How can I get the most space out of a small place?

Question

I am moving from a large apartment to a small house.
thx for ur ideas.

Answer 1

I am a professional home stager and I think I can really help you here. The first thing to do is go room by room and empty each room of everything. You'll have to do this to pack anyway and this will also cut down on your moving costs. Once you have emptied a room, slowly put things back in but NEVER put back more than 50% of what you took out. This is called down-sizing a room. It sounds difficult but it isn't. Don't put back anything that you haven't used in 6 months (one year if you live somewhere where the climate really changes every season). Either throw it away, give it away or put it in storage. Don't put back anything that doesn't make you smile or really make you happy to look at it. Most people have 64% too much clutter in their homes.

Once you have moved, make sure you paint with colors you really like. I know that some people only believe that light colors can make a room look big. That's not really true. There are ways to use darker colors and still have your room look big. Email me and I'll tell you how that works if you want dark colors. [e-mail]

Remember to keep things in groups of 3: 1 tall, 1medium, 1 small (think candles). And if you possibly can in the living room, keep some space around the furniture. Believe it or not, this really makes a room look much larger.

Don't forget to hand mirrors to reflect light. Light always makes a room look larger and so do mirrors.

Enjoy your new home!

Answer 2

Less is defintley more...If you are moving into a smaller space, and you have a lot of stuff from your previous living space, then take the time to reorganize your things...Go through your stuff and decide what you really need and don't need, my best solution for throwing something away is, If you haven't used it in the past year or so-its garbage. Then I think a place always look so more beautiful if it is painted, and that will make the small space seem cozier and more put together, even for a small place. Also you should let a lot of light through if it is possible, during the day time open up your windows and let the natural ligthing shine through, it will make your small place so much more better. Also try to color cordinate so that , things look put together and in place. If you have too many different colors in one space then its as if two things are competing for your attention, one being the space of the room and the color, focus on one thing but use it to your adavantage. For more help, start watching design shows, such as While you were out, or Trading Spaces, or shows on Bravo....Or even google it...I hope this helps..

Answer 3

As you pack to move, get rid of any items you don't need. Use graph paper to make a floor plan of each room and cutouts of all your furniture to scale. Use these tools to experiment with different furniture arrangements. There might be more space than you expect if you put your furniture in the right places. Make full use of all storage currently available to you. Use underbed storage containers; get blocks or buy risers if the bed is too close to the floor. Consider furniture with built in storage like deacon's benches or ottomans. Add shelves, bookcases, or corner units where you can. Add space saving units to your closets and cupboards. If you have more items to display than you have room for, use a rotational system changing your display every few months so you can enjoy everything. If you need to rent a storage area, get the smallest unit that will accommodate your stuff and put shelves in it so you don't waste space. Label everything you store on two or more sides so it is easy to find when you want it. Enjoy your new home.

Answer 4

The only thing to do is use your space vertically! Make taller shelves, build cabinets or open shelves around the bathroom or over the mirror and commode, or from the vanity up to the ceiling. If you hallway is wide enough you can create a long narrow closet with rods hanging from the ceiling(place attachments into joists for stability) for hanging clothes and closet kits for shelves,shoes,sweaters,etc. and then use a tight cable hung by large eye screws(place them into the studs or joists) and make a curtain to cover it ceiling to floor. You can have shelves all the way up to the ceiling for storage of items you rarely use. You could build walls instead of using the curtain if you can spend that much or you really don't have plans to enlarge or build other storage.You can do this across one side of a bedroom also and put a large dresser or bed in front of the curtain so it looks like a window is behind it. The wall to wall curtain will make the room appear longer!Use sofas and tables with legs instead of being solid to the floor because a room will look more open and larger.Use trunks for end tables and store throws,books magazines, toys there. Also use ottomans or coffee tables that open for storage.In the kit make a pot rack from a metal or wooden grate or old wooden ladder or old chandelier or PVC pipe and put hooks on it , paint it to match kit or to contrast or paint it siver or black and hang pots and pans on it. That will free up cabinets for food and dishes.Put large utensils in a vase or crockery pot on the cabinet instead of a drawer.I moved into a tiny apt from a large house and had to downsize tremendously! I only put the towels I will use in the bathroom and stored and gave away all of the others. I wash often anyway and didn't really need so many towels.Use under your bed for storage. I use those vac. plastic bags and put extra sheets and pillows for company in them. They stay fresh and clean there and don't get musty.I use plastic tubs for stacking my craft and sewing materials in.Also for Christmas decor. and keepsakes of my kids and the grandkids toys and coloring and art supplies.I bought an old chiffarobe and painted it off white and put it in the kit and use it for my pantry. It has drawers and shelves and one large drawer across the bottom for my baking supplies.The shelves are farther apart for the oversized items like cereal.If you have a garage or utility room you can make shelves and closets there for thingsyou don't use much. Have a great time in your new home and use your imagination!

Answer 5

Yes you can suffer from both conditions. I am both claustraphobic and agoraphobic and it can encroach greatly on my life at times. It can take weeks for me to feel 'safe' enough to go out and once I'm out I have to be careful not to go into shops that have a lot of people in or be in a part of town that is very busy. I avoid town on Thursdays because it is Market Day and the centre of town is generally heaving with people. I have never been out in December when our town holds its Late Night Christmas Shopping extravaganza, or been to our local Show Day. I know I am missing some really good days out but I just cannot be in such crowded places and it would cause me to have awful panic attacks and exacerbate my agoraphobia.

Answer 6

Organization helps a lot. Unpack only what you need at first and store the rest. Pull out stuff only when you need it and have a place to put it. Anything you haven't touched in two years you should consider (1) taking a photo of it so you remember it and (2) selling it or giving it away.

Answer 7

You might be interested in this article http://www.bathroomsremodeling.this-info.com/idea-for-remodeling-a-small-bathroom.php It deals with making the most out of a small bathroom.

Answer 8

I would say use your walls for storage (like tall bookshelves, etc.) so you have less stuff in the middle of the room.

Answer 9

well definitly shelves or racks of some kind..then use those plastic tub things and store things under the bed...and one more tip is (for a tv or computer) use a nice (higher) table b/c u can store things underneath it it...storage storage storage...good luck

Answer 10

lighter color paint, and shelves with storage boxes.
recessed lighting.
ottomans or tables that also double as storeage.

"points of interest" like tables with clusters of pictures, or bookshelves with vases.