Collaborative Post
Whether you’re sick of how long it takes to clean your rooms, you need more space for a growing family, or you simply want to modernise your home, then adding more space is always a good idea. If you’re not going to be building an extension, however, then your best bet for doing that is to save space, instead. Your choice of furniture could make a big difference when it comes to the question of how to save space. Here, we’re going to look at a few ways you can do that.
Get to know how much space you really have in each room
The first thing that you should do, before you go purchasing or even looking seriously at any furniture, is to get an idea of how much space you actually have in each room. If you don’t know your room’s measurements, then you cannot get a good idea of how much any piece of furniture is going to take up in it, it will all be guesswork and, as a result, you will overestimate or underestimate. Measure the length and width of your room, and don’t forget to measure any furniture that you’re hoping to keep. That way, even if you have to move it around, you can get a good idea of the space that will be available around it.
Assess your needs
When you have a good idea of how much space is going to be available in the room, then you need to start thinking about which furniture matters most in the space. This is the furniture that you might want to make sure that you save enough space for. Which furniture that is will depend largely on the purpose of the room. Is it a place where you’re going to want to relax alone? Is it a practical space where you need to keep tools, materials, or food? It is a space for entertaining guests? Even thinking of those questions, ti’s likely that you started getting an idea of which furniture you would prioritise for each space. When it comes to actually deciding what goes where you might even want to write lists just to cement those priorities in your head.
Get them doing double-duty
One of the best ways to save space on the furniture choices you have to make is to choose furniture that is able to do the job of two pieces. We’re going to look at a few examples in more detail later, and how certain types are a lot more useful than others, but you should take a look at some multi-functional furniture ideas to see what kind of pieces you can mix together. Just be sure that when you do choose such a piece they are effective at both jobs. Some will prioritise one function more than the other, and you just want to make sure that they meet your needs, however they’re balanced.
Use vertical space for your storage
A lot of us are already used to the idea of using vertical space for our storage, we just don’t use it as broadly as we should. Most of us are going to be used to having drawers and cupboards that we reach up towards when we’re in the kitchen, so why don’t you consider using them in more spaces throughout the home? For instance, if you have a home office or a workspace, then rather than having a big, wide desk that takes up a ton of space, you might want to opt for a smart ladder shelf desk, instead, which makes it a lot easier to reach up and grab what you need.
Use the space under your tables, desks, and so on
If you have furniture that allows you to fit some space underneath them, then you should consider what the space can be used for. When it comes to addressing storage needs, wicker baskets might seem like they would take up more space, but the reality is that you can fit them in all sorts of places so that not only can they be tucked out of view, allowing for a more clean look to the area, but they can be moved around for your convenience. Wicker baskets can, for instance, serve as excellent temporary storage spaces, so if there are any loose clothes or toys lying around, you can quickly tidy them away, even if you don’t have time for a full clean right now.
Get an extendable table
The kitchen table is a bothersome one. You want to make sure that it has enough space to sit the entire family, or guests when you want to invite them over, but you also might not need it to be that big when it’s not in use. If you’re sitting alone at the table with some breakfast, then it can be a lot more compact. To that end, you should look at the option of getting yourself an extendable table. For instance, some tables can be extended along the length of them, and even have storage space inside the tabletop that contains the extra bit of surface that you fit in the middle of the two pieces when extended.
Change the legs on your table
It might sound like an odd idea, but even going into detail with things like the legs on the tables you choose can make a significant difference to how accessible and practical the space beneath them is. Choosing a table with thinner legs from the get-go is going to help them take up less space and, in keeping with the idea mentioned above, it’s going to open up storage space beneath them, if you’re not already stuffing them with chairs you’re not using. However, if you have to repair or replace the legs of a chair, you can just as easily upgrade them with hairpin legs. You don’t always necessarily need to buy new furniture to free up some space.
Wall-mount it when you can
Of course, while slim legs are great for a table, no legs can be even better. Levitating tabletops are not yet a thing (as far as we know), so your best bet here is to look at the possibility of wall-mounting your table or desk, as well. Of course, this is an option that should be seriously considered, as a wall-mounted desk is going to take some work to remove again, so you have to make sure that you really want it. What’s more, you want to make sure that your space has enough wall space to be able to fit a desk or table of the size that suits your needs.
Make use of your home’s odd little spaces
Sometimes, your home might have the solution for you in some unexpected places. A lot of homes, especially older ones, might have odd nooks that don’t seem to offer much in the way of practical use, often converted from now obsolete areas that would not fit in a modern home. To that end, you should turn those spaces into bespoke fitted furniture and storage areas. A fitted wardrobe in the right space can take up a lot less space than a freestanding one but also offers more storage space, because they typically go from wall to wall and roof to roof, which can make them even more practical. Not every home has the right space for fitted furniture, but where they can be used, they’re a great addition.
Get yourself a truly great sofa bed
If your bedroom or sleeping space is on the smaller side, it might feel like you have to choose between having a comfortable place to sit or a bed of the right size for yourself. However, that’s not the case. Sofa beds have been around for a long time, but they don’t always have to be the type that folds out to straighten, offering little in the way of width or space for a real mattress. With a quality murphy sofa bed, you can make sure that you have plenty of room for the kind of bed that you want, with space for a real mattress that offers real comfort.
Use your loft space
If you have a loft space already available, or if you have more room above your head than you do around your feet, then you should consider making use of that space. You can build a loft space that, for instance, allows you to put your bed up closer towards the ceiling, offering you a lot more space down below for a desk or whatever else you might want. This is well suited for those who live alone but is also worth thinking about for children who might want the space to play below.
Start thinking about how furniture takes up space, and how it can help you save space, whenever you’re choosing a piece to add to the home. You can suddenly find that your rooms feel much more free, open, and are easier to clean when you do.
