If you’re a regular reader of Curly and Candid you’ll have seen that it seems to be interior’s month or two at the moment. We’ve lived here for 14 months now and need to really put our stamp on the house. For us, it’s all about making use of unused living spaces or making the best of used living spaces. Throughout our research we’ve come up with a few tips on how to get started with your home renovations to make the most out of your space.
Unused Rooms
Chances are that you will have unused rooms that you can turn into functional spaces. If that spare room is simply there to store your junk, it might be time to clear it and give it a purpose. Turn your spare small room into a study, or a walk in wardrobe. You can use your garage for a workshop or your summer room as a playroom. We don’t have an unused room as such but do have a decent space under the attic stairs we could use better….
Narrow Corridors
One of the things that old and new homes have in common is narrow corridors. If you are living in an apartment, this problem is even greater, as the corridor will not only be narrow and useless, but also dark. There are several ways you can make these spaces more functional, by adding a narrow shelving unit, images, floating shelves, or even a shoe storage. Installing a few glass bricks will make the space brighter and more of an attractive living space too.
Built-In Wardrobes
You might also consider getting more space from your bedrooms if you get made-to-measure wardrobes and save floor space. We had built in wardrobes and bif cupboards at the top (great for hiding Xmas gifts!) and this makes a big difference to our room. You can also invest in a storage bed or sofa to store away things you don’t use every day. You can add small shelves above the doors and build up your airing cupboard to make the most out of your space.
Getting Rid of Walls
Opening up the space in your home will improve the comfort level of your house, and make it more inclusive for all family members. An open plan design will need a detailed structural plan and you might want to talk to Contemporary Architects who can draw up your design and check the stability and integrity of the building before applying for a building permissions. I’m not a fan of open plan living space to be honest, unless you have an awesome space, but have seen great results from those who have done it.
Extensions to Create New Living Space
If you have tried everything above, and you still don’t seem to have enough space, chances are that you will need to start thinking about getting an extension. Work with a professional to find a way to optimize the existing home spaces before you add more rooms downstairs and upstairs. Solid wall constructions and two-story buildings are likely to cost significantly more than lean-on conservatories and so on.
If you seem to be lacking space in your home, chances are that you will need to start thinking beyond tidying up and clearing out your storage. Use the above ideas to make the most out of your home and add functionality and style to your living space.
