instance, the space under the stairs or a nook area. These spaces usually go unused and unnoticed which is a total waste of the small space you’re living in. Add a few custom build shelves and you have a storage space that keeps items out of the way! You may also consider adding shelves around doorways and windows. These will create a frame and will allow you more wall space for décor.
2. Paint with Light Colors
Although a lot of people tend to favor dark colors, a light paint job can work magic in a home. Light colors draw in the light which, in return, makes the room look larger and more comfortable. You don’t have to go with a stark white color either, so don’t worry about not being able to show a little personality here. This also doesn’t mean that you have to keep the entire room the same color. In fact, look for a lighter shade you like and then pair it with other light shades from the same color. This will create a uniform look that helps make the room look more spacious while adding amazing accents that keep your space styling. Don’t just limit paint to the walls either. Make sure to color shelves, window and door frames and maybe even the door itself! Adding a light color to the ceiling or floor, if possible, can add the appearance of a lot of space to your home too. If you do have to have a dark color then try to keep it to an accent wall. To save money on paint try to go to a recycling center, or wait until there’s a sale.
3. Open Storage
If your home is like most others then you probably have cabinets with doors on them. This can create your small space to feel even more cramped. One simple thing to remedy this problem is to take those doors off of the storage. With a little organization your room will look much larger and the open spaces will bring the eye upwards, thus creating a more open space. Of course, if you’re not a huge fan of open cabinets then try replacing the doors with an opaque door. This will still provide open space, but may cost a little more. Another great way to make the home bigger is to add storage in unexpected spaces. For instance, there’s usually a gap between your refrigerator and wall or cabinets. You can easily create a rolling pantry to store spices, foods and other goods without taking up any of the precious space you already have! There are many other small areas in the home, particularly in the bathroom that can be altered with these open storage ideas.
4. Furniture
You may ever never guessed that furniture can make a huge impact on the way your home looks. When it comes to having a cozier space to work with you might want to consider selling off your bulky furniture and replacing it with a few minimalist pieces. Try to find furniture that is lower to the ground. This way make the overall space in the room look much larger as it will draw the eye upwards to create the illusion of a taller room. In the bedroom it is much easier to complete this look as platform beds are easy to find and will help create the illusion of space with little effort. You should also keep your furniture away from the walls. This is important to get pests away, but it will allow provide the illusion of more space which is much needed in small rooms. When furniture shopping you should try to find piece that can double as storage too. There’s a lot of coffee tables that open up to reveal empty space for you to put an assortment of items. You might also choose tables with a removable leaf so you can accommodate guests without constantly taking up space.
5. Mirrors
One quick decorate item to add space to the home is mirrors. Try replacing a few of your paintings with mirrors to create a spacious look in any room of the home. A few crucial places to keep a mirror is in the entry way and the bathroom. These rooms tends to much smaller than anywhere else in the house. By adding a large mirror to the space it will seem as if the room has doubled in side instantaneously. You can also add mirrored doors to the home to make a room look larger. This is particularly popular in the bedroom, but you can add mirrors to cabinet doors in the kitchen to create a spectacular look that gives your kitchen space a more inviting feel.
6. Keep it minimal
A minimalist home is a home that appears much larger. This is true in many regards. One of the major dilemmas many run into is their décor. Yes, we all love our art, but sometimes its best to keep it as simple as possible in order to show off the beauty of the home. For instance, instead of having a multitude of paintings on the wall go for one large piece. This will show off your style while making the room seem much large. Plants, sculptures and other knick knacks should be kept to a low minimum too. Try to add one or two signature pieces and put the rest up. You can alternate the pieces to keep the home fresh. You should also keep the amount of furniture to a minimum. You won’t want a couch, love seat and recliners as well as a coffee table and end tables in a room that will look cluttered with just a couch. Try to find simple pieces that flatter and work around them.
7. Separate Rooms
When a home is small enough doors can seem incredibly confining. Some homes may not even have doors due to their small design. This can be easily remedied without having to spend a fortune though. One way to do this is my adding simple dividers. You can hang up curtains or use premade dividers to set the rooms apart. If this is your route then try to go for lighter colors or striped designs. This will make the divider add space to the room so you can enjoy the privacy and the excess space. If you want to seal off the kitchen, so smells don’t seep out, then try adding glass doors. This will give the illusion of open space without having to worry about intense smells sticking to the furniture for months on end.
8. Utilize Designs
You might be surprised as to how easy it is to add space by simply picking the right kind of design to make your room pop. These designs can be added just about anywhere those, so your imagination in the limit. Some of the more common places to utilize designs is on a throw pillow or a rug. The rug can be especially important though as it will help elongate the room if the design does its job properly. You might also consider adding canvas prints of a design like stripes or zig zags. This adds more to a room without a lot of effort or distraction. Of course, you might also consider making an accent wall with a striped wall paper or you can tape off the room as paint the stripes yourself. All of these ideas won’t cost you a fortune and will make your tiny space more comfortable.
9. Be Original
One way to add more space to the home is to step away from everything you knew about the home. Thinking out of the box can take away a lot of the clutter you feel makes a home. For instance, to begin with you may want to start with the dining room. If you have a small family, or live alone then why do you need this are anyway? Instead, add a small breakfast nook to your kitchen and eat there. You could also keep a fold up table and chairs for times you have company over to eat. You may also want to consider a hanging couch. These are incredibly comfortable and make the home look so much more spacious. You can even store items under the couch! Another fun thing to do is add a loft wherever you see fit. You can turn that bedroom into an office or gym, or simply make the loft your own personal reading nook. The more creative you get the more space you may have, so don’t be afraid to ditch some of the social norms and create a home that works around your needs.
10. Windows
A lot of people tend to cover up their windows, which can really make a home feel closed in. This is especially true for small spaces. Instead of cluttering the window with heavy drapes that take away from the home, just leave the window be and work your home around it. Now, if you hate the glare it brings in or you know your neighbors have a tendency of looking in then it might be more tempting to cover up this space. Instead, try getting a window tint, which shouldn’t cost a lot. This will block out the light while blocking out eyes that can’t mind their own business. You may also want to try staining the glass to create a work of art no one else will have. If you have money to renovate then you may want to consider adding larger windows to the home. This opens up rooms and creates a spacious style you can’t get with any other renovation!
Having a small home doesn’t mean you have to be miserable! Instead, try to work with your assets to make the home more comfortable for you. With these ten tips you can add more space to the home without having to rebuild or move. You may find creating ways to add space to your abode is a lot more fun than you think and a lot cheaper too! So, get out your decorating tools and have some fun creating your new, more spacious home!
