The average cost of buying a house had risen 10.7% between June 2021–2022. To cope with these soaring figures, you may have to conceptualise your dream home a little smaller than you first thought, but you can make your home feel just as spacious!
Here, Tom Swinbourne, at SkiphireUK explores some of the best ways to make your house feel larger. We’ll include some expert commentary from interior professionals, so every bit of space can become larger than life.
Remember to declutter
Ever heard of the phrase ‘a cluttered desk equals a cluttered mind’? Even if you’re comfortable with a certain amount of mess, there’s some stock in this age-old saying. So if you want to maximise indoor space, the first step is to declutter your home.
It can be difficult to part from our favourite pieces of furniture. They may be handed down from older generations of your family or maybe you just want to keep them for your future self. Try to think of the end result in your mind: a decluttered home.
A storage unit can serve as lifesavers for decluttering a small house, offering invaluable space to stow away items that aren’t needed on a daily basis. Whether it’s seasonal decorations, bulky sports equipment, or sentimental keepsakes, these units provide a convenient solution for maintaining a tidy living space.
While removing furniture might seem like a difficult task, you can hire the help of professionals. And there are rubbish removal services across the country, whether you’re looking for skip hire in Leeds or Liverpool.
Establish a focal point
Once you’ve cleared out any clutter, you’ll need to make the most out of whichever pieces are left. There’s a method to the madness of furniture, so where you choose to put your couch and coffee table has a big impact on your indoor space.
The Stone Gable blog, which covers all things interior design, recommends establishing a focal point. These are the first elements of a room you might notice, tying the interior design together. A focal point has ‘dominance over everything in the room’ because it demands our attention. So you can then use décor to emphasise this placement.
“The focal point you choose will depend on the room. If you’re looking for a spacious way to organise a bedroom, a bed would no doubt be the most obvious choice, and a table is the most obvious choice for a dining room. It could even be a set of chairs emphasising a fireplace in the living room. The list goes on, so you can maximise every room in your house!”, Tom Swinbourne.
Let there be light
It’s no secret that light colours create a roomy atmosphere. This is because white reflects light, whereas black absorbs it. But how can you utilise this knowledge?
The colours that you paint your home, such as white and neutral shades, can open up the space around you. In fact, according to colour expert Tash Bradley, you can also choose shades of pink to achieve the same effect.
There’s also nothing a little natural light can’t solve. To maximise your indoor space, open your curtains and let the sunlight do all of the work. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a solution that offers more privacy, choose sheer over thick curtains.
Make the most of mirrors
Mirrors are welcome additions to any home. Not only do you need them to make sure your hair is presentable for the outside world, but they also act as an optical illusion. The reflection is an expert way to create more space in your home.
You can utilise mirrors in multiple ways. They can be angled towards a focal point to give depth, placed near a window to reflect the outside world, or positioned in a way to reflect light. A floor-to-ceiling mirror is another stylish and foolproof way to achieve spaciousness.
The housing market is changing. In turn, you’ll need to think of creative ways to make your home spacious. Whether you’re a landlord looking to lease the property or a homeowner settling down for good, you can create a grander environment with these tips.