10 Ways to Make the Most of Small Spaces

Downsizing is a current trend not only in homes, but also in furniture scale.   Americans are looking for ways their smaller homes can meet their needs.  It is more important than ever to utilize every inch of your home.  Let's talk about some ways you can have your cake and eat it too in a smaller space.  

1. Mini-office.  The popularity of wall mounted flatscreens, has reduced the need for the television cabinets of the 1990's.  Why not recycle one into a mini office.  Perfect for the neat neck who likes to keep their messes behind closed doors.  No need for an office to take up an entire room.  This piece will play nicely in almost any room of the house.

Photo by Roberto Caruso

2.  Unused spaces: Look for niches to create built in storage like under stairs

3. Build book cases on wall that would otherwise not be worthy of use.

4. Hidden Options: Look for clever ways to add storage 

5. Vertical Storage: Make use of vertical space when possible



6. Space saving Furniture - Incorporate furniture that saves space or has smaller lines

7. smaller scale furniture  - especially furniture with no arms or slight arms.  Takes up less space visually and physically.

Via New Traditionalists

8. Think outside of the box.  You don't have to have a sofa at all.  Four chairs in a radius will give you the same seating for conversation that two sofas do with a lot less room being eaten up by the furniture.  

via

9. Look for dual functionality in your rooms by creating space within a space such as this room with the murphy bed. 

Murphy Bed by Custom Made

10.  Take advantage of vertical space - Anytime you can get it off the floor do!  

Via

  

Every house has more storage options if we just think about the space and utilize every inch. 

Hopefully you will look at yours a little differently now that we have talked about a few options.  The key to making your home work for you is to identify your needs first, then find ways to meet those needs.  Often times we are junking up valuable real estate with things we dont' use.  Donate those old books you've already read and won't read again.   Tear the pages out of the magazine and recycle the rest of it. Don't hang on to those smaller sized pants in hopes you are going to lose 5 lbs.  It's time to re-evaluate, purge and regroup!  
Let's see how creative we can be!  I'm walking around my house right now with a notepad. 
Can't wait to tell you what I'm up to!!

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