All square footage is not created equal
Over the years we’ve done things to make our smallish house feel more spacious. Some big, some small.
Here are 5 smallish things you can do to make your home feel more roomy. These ideas are affordable, and just about anyone can tackle them.
Put things on the walls. Going vertical is the easiest way to free up floor space and make room. The space by our bedside is limited. Instead of having table lamps that could be knocked over or bumped when getting into bed, we installed these lamps from West Elm and I couldn't be happier with the fact that they swivel and extend. Other things that go good on walls - shelves, murphy beds, wall desks.
Clean the Windows. This one is practically free. I know, I know it may sound silly but just trust me on this one and open the blinds/curtains while you’re at it. The relationship between indoor and outdoor space matters. Sightlines to the space beyond your four walls will make your house feel lighter and airier.
Store off season clothes and gear in vacuum bags. I have a love affair with these bags. We are big skiers which means lots of winter gear and with a finished basement and no attic there is little room to store these items in the off season. Puffy jackets hanging in a closet can take up a lot of room. When the off season comes I do copious amounts of laundry and edit down the things my boys won’t fit into next year, then I vacuum seal it all. Not only are these great for reducing the volume of stuff to be stored but they keep everything clean, dry, must, mold and moth free. I like to list on a post-it note the bags contents and place it inside before sealing. It helps to identify items later on.
Clear the countertops in the kitchen. Our peninsula is the hub of our home. It is the drop off spot for so many items - backpacks, bits and baubles, used cereal bowls, mail. In my ideal world there would be almost nothing on my kitchen peninsula. But I’m human and live with three other slightly messy humans. Corralling mail and paper into one pile, and having a pretty platter as a catch all for items is a nice way to imperfectly solve this problem. Our whole house can be in disarray but when there is breathing room in the kitchen for meals and cooking the house feels more spacious.
Reduce visual clutter. This is a piggyback on #4. But there is a reason why the home staging industry is booming when it comes to residential real estate. Paring down and visually quieting a home sells it faster. A simple exercise - walk through your house as if you were a prospective buyer. What stands out? In addition to the kitchen counters, take a look around - remove items from the fridge doors, put a way coats and shoes in the entryways, put away the things left on the stair landings. Visually quieting your spaces, by putting items in their respective homes, can go a long way.