Getting the Most Out of Smaller Living Spaces

In every home, you want to make the most use of the space you have, but it becomes especially important if your home is considered a "smaller space."

No matter how big or small your home may be, you want to optimize the space you have in as many ways as comfortably possible. With smaller spaces, like Plan 21-0013, it becomes more important to optimize the functionality of the space. In this article, we'll share tips for finding more space throughout your home. Whether you choose to apply one or all of these tips, they are sure to make your house more comfortable than before.

Multi-use Furniture

It seems we are living in a world full of gadgets and gizmos, but oftentimes they only serve one purpose, or are "single-use". Your kitchen may have a toaster and an air fryer and a toaster oven - but there is now an appliance that is seven-in-one, eliminating the need for multiple appliances in the kitchen. You can get a micro plane and a hand grater - or you can get a box grater with multiple sides with size options. Multi-use items like this free up valuable real estate on the kitchen counter. When furnishing any room, you want to make sure that you are going to get maximum use out of the furniture and appliances that are occupying the precious space you do have.

A common example of multi-purpose furniture is in the couch. You have likely used a futon or sofa bed at least once in the past. This piece can serve as everyday seating in the living room and also offer spare sleeping arrangements for visitors. The futon serves as a couch for the day-to-day, offering comfortable seating to watch television and altogether lounge. Then when it is your turn to host friends for the weekend, the futon seamlessly converts into spacious lodging for your guests. Convertible furniture means never having to store a spare mattress that serves one purpose and is only taking up valuable storage space more often than not.

Sourcing couches or ottomans that double as storage units makes great use of a space that would otherwise be wasted air. Spare blankets can be easily accessed, already in the room where they are needed, rather than being stored away in the hall closet. However, it can be difficult to find the perfect piece of furniture for your space, so you might consider implementing DIY to turn the furniture you currently own into surprise storage pieces.

Do-it-Yourself

If you're unable to find the right multipurpose furniture for your specific space, consider implementing DIY tactics to make better space-saving use of the future you already have. As previously mentioned, ottomans can be turned into storage pieces by adding a hinge and a sturdy bottom.

Another option is to put cupboards under the coffee table. Take a few slabs of wood and one or two doors to build a cabinet, and then install it on the underside of your coffee table for a discrete place to store reading materials or game console accessories out of sight. You can also use the space under your bed effectively for drawers or cupboards to store bedding or off-season clothing.

You also have the option to repurpose alternate items into furniture, adding functional storage space to your decor. For instance, an old ladder can be upcycled into a stylish and functional blanket rack or bookshelf. Old crates or boxes can be stacked and secured together to create a unique and customizable shelving unit for displaying books, plants, or other decorative items.