No matter how much space we start with, many of us quickly find that our homes seem to not have enough room for all of the stuff we accumulate, and how quickly our family expands and grows.
The thing is, space here in the UK comes at a premium, so it is not always easy for us to simply move to a bigger home when we find that things are getting a bit cramped, right? Well, try not to worry because if you have too much stuff and too little space right now, there are several things you can do to start feeling comfortable and roomy, at home again….
1. Declutter
Sorry if you are groaning right now but if you have too little space for your too much stuff, the natural starting point really is to do some decluttering, but don’t worry because you don’t have to tackle your whole house at once – even just clearing out one drawer each day for the next week, or one room every weekend will see results, and if you keep at it, before you know it you will have much less stuff and much more room as a result.
2. Stop the Flow
Once you have decluttered, you will want to keep it that way, so make a pledge as a family to stop buying so much stuff. Only buy things you actually need, and try to make do with what you have for the most part.
If you really can’t resist buying something new that’s not strictly necessary, then implement the one in, one out rule, and get rid of something else you already own to make space for the thing you’ve just bought. This will help to keep your space spacious.
3. Invest in Multi-Purpose Furniture
Multi-purposes furniture is really good for making more space because, as the name suggests it can double up as something else, whether it’s a coffee table that also has hidden storage, a bed that you can store stuff in the drawers under, or a couch that can double up as a bed, any furniture that can hel you to have less in your home, but still keep things organised, is a great way to get more space back in your house.
4. Convert the Loft or Basement
If you’re really short on space because you have a growing family who are just taking up more room than they used to, then if you have them, converting your loft and/or basement is a really good way to make an extra room or two that you can use as kids’ bedrooms, or maybe playrooms or dens for them. Sure, it’s not the cheapest of options, but once converted, those rooms will add more value to your home than you spent on converting them and, they will make family life more enjoyable when you aren’t all cramped up together all the time.
5. Consider a Garden Room
If you don’t have a loft or basement to convert, or you are looking for a more affordable and less disruptive option that will still give you an extra room, then you might want to consider investing in a garden room instead. Garden rooms are great because they can be perched outdoors in your yard with relative ease, but they are more than a shed. They are solidly built, warm and connected up to the electricity, allowing you to use them for anything from a home office to a teen’s hangout space, and they look amazing too.. They’re a fab solution for anyone who wants more space and has enough room in the garden for one to fit it!
6. Built-In storage
If you have nooks and crannies, whether it’s a space under the stairs or an alcove in the bedroom, then you can utilise built-in wardrobes, cupboards and shelving units, to store the stuff that would otherwise be out in the house, or stored in bulky free-standing units. You’d be surprised at just how much space this can free up in your home, and how much sleeker and more functional your home will feel if you do. It doesn’t have to be massively expensive either, and you can even build your own if you have a little DIY knowledge!
As you can see, if you have too much stuff and too little space, you still have options in your current home – you really do not have to move if you don’t want to, and you can transform your home so that it still works for your family!