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I Just Need Some Space!
Savvy, low-budget tricks to give your space-challenged areas some breathing room
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel and design. I just completed my first remodel, turning my crumbling 1941 kitchen into a beauty of grays, whites and natural wood. If I could, I'd sleep on the countertop. That's how much I love it.
You can also read my parenting blog on Baby Center http://blogs.babycenter.com/author/sschoech/
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel... More »
Another bedroom sure would be nice. And I wouldn't mind an office of my own, a master bath, and one of those giant laundry rooms. Alas, we don't all have the space or the moola to add a little pop-out or build an extra floor. Sometimes you have to make do with the space you have.
But that doesn't mean we have to live cramped little lives. Its just means we have to be more inventive with our use of space. In a McMansion maybe a door is just a door, but in a little home it must do double duty. Here are some clever ways to increase your living space without adding square footage.
But that doesn't mean we have to live cramped little lives. Its just means we have to be more inventive with our use of space. In a McMansion maybe a door is just a door, but in a little home it must do double duty. Here are some clever ways to increase your living space without adding square footage.
A place for everything and everything in its place. Having an organized closet or pantry can double its capacity. Make use of all that wall space and hide stuff in drawers.
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An organized closet makes for an organized mind. Or it at least makes it easier to get dressed in the morning. Staggered hanging bars can double the amount of space you have for clothes and leave some extra footage for drawers or shelves.
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| If floor space is at a premium, get stuff off the floor. Like your bed. If you sleep in a queen you can gain 40 square feet of space by turning it into a loft. |
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| Bunk beds add sleeping space while conserving floor space. Throw some built-in storage into the mix and you've really got a winner. |
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| Doors are often a waste of space. You can't put furniture in front of them. You can't hang stuff on all of them. But you can turn them into bookshelves, increasing your wall space and your knickknack-placement possibilities. |
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A sliding bookshelf door doesn't even need the space to swing.
| Under-stair bookcases can give you tons of room in a space that would otherwise just be creating echoey footsteps. |
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Have enough bookcases already? This under-the-staircase reading nook is a snug hideaway.
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If your literary life is under control elsewhere, how about a bar under the stairs? This could also be a craft nook, a laundry area, or storage for toys. So long as it's not wasted space, let your imagination run wild.
More:
18 Ways to Make a Small Space Look Larger
Houzz Tours: Tips for Small Space Living and Renovation
7 Big Ideas for Small Kitchens and Baths
More:
18 Ways to Make a Small Space Look Larger
Houzz Tours: Tips for Small Space Living and Renovation
7 Big Ideas for Small Kitchens and Baths
Ideabook updated on Feb. 19, 2012.
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Small spaces don't have to be crammed and claustrophobic. You can have anything made to fit your space and your needs and still look stylish, homey and fabulous.