Ever feel like the walls are closing in? That you don’t even have room to swing a cat, let alone live your life comfortably and spaciously? That life’s endless admin is building up in every corner, both physically and metaphorically?
It’s only natural to feel a little confined by our four walls from time to time, particularly after the rather topsy-turvy couple of years we’ve all had, but being resigned to density and debris isn‘t helpful here.
Indeed, homes of all sizes must make the most of the space they have, and interior design choices have a crucial role to play in that aim.
Remember, even the smallest homes can utilise space effectively, not wasting an inch of it on superfluous endeavours or unnecessary furniture. There’s no reason not to make the most of the areas afforded to you, and that’s what great interior design choices help make possible.
There are many routes you can go down here, from simple ‘hacks’ all the way to larger renovation projects. Some will undoubtedly appeal to you more than others, both in terms of budget and suitability for your property. That’s okay, and you can mix and merge strategies to suit your specific needs.
With that in mind, here are some great interior design hacks that help create more space at home.
Multipurpose Items
Let’s face it; you can’t start creating space with your interior design choices if your home is cluttered. Fortunately, there may be a way to maintain a tidy home whilst also throwing in more exciting aesthetic flourishes.
Storage is often regarded as its own beast. Still, it can be blended effectively with your furniture arrangements. Dining tables, beds, and loungers can all have their own storage compartment. Ottomans play a dual role more obviously, but they’re still a worthwhile inclusion if you want seating areas and storage. Storage chests can be stacked and used as a side table too.
Even stairs can be used for storage, with shelving units built underneath that can be pulled out and opened. Part of the charm of all these efforts is the multipurpose effect. The most impressive interior design is smart and sophisticated, making the best use of the space possible; if you have the creative mindset for it, opportunities are everywhere, and you should consider utilising them all.
Read: 6 of the best storage solutions for small houses
Vertical Decorations
Your walls can be used for more than shelving units, of course. Using them in other ways could free up valuable space elsewhere in your property.
Wall mounts, rails, and hooks can hang plants effectively. Magnetic cutlery racks can be placed under shelves, potentially reducing the need for drawers in the kitchen. Foldable chairs can also be hung on hooks if you’re extra serious about conserving space. Beds can also be bought that are designed to fold into the wall. Yep, we know we’re just riffing here, and some of these choices might seem like they’ve come from left-field, but that can be part of their appeal, giving you a quirkier, more aesthetically-arresting space to enjoy.
There are more mainstream options that are worth remembering, too. A wall-mounted television will free up a lot of floor space, removing the need for a full table. Lights can be fitted to the walls to clear table space. You could also place shelving units higher up the wall and use a foldable and slim indoor ladder to retrieve the higher-up items as an added quirk. The more wall space you use, the less floor space might be needed.
The world (or, at least, your home) is your oyster!
Sliding Doors
It’s strange to think of doors taking up much room. They are, after all, flat and vertical in design. However, leaving them open can take up a surprising amount of space. After all, entire corners of a room can be cut-off if a door is wide open.
Sliding glass doors can address this. They’re out of the way, whether open or closed, and potentially create a more elegant space around them. These doors can also be used anywhere inside your home and are for more than just leading out into a patio area from a kitchen or dining room.
What’s more, aside from the physical space saved, as the guys at Go Glass wisely suggest, transparent or translucent sliding doors also serve to enhance the flow of natural light in the home, increasing that sense of visual space, too.
Use Utilities
It can sometimes seem like there’s no crossover between the drab property utilities and the innovative interior design options you have in mind. It’s a flawed mindset to have, though, because the two can be merged, creating more space elsewhere.
For instance, radiators can be cumbersome and space-consuming. Place a cover over the top of them, though, and you have a shelf. There are also safe-to-use decorative coverings for pipes if you want to add a splash of colour. Alternatively, you could leave them on display and exposed, enjoying their rustic appeal.
The point is not to let your property’s utilities become a distraction. After all, homeowners can be so fearful of pipes and radiators showing that they use sometimes unwieldy interior design measures to cover up their presence. Placing furniture in front of radiators can be a huge error, reducing how much heat gets around the room and taking up unnecessary space. Ultimately, it’s best to incorporate your home’s utilities into your interior design plans in admirably resourceful ways.
And on that note, why not check out our guide on 5 methods to prevent heat loss at home this winter. We’ll see you when we emerge from hibernation next spring!