Optimising Home Spaces

storage space

Not all of us can afford to live in a large, luxury mansion with five bedrooms, four bathrooms and a huge backyard. That’s just fine, although that doesn’t stop me mooning over properties on Rightmove with loads of storage space. When it comes to home renovations you need to consider the amount of space you have first and foremost. There are so many different ways that you can make a difference to your petite property and be happier than ever with your décor, designs and storage space. We’re currently looking at shelving and bespoke furniture to help with maximising home storage space.

Check out these ideas and incorporate them into your small space right now. 

Smart Storage Space

Bathrooms can often become the most cluttered areas in the house, simply because of the amount of things you need to keep in there. You need to find a high quality and neat storage solution to keep all of your belongings safely tucked away. Drench has lots of gorgeous vanities that will ensure you always have sufficient storage in a smaller bathroom. No matter how small your space is, you will be able to find one that fits perfectly in your bathroom. When it comes to decorating your bathroom, make sure you keep the colour scheme as simple as possible in order to open up the space more. Dark and bold colours will give a much more enclosed vibe so pick a neutral palette if you want to create the image of a larger space.

Another top tip from me, decent towel storage. Nothing makes out bathroom messier than clean towels chucked on top of our bathroom unit!

towels,

Perfect Plants

Flowers and plants can work miracles and brighten up any space, whether it is spacious or small. As long as you have a couple of trustworthy vases to can create an array of arrangements to keep your house looking and smelling fresh at all times. As the seasons change you will have a variety of different greenery on offer. 

Multi-Use Furniture

Invest in a sofa bed which can be used for a variety of different situations. There are so many amazingly comfy ones out there, which will save you a tonne of space. Double up your sleeping pillows as decorative cushions too, so you don’t have to find a place to store away your unused fluffed up padding. Decorate some pillow cases with a bit of DIY handiwork and you will have a set of unique designs to brighten up your home. These are just a few ideas. Have a look on Pinterest for some fabulous (ingenious!) multi-use furniture ideas.

Awesome Accessories

From scented candles to shabby chic rugs you can really go to town on your accessories. You might want to consider smaller, yet effective ornaments so that you’re not using up too much precious space. A perfectly patterned rug or a set of floral bedding can bring you the brightness you’re craving. Choose a scheme and stick with it, whether it is rainbow bright or a palette of pastels, stay consistent and tie each item in with each other. 

Gloriously Green

Going green with your power sources at home is one extremely effective way of saving more money each month. Opt for solar panels for the ultimate energy saving method and fill in any tiny gaps around the house to keep your warmth in. Switch to LED lighting or energy saving bulbs so that you’re attempting to save some money on your bills. Any money saved of course can go back into making your home look and feel the way that you want it to. More money also means more clever storage space (clearly a priority for me).

Pristine Paint

Did you know that the colour white can give the illusion of a bigger space? The brightness of this color reflects off the walls and will make even the tiniest of homes look grand and luxurious. If you think the colour white is too neutral for you, then don’t be afraid to jazz it up with a selection of brightly coloured accessories and other additions. Even the plainest room will pop with an awesome accessory added to it.

Personal Touches

Hanging up pictures and photographs on the wall can really add a personal touch to your little house. Choose your favourite images which capture the most special moments in your life and make them into an attractive collage on the wall. You can include photos of your loved ones or invest in some alternative artwork which makes you feel at home. Perhaps your little ones have painted the most perfect portrait and you want to hang it in a frame. Whatever makes you feel homely hang it on the wall!

Wonder Walls

Shelves are your best friend when it comes to living in a tiny house. You can install shelves on each and every wall and use them for a variety of purposes. Whether you want to stack up a set of your favourite books or you’re planning on using them to store your kitchenware, shelves can be a super effective way to keep your things neat and tidy. Take inspiration from the many tiny house hacks online and make the most of your wall space by installing shelves from floor to ceiling. When in doubt, go high! We’re looking at creative ways to illuminate our wall shelves at the moment.

 

Living in a small cosy home, doesn’t have to be a boring one at all. There are so many ways that you can transform a little space into a luxury one. Add your own personal touches, clean up the paintwork and find smart home storage solutions that work with the space that you’ve got. You will soon be able to boast a beautiful pristine home that is perfect for you and your loved ones.



Top Tips for Home Renovation

home renovation

You’re hearing a lot from me about home renovation and interiors because it’s a big thing for us right now. The house we live in at the moment is great, it has what we need but it isn’t The One. We’ve been somewhat torn between doing this house up (it’s conveniently placed and we really don’t want to move right now) or biting the bullet and moving. It could take forever to find what we’re looking for though so we’re going to take what doesn’t excite us about this house, both aesthetically and from a practical point of view, and we’re going to change it.

If like us you want to start doing more for yourself and embark on a home renovation project, these points to consider are a good place to start.

Know What You Want

First of all, you need to know what it is that you really want. Sometimes, it’s really easy to visualise yourself in your ‘dream home’ but can you see the specifics of what it looks like? Do you know what kind of decor you want and want sort of home it is? If so you have a better imagination than me. I have a wealth of ideas about what I like and what I don’t but really need to put it together to form some sort of consistent look and feel.

Create Home Renovation Pinterest Boards

Pinterest is a great platform for discovering interior design ideas. I have one or two Pinterest boards set to secret as well as a few open ones, all dedicated to homes and houses, kitchens, offices and so on. I think I need to start pulling my favourites into one master board to see what we’re really looking at, to check Roy and I are on the same page and to start proactively planning.

Get Planning Permission

Planning permission is an essential consideration for anyone who’s planning on carrying out renovations on their home. Research whether planning permission is required for the work you want to be carried out and, if you do need permission, find the right services from Arbtech to survey the work and secure permission.

Focus On Action

It’s not enough to just think and dream. This is where I fall short. Once we’ve nailed the planning stage we need to set SMART goals, to put dates and deadlines on the calendar and we need to focus on action. Basically, if we don’t get started, we’ll never finish and be happy with our living space.

Allocate Your Budget Well

This part we are good at. Having a realistic budget is what ensures that the project will get done. How you allocate your budget is up to you. If you want to put money into features like stunning splashbacks or even an entirely new kitchen, that’s fine, as long as you have the money for it. Watching home renovation and decoration shows have also taught me to always have a little extra in the budget that isn’t allocated to a specific spend. This is the money you’ll use when you go over budget (it happens).

Staying Positive

This is something I need to remind myself of. I hate clutter, mess and mayhem and you know that once we get started there will be plenty of all three! I will have to compromise on something I want thanks to the budget and I might have a wobble here and there over colours, textures and style too. If I (and you if you’re embarking on a similar project) can stay positive and upbeat it will make the whole process much easier and I’m pretty sure we’ll enjoy being in our dream home all the more for it.

Do you have any top tips for taking on a home renovation?