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This is a collaborative post.
Wish your home was bigger, but don’t have the money to upsize? There could still be a solution. With a few tricks, you may be able to make your current home feel larger and more spacious. Here are just some of the tricks worth trying.
Build an extension
Building an extension will physically make your home larger. It’s the obvious alternative to upsizing if you need an extra bedroom or a larger kitchen.
Of course, very few people have the freedom to extend their home. Firstly, you need to own your home in order to build an extension. Secondly, you need to have the available land to extend upon and the planning permission to do so. Thirdly, you need to be able to afford it.
Converting space is an alternative to extending which could be more feasible for some people. This could include converting an unused loft, garage or basement and turning it into liveable space. Some people even transform cupboards under the stairs into downstairs toilets. You may not need planning permission and it’s likely to be cheaper.
Many people take out loans or remortgage their home to afford extensions and conversions. By shopping around for contractors and using economical materials you can save money. In the long run, an extension or a conversion could result in a financial return – it will likely add value to your home allowing you to sell up for a greater price.
Go open-plan
An open-plan layout involves getting rid of interior walls in exchange for one large free-flowing space. It can be a great way of making your home feel more spacious – rather than feeling boxed into each room, you can freely walk between each room offering more movement.
A landlord isn’t likely to agree to knocking down interior walls, so this is something reserved for homeowners. You need to be sure that the walls you knock down aren’t load-bearing, unless you want the whole ceiling crashing down. You also need to be sure that there isn’t any wiring or plumbing within the wall (and if there is, you need to be able to redirect this).
Cut-outs can be an alternative to removing entire walls. This involves cutting an archway out of the wall. The two spaces will feel connected and the labour required won’t be as extensive – costing you less.
Add more windows
Windows can help to make a room feel bigger by making it feel more connected to the outside world. This is particularly the case the large windows and glass sliding doors. Skylights meanwhile can make a room feel taller.
Installing a new window is only feasible if you own your property and it may require planning permission. An alternative to installing a new window could be to expand an existing window so that it is larger.
Window installation is not something you want to do on the cheap. In fact, it could be worth paying extra for double or triple glazing as well as security locks, saving you money in energy and making your home more secure. Adding new windows can add value to a home, so you may be able to make your money back in the future if you ever choose to sell up.
Declutter
Lots of clutter can make a home feel cramped. Getting rid of clutter will make each room more spacious.
Finding the motivation to declutter isn’t always easy. Hiring a skip from a company like Mr Cheap Rubbish Removal could help motivate you to throw out items in your home. There may also be items that you can sell for cash, helping to turn your clear-out into an extra way of making money. Items could be sold online on sites like Craigslist or sold to second-hand stores.
You may not even need to get rid of clutter – tidying your home and storing items away so that they’re not visible could create more space in your home. For instance, rather than cluttering up your kitchen countertop with appliances, why not store some of these away in cupboards when not in use. A greater amount of empty countertop space could be more practical when preparing certain meals and it will make your kitchen look bigger.
Use more vertical space and less floor space
A room can feel much smaller when there’s less floor space to walk around on. Try to use more vertical space rather than using up extra floor space.
For instance, instead of bulky cabinets, consider adding floating shelves on the wall. You may also be able to mount a TV onto a wall rather than taking up floor space with a TV stand.
Use space-saving furniture
You may also be able to save space by using certain furniture choices. Sites like My Small Space specialise in this type of furniture.
Multi-purpose furniture is one example of this. There are many modern sofas that contain in-built storage, saving you from buying a separate storage container. Similarly, sofa-beds can prevent the need for a guest bed.
You can also consider stackable and fold-away furniture that can be stored away when not in use. There are dining tables that can be folded away when not in use – this could free up a huge section of a room! This could be paired with stackable dining chairs that can be placed in a corner or a cupboard when not in use. There are even fold-away beds that you can buy (useful for bedsits).
On top of this, you can also consider custom furniture designed to the shape of your room. This could include storage units to fit in alcoves or corner sofas to fit a small living room.
Put furniture on legs
Opting for furniture with legs can create the illusion of a bigger room by creating more visible floor space. A sofa with legs for instance could add 20% more visible floor space to a living room. It’s easier to buy furniture that already has legs on it than adding legs to furniture – especially as some styles of furniture may not suit being raised.
Use mirrors
Ever walked into a room with a full-size wall mirror and thought it was twice as big? By reflecting back the entire room, mirrors can give the illusion that a room is much bigger.
Full-size mirrors work great in poky bathrooms. You can also use a mirrored wardrobe in a cramped bedroom to make it feel twice as big.
Mirrors can also be placed opposite windows to give the illusion that there is an extra window in the room. They also have the dual benefit of adding more natural light to a room.
Add depth with artwork and murals
Artwork and murals can also be used to make a room feel bigger than it is. A landscape painting can work much like a window, creating a sense of depth. This could be particularly the case with a large landscape painting.
Meanwhile, cityscape and forest wallpaper or murals can be used in a similar way – if you want to make a tiny hallway feel bigger, landscape themed wallpaper on one wall could do the trick.