If you are a proud owner of a small apartment in the city, you would be aware of the challenge of limited space. Modern apartments/houses come with astonishing views, prime locations, and convenient amenities, but compact living space is a downside to it that we all endure. While this may present some impediments, it could also serve as a unique opportunity to embrace minimalism and creatively optimize every square inch of the space. At one point or other, we all have given a thought to the renovation of our house for different reasons. The most common ones are storage issues and decluttering. Let us delve into a few effective strategies to renovate your small living space in such a way that ensures a blend of style and comfort.
Open Floor Plan
Although this is a step that needs to be followed while building the house in the first place, it’s never too late to fix anything. Especially if you are taking help from expert remodeling contractors in Maryland, you will get the feeling of a newly constructed place after they are done with their job.
An Open floor plan refers to lesser walls and maximum floor space. The more dividers you have in your small commodity, the more cramped it looks. So, start off by considering if you can remove a wall or two wherever possible. If the kitchen and living room are separated, you could always opt for an open kitchen by taking down the separating wall. The same goes for the entryways and hallways. They could also be merged into a big airy living room that gives you more natural light and makes it easier to move around. If you have a guest room next to your bedroom, where guests never stayed, you could just knock out the interior wall and create one large and cozy master suite that gives you holiday vibes. All in all, an open floor plan could easily provide you with that extra space you crave for.
Built-in storage
This trick never ceases to be the star of the show when it comes to remodeling homes. One can never have enough built-in cabinets or shelves in their house. It is such a convenient yet aesthetically pleasing option to maximize storage, declutter the space and enhance beauty, all at the same time.
Built-in shelves are integrated into the walls, unlike the free-standing shelves that we install over the walls. This feature makes them wonderfully appropriate for a closed space where we need to avoid any sort of crowding. They could be used in the living room around a wall-mounted TV and serve the purpose of a TV unit, or along the entryway walls to be used as shoe cabinets. Ultimately, installing built-in wardrobes and shelves that blend with the surroundings and architecture is a great renovation tip that could save you a lot of space and money.
Sliding Doors
Sliding doors open endless possibilities for making a small home look classy and spacious. Unlike the hinged doors that appear bulky and take in a large proportion of the room due to their swing radius, sliding doors fit in easily without occupying any extra space.
Moreover, their sleek and elegant appearance could easily give your mundane surrounding a modern and sophisticated look. If large glass panels are integrated with the doors, it can further increase the brightness of the room by allowing abundant natural light. Additionally, sliding doors can also serve as a temporary separator between two rooms which could be put up and put off according to your convenience and need. In short, installing sliding doors in your small space instead of hinged doors could significantly step up your space-saving game.
Paint Strategically
Colors can dramatically affect how we perceive the size, atmosphere, and overall aesthetic of a house. By strategically choosing colors, you can manipulate the visual dimensions of a selected area in the house. Keep in mind these two key rules while selecting paint for your living room and bedroom:
- Subtle and light tones tend to recede away from the eye and create an illusion of a rather open living space. White, off-white, beige, light grey, and pastel hues are some of the best choices for walls of a house with limited space.
- The lesser you use contrast, the more continuity you observe between different rooms of your house. In other words, sicking with similar shades gives an airier appearance to your cramped space. Match the colors of cabinets, walls, and even flooring to create a sense of cohesion and depth.
Natural Light and Reflection
While remodeling your compact dwelling, do not underestimate the positive effects of some natural light inside the house. Consider setting up large floor-to-ceiling windows in the common sitting area to allow ample amount of sunlight that reaches every corner. Bright spaces tend to appear larger and livelier compared to dimly lit areas. It also creates a sense of warmth and comfort, thus, subconsciously improving your mental well-being.
On top of that, including mirrors in your interior design could amplify the effect of sunlight drastically. Place mirrors strategically at places that draw attention so they capture the viewer’s gaze and distract it from the limitations of the room. Mirrors create this amazing impression that the room continues beyond its physical boundaries, giving an illusion of additional depth.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, when it comes to renovating small homes, there must be a proper and systematic plan that needs to be followed, including incorporating eco-friendly home décor. Because small spaces are not easy to remodel as they don’t have plenty of room to rectify errors, you need proper research and maybe a little help from experts too. Stay focused on the main reason you need the house remodeled, be it space-saving, decluttering, or just updating to new trends, while also considering eco-friendly options for your home décor. A minimalistic approach could not go wrong with small-scale houses and is often accompanied by financial savings!
Last but not least, enjoy the process of transforming your house into a better, more organized, and environmentally conscious place for your family and yourself!