Great ways you can use some extra space in your house
No matter what kind of home you live in, there’s always a need for extra space. Even those who live in large, five-bedroom family homes will likely find they’re running out of room. Why? Because the longer you live somewhere, the more stuff you tend to acquire! It’s just part of life.
One method of gaining extra space is to get rid of things. A great idea is to analyze each room, item by item, and throw away anything you haven’t used in over a year. Better still, donate these things to charity and create less waste. If, however, getting rid of precious items is not an option for you, or you simply still need more space, then there are some great ways to make extra room in your home. Here are a few top tips for making use of some extra space in your house.
In The Garage
One of the most cluttered areas of many homes tends to be the garage. Unfortunately, the garage area is often treated as a bit of a junkyard, with bikes, tools, toys, and just about everything else chucked in there with an “I’ll sort that later” kind of attitude. Sound familiar?
If your garage is packed to the brim and you can’t throw anything else away, it’s time to utilize the space better. If you haven’t already, consider using overhead storage for items that tend to end up on the floor. Small tool boxes, Christmas decorations, or DIY materials could easily and safely be stored overhead. This also puts dangerous items out of the reach of children!
Another top garage tip is to maximize the use of the walls. It’s not likely that your garage is decorated like the rest of your home, but is instead a bare-walled room. If that’s the case, hang racks and hooks on the walls to help neatly organize bikes, tools, gardening gear, and more!
Kitchen Storage
The kitchen gets cluttered, there are no two ways about it. Even the person with the most minimalist, streamlined kitchen still has a cupboard that is packed to the rafters with pots and pans. There are just too many utensils required for good cooking!
There are, however, some smart kitchen storage solutions to help with this matter. If you have a corner cupboard where everything is hard to reach, consider a cupboard with a rotating shelf inside. These spinning storage solutions make it easy to grab whatever you need, without having to take everything else out first. The kitchen also suits garage-style wall hooks, for hanging pots, pans, and utensils on display.
Vacuum Packing
Your clothes choice probably changes depending on the season, as does your bedding choice. This creates a jumble of large, unused items at different times of the year. However, you can make your spare bedding and winter coats disappear for a few months with the use of vacuum-sealed bags.
Stuff everything you don’t need into a giant bag, then suck all the air out of it and seal it tight. A large duvet can go down to 1/10th of its normal size, without damaging it. Then, store these on your overhead shelves in the garage or under the bed. Don’t worry - the bags are waterproof, so nothing will get damaged, no matter where you store them.
Utilize Your Basement
The basement is often treated a bit like the garage. You may throw a sofa and TV down there, or a spare bed and a washing machine, but, too often, that’s all that ever happens. It’s disorganized and messy.
Instead of doing this, make your basement a super storage and space area. Turn it into an extra bedroom, but with a neatly sorted corner of utilities, storage solutions, shelving, and more. It can be used as a second food storage area, a wine corner, or even a space to keep all your laundry. Do it nicely and you’ll create a great basement space whilst also saving clutter from your hallways and rooms upstairs.
Sofa Storage
The sofa is the meeting point of the house, a space where everyone gets together to chat, watch TV, and snuggle. But, what if your sofa could be so much more?
Lots of sofas are being designed to house storage solutions these days. Whether it’s an L-shaped sofa with a lifting footrest or a sofa with a sliding drawer underneath, these things can be a real space saver. You can fill them with your previously vacuum-packed clothing or use them to house board games and other entertainment items. Whatever you choose, they’ll be safely tucked away and help keep your family room spacious and tidy.
Benches
You may have some space around your front door, along a couple of hallways, or even in the kitchen for a nice bench. Storage benches look just like normal seats, but with one benefit; the lid pops open giving you a nice secret hiding space. These spaces are perfect by the front door, as it creates a nice little cubby hole for your wet shoes, umbrellas, or sports gear. They work in the garden, too, as you can hide away garden cushions, decorations, candles, and more. Plus, they look nice, so it’s a win-win situation!
Toy Chest
If you have kids, you know the drama of the kids’ toys. How many times have you gotten up in the morning and stood on a figurine or a piece of lego? There’s simply nothing worse!
You can save this drama and create some extra space with a toy chest. Much like the aforementioned benches, they can look good whilst providing you with a safe space to hide away all those tiny toys. Plus, you can double this up with a bit of bonus parenting; make your kids help you with putting all the toys back in the box every evening for a little treat or after-dinner dessert.
These tips can help maximize the space in your home and make it feel spacious and tidy. There’s nothing better than tucking away all the junk and sitting down in a clean, safe, spacious family home. With everything from the garage to the basement covered, you’ll wonder how you ended up with so much space!