Moving into a smaller place after being accustomed to �living large� requires a little adjustment. Not having to think about where to put things is one of the upsides of a big house, albeit a downside may be forgetting where we put them. At any rate, creative space utilization is going to be one of these necessary adjustments to making this new lifestyle work as well as the former.
Look at space in three dimensions and fuishings doing double duty. Pay attention to empty walls and space nearer to the ceiling. Break the task down by room and make a list of ideas that after your initial brainstorming, can be distilled down to specific actions or acquisitions. Since everyone�s situation will be somewhat unique to them, no one set of solutions will satisfy all needs. However, a discussion of a variety of options should help inspire ones imagination.
Kitchens offer a wealth of possibilities. One that will work for nearly everyone is to add storage on the back of a pantry or utility room door. This is easily accomplished using the narrow wire basket shelves available from places like the Container Store. The result is not just space for spices and small items, but can add several linear feet for keeping bottles, cans, etc. However, keep in mind, a significant amount of weight can be added to door hinges not designed to hold it. A solution is to replace the short hinge screws with 3� long screws that will reach into the framing stud. Most hinges will be fine, but if not, they can be replaced with heavy duty ones.
If more space for pots and pans is desired and the kitchen has an island, create a gourmet look by hanging a pot rack off the ceiling. If there is no island and the space is wide enough, non-permanent islands of various sizes can be utilized under a hanging rack. Inside the cabinets in both kitchen and bath, space can be reclaimed by installing hanging or stackable shelves, and functionality increased by adding tiered rollout shelving or baskets. In bathrooms, another place to obtain low-profile storage is by adding a medicine cabinet that�s recessed into the wall. If it doesn�t already exist, install a cabinet over the commode, and add additional low profile decorative glass-front cabinets on empty walls.
Even the smallest utility room can usually accommodate more shelves or cabinets, and since they are out of sight, run them all the way up to the ceiling. The most compact configuration for full-sized machines is where they are placed in a small room at the end of a kitchen or in a hall. This room is usually only as deep as the machines are wide, and they set facing each other with the door opening between them. As small as that room is, it�s still possible to add over 20 linear feet of wall-mounted shelving from just off the floor up to the ceiling, while leaving adequate room for laundry access. And if wire type shelving is used, it has the benefit of not overpowering the small space.
Most closet shelf space can be easily doubled by adding another one above the existing shelf. Usually the same material as what�s already in there can be obtained from a home improvement store � no finishing required. Also, if additional hanger space is needed, and the wall in question has only one rod, another can be added below it. Doing the job properly requires moving the existing shelf and rod up a foot, and then hanging the new one at the correct height. Yes it involves some effort, but nothing very challenging. Depending on what�s lacking, it may make sense to add a wardrobe in the bedroom, to increase hanger and drawer storage, or conversely, to place a low-profile dresser in a walk-in closet.
Bedrooms benefit most from using fuiture that is sized proportional to the room. The bed shouldn�t extend the width of the walls. If the king-size bed is deemed critical, then that should�ve been factored into the original accommodation selection process. Once the bed is in place, there are several ways to provide space for everything else in a bedroom. Storage can be plentiful by using space under the bed for container storage, and end tables that have drawers or cabinets. It may be that the dressers or wardrobes need to change though. If the room doesn�t allow for the six foot long double dresser, go vertical with tall and narrow seven or eight drawer chests, in the style of a lingerie chest. A lot of folks prefer to do ironing in the bedroom, but to save space, install a foldaway ironing center on the back of a closet door.
Living areas, like bedrooms, need fuiture to be sized right, but there are more options available in terms of fuiture that serves more than one purpose. Coffee tables and hassocks with built-in storage can do triple-duty by providing extra seating for guests. Wall-sized entertainment centers provide loads of room, but be sure some of the spaces have doors so as to prevent that wall from appearing so busy. Sleeper sofas can extend sleeping accommodation to oveight guests.
Empty walls above other fuiture can be utilized for wall-mounted single shelves placed alone or in groups. If there is a wall that can�t take shelves of any kind because of traffic flow, recessed shelving can always be added. If one feels it to be an insurmountable do-it-yourself challenge, it could still be hired out. Regardless, the low profile of recessed niche�s for displays or shelves makes them an ideal way to reclaim space.
One last area is the study or home office. Floor to ceiling shelves and cabinets are perfect, whether built-in or as fuiture. Get fancy and show them off by adding a rail-mounted rolling ladder, otherwise a short ladder that can be stored unobtrusively nearby is handy. File cabinets disguised as end tables work well too. Built-in desks are good, but if space allows, a stand-alone desk sets off the room, provides workspace, and frees up more cabinet space on the wall. On the other hand, if a study doesn�t exist, a low profile desk can take the place of another piece of fuiture in whatever room you use for an office.
Most of the ideas discussed in this article do not involve permanent alterations, which can be an issue for those renting or leasing their space. In fact, just about everything installed can be easily removed and taken along on the next move. However, in the case of doing things that involve cutting into a wall, it�s highly unlikely the owners will have a problem as long as the job is done well, since it just increases the value of their property. While the adage �it�s easier to obtain forgiveness than permission� is often true, you might want to ask first anyway, otherwise be prepared to restore things to original condition.
For more ideas and additional details, the reader may want to review other articles focused on specific rooms that expand on the possibilities related to each. In addition, there are many options available for garages, storage sheds, patios and balconies.
John Allen writes on a wide range of topics. Visit his blog to read more or obtain feeds. He can also be reached through his website which focuses on finding unique gifts.