This is a sponsored guest post.
So you and your spouse bought your first home together a decade back. What seemed like the house of your dreams back then, now just can’t seem to be large enough for your family that’s now 5 hearts full! You wonder why you didn’t think of breaking the bank and buying a bigger home back in the day. Take a deep breath mamma!
You don’t need to fight the tide and consider moving homes to accommodate your growing family. The good news is, living comfortably with a large family in a small house is not only possible but also practical. With a little tweak there and a little micromanagement here, your current home that was perfect for a small family can now house your big family with equal elan! Read on as we spill the beans on how you can make it possible.
Repurpose Your Living Room
If your compact home doesn’t allow for a nursery or a dedicated play room for you kids, don’t fret. There’s always the living room that can be repurposed to suit your needs.
Sectionalise your living room to have a small couch and lounging area to yourself. The other side can double up as a play area for your kids, allowing you to keep a watchful eye on them all the way. Instead of investing in a room divider that will additionally take up space, just adjust your bookshelf to an angle where it divides the living room. If you’re someone who works from home or enjoys having a desk to pay the bills and use your gadgets, a part of this bookshelf unit can be freed up to facilitate that. Invest in an office chair and there you have your own little working nook that lets you peek into your children’s Play area every now and then.
Use Vertical Height
If you’re looking around for space abs you just can’t figure how to accommodate yourself, it’s time you look upwards. Use the height of every room to your advantage and you will soon realize how the opportunities are endless!
Let’s start with bedding. Get you children fun bunker beds for their rooms. They may not be for the idea, but once they spot a fun-shaped bunker bed, they’re going to be much more excited than you about getting on board! Use your tall ceiling to set up storage space where you can tuck away things you use seasonally such as boots and warm wear. If you’re missing a utility a in your home, use the height of your portico to set up a laundry drying rack. You could also install cabinets in your living room in a neutral shade as a camouflage with the wall colour. Use this to store books, kitchenware or anything you fancy. There’s no end to the ideas you can nurture if you’re looking to leverage your apartment height.
Opt For Compact Furniture
Large or flamboyant furniture pieces can eat up unnecessary space in your living room, making it look smaller than it already is. Choose sleek, elegant furniture that finds its own unique spot in your living room without sticking out like a sore thumb.
Go for a compact couch that’s just a single or double piece design to reduce its real estate. Choose a TV unit that’s elegant and compact, fitting well into your floor layout. You could even consider opting for a wall-mounted TV cabinet that throws open additional floor space. What’s more, try choosing décor pieces for your compact living room that are either wall-mounted or tabletop pieces so you don’t eat up floor space where it can be avoided.
Prioritize Your Kitchen Island Table
A small house means you have to trim areas or sacrifice the idea of a conventional layout. If your house has a dining room, but you’re missing a study room for you children, why not swap the two and fulfil your needs? That’s where a kitchen island table comes in. Give up the idea of a dining room and refurbish your kitchen to include an island table. Most kitchen trends for 2021 flaunt a fully-functional kitchen breakfast table to make life easier and eliminate the need for an exclusive dining room. Not only will this make serving your meal a lot easier, it also throws open your dining space that you can fashion to suit your needs. This idea especially works if the members is your family run in different schedules. That way the kitchen table is never too crowded and your converted dining area is used on a need basis by all of your family.
Use Garage Storage
Who ever thought the garage could double up as a storage space? Don’t shy away from exploring unconventional storage areas if it could ease the pressure indoors. While your garage cabinets can’t be used to store clothes or kitchen essentials, it’s a great spot to stack away cleaning agents, repair equipment, old toys, trunks and more. Anything that doesn’t need regular access or attention can very well be tucked away in your garage cabinets if they’re running rather free.
Create Routines For Everyone At Home
Having your kids on a regular routine is beneficial in more ways than one. A great way to avoid bathroom queues or incessant knocking on doors to speed up the occupant is by staggering timings. Set routines for your kids to use the common shower area based on the time they need to head out. You could have the eldest shower the previous night to free up the bath area for the younger ones in the morning. Even breakfast could be staggered based on their school or kindergarten timings so as to avoid overcrowding the kitchen at peak hours.
Creating routines also helps identify leisure time slots for your children where they can lend a hand with household chores. From folding the laundry to putting out the garbage and sweeping the backyard, there’s always room for help from your energetic little tykes.
We hope our article has helped you look at your compact home with a whole new perspective!
