7 ways to add more space to your home

Are you feeling cramped in your home? You’re not the only one, especially if you live in Neutral Bay, where homes are smaller than their suburban cousins.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to add more space to your home without having to move further away from the city.

Let there be light

Nothing makes a room feel more small and cramped than poor lighting. The more light you can introduce into every room, the larger it will feel. Shadows bring corners and edges forwards and make small spaces feel even smaller.

Create more light by removing any heavy curtains or blinds and letting the windows do their job. Standing and table lamps are a simple solution, or you can invest in ceiling lights or even a skylight.

Separate your spaces

If one room fulfills too many purposes, it can rapidly devolve into clutter.

Use room dividers to define each space, and you can keep tasks where they belong. This can be as simple as using rugs to delineate or purchasing a movable screen.

The beauty of a system like this is that areas become more defined while you maintain flexibility. Rugs are only a visual divider, and screens can be removed when a larger space is needed. You still retain the option of open space for more elbow room when guests come to visit.

Is there the possibility of adding more space?

Back yards and ceilings can be hidden gems of floor space. Whether a rumpus room for the kids, a home office or study, an extra bedroom, or a man cave, a granny flat or attic conversion will create a brand new space.

Especially in older homes, roof space often goes to waste. In some cases, there might be enough room in the attic to add more than one small room.

Grassy areas in the backyard can become floor space. A granny flat or garage conversion can make for an entirely new music room, yoga room, study or apartment.

Think creatively. There may be more space around your house than you realise. A building designer or architect may be able to provide some suggestions for clever upgrades that will add value to your home.

Open up smaller spaces

If there is any way of opening up walls or doorways to create open plan space, it will help to make your home feel more spacious. Even widening existing doorways can make a huge difference to the feel of a space.

Sliding or French doors to a yard, patio, or even balcony can also open up the space and bring the outdoors in.

Use monochrome colours and lighter shades to create a more consistent look.

The colours you choose for your home can impact the feeling of space as much as lighting.

By using light and neutral colour, you can create the illusion of space. Dark colours will make a room feel cramped and confined. Keeping the colours consistent throughout the house will also feel more spacious because it will fool the eye into seeing a continuous line rather than multiple smaller spaces.

Shrink your furniture

Oversized sofas and large dining tables take up a lot of room. If you’re feeling cramped, it may be time to downsize to some smaller pieces. So can lots of small chairs and tables, so remove pieces you don’t use.

Sofas and chairs with legs help give the illusion of space by lifting them off the ground. Consider also options such as the Couchmate, which drapes over the side of your chair to provide a flat surface and reduces the need for a coffee table.

Add storage

Clutter will always make a home feel cramped, so look for clever ways to keep things out of sight. Storage ottomans, mounted cupboards and drawers under the bed can help you keep other surfaces clean.

Talk to us

If you’re feeling cramped in your home, don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to add more space without spending a fortune. All it takes is a little bit of creativity and clever home styling. These tips will also make your home more desirable when it comes time to sell.

Are you thinking of selling? Get in touch with us today for an informal chat about the local market.

Whether you are thinking of selling or simply want to make your home feel bigger, there are many clever tricks to opening up a home or apartment for a feeling of greater space.

These include:

– Adding light, windows, task lighting. Removing heavy curtains to allow more light in.
– Separate spaces with open room dividers/define spaces
– Is there the possibility of adding more space eg a granny flat or loft conversion?
– Open up smaller spaces, room doorways etc to create a more open plan look.
(Are there any architects we can recommend in Mount Gambier?)
– Use monochrome colours and lighter shades to create a more consistent look.