Did you know that roughly one in four Americans feel they have outgrown their home after just two years?
And that’s the U.S. as a whole, the feeling is even stronger when we zoom into the cities.
When it comes to urban dwellers, one in three feel they have outgrown their home after those same two short years!
While most renters and buyers think they’ll have just enough space upon move-in, 25% eventually feel they need more square footage. What’s more, over 50% of people report collecting new possessions during their first year in a new home.
Sound familiar? If so, don’t worry. Maximizing space in a small home is plenty possible, whether you’re working with a studio apartment or a snug, one-bed bungalow. But where to begin?
We’ve compiled some of our top tips and tricks for maximizing space, so you can truly get the most out of your home.
Let’s dive in!
First things first, you might need to declutter a bit. That’s especially true if you don’t have an open garage or a handy dandy storage unit.
Work through all your belongings, throwing things out or donating them when appropriate. Remember that clutter seems to accumulate even quicker in a small home, so you’ll need to be absolutely ruthless!
Anything you keep should have its own designated home somewhere in your house. This will make it that much easier to stay organized and best utilize the home moving forward—a critical component in maximizing space.
Floating shelves, bookcases, armoires, sconces, and even wall-mounted planters are all your friends here. Don’t let any of that prime wall space go unutilized.
Over-the-door organizers, pot racks, and over-toilet shelving units can also help you get more out of your limited space.
Don’t be afraid to get creative!
When you’re living in a small space (say, a studio apartment) it can feel like your bedroom is somehow in both the living room and the kitchen, too. This is where you’ll want to think outside the box.
Can you use the back of a loveseat to section off your entertaining space from your sleeping space? Or maybe a few open bookshelves could act as a functional, DIY room divider between the kitchen and dining nook.
Either way, creating “zones” for all of your different activities can help a small space feel that much bigger. Grounding each zone, maybe with its own rug or even a pendant light, could help further the distinction.
When you mount furniture or purchase something particularly slim, sleek, or low-profile, it tricks the eye a bit. Suddenly, your space appears larger, lighter, and airier. It’s all about manipulating depth perception!
Wall-mounted vanities or shoe cabinets, tables or chairs with spindle legs, and anything in a clear material like glass or acrylic can all help breathe some fresh air into the space.
A well-placed mirror can also bounce light around, another optical illusion to make the space feel that much bigger and brighter.
Today, there are plenty of options for beautiful, functional furniture that also works especially well in a small home.
Consider fold-away tables, Murphy beds, or maybe a few dining benches with built-in storage space. Just a few strategic purchases could seriously enhance the usability of your home.
Don’t forget to measure first, though! You don’t want to invest in something that just won’t fit, so a trusty tape measure will become your very best friend.
Again, vertical space is everything.
Could you install bunk beds in the kids’ room? Or maybe a platform bed above your very own work or study space. Taking advantage of open air is one of the best ways to utilize a small space well.
Just be absolutely sure that all the screws are tightened just right! When in doubt, paying for expert installation could be well worth it.
Speaking of utilizing lost space, have you peeked under the bed(s) lately?
Your average elevated bed frame is the perfect space-maker. Just purchase some under-bed storage bins (they come in fabric, wood, and everything in between) to tuck some extra items away and make some extra space.
If your bedroom is particularly tight, you could even use one in place of a traditional nightstand.
Whether you’re fine-tuning your beloved studio apartment or sprucing up a cozy little cottage, you can still live big in a small home! From lofting the beds to playing around with the layout, maximizing your unique space is well within reach.
Now, all that’s left to do is a little light research, maybe some shopping, and the ever-exciting implementation. Happy optimizing!