Effective use of space makes a small home seem much bigger.
No matter how large our homes are, we always want more space. With some thought and creativity it's possible to make the smallest home more practical. With simple creative storage ideas, you can immediately make your home seem twice its actual size. Does this Spark an idea?
Good Housekeeping
Regular de-cluttering is essential. Be ruthless, keeping only what you need and very sentimental items. You can make money for new storage items by selling what you discard or help others by giving it to a charity shop. If you haven't used it for a year, throw it out. Have a place for everything and keep everything in its place. Using labeled baskets or boxes is practical and can be very attractive. Larger plastic storage boxes with lids, ideally stackable ones, are great for loft spaces and storing just about anything, but remember to label them.
Living and Dining Areas
Invest in a folding table with its four chairs folded inside. Some also have a little drawer built in. If used daily, you can keep it half up with two chairs out. Open the whole thing when you have dinner guests. Nesting tables are useful to save space. Alternatively, use wooden boxes with flat, solid lids as small tables and you keep just about anything inside. If your boxes are unattractive, paint them or cover with a small table cloth. A flat screen TV or a bracket on the wall for the TV frees up floor space.
Kitchen
Utilize wall space by using a bracket for the microwave, hooks for utensils and wall-mounted cupboards and shelving. Some tall slim cupboards can be fitted with metal sliding shelves that help store smaller items. Store what you don't need, like excess crockery and cutlery that you don't use regularly; cut back on gadgets like bread makers unless you use them regularly.
Bathroom
A lot of nooks and crannies in bathrooms are wasted space. Some baths now come with storage built behind the side panel. If you have a free-standing sink, build shelved cupboards around it. Use small boxes stacked alongside and behind the toilet. Go for a taller bathroom cabinet over the sink with a mirror. Hanging wire baskets in the shower are useful for keeping bottles. Elsewhere, use string bags to hang from hooks or towel rails.
Bedroom
Choose a bed with drawers or storage space underneath. Use flat plastic storage boxes with lids that slide under the bed to keep the dust off. Bunk beds are fun as well as excellent space savers. Some have folding futons or desk space for a micro-office on the lower level. Maximize wardrobe space with hanging canvass shelving, back-of-door shoe racks and vacuum storage bags. The bags can store soft toys, clothes, bedding and towels in the smallest of spaces. Have cupboards fitted above and around the bed with built-in nightstands.
Tags: boxes with, about anything, boxes with lids, cupboards fitted, home seem, just about
