If you own a property in the UK, the chances are that you are living in quite a small space. The average house in our country is around 76.2 square metres big. When compared to 109 square meters being the average home size in Germany and 137 square metres being the average home size in Denmark, it is fair to say that space, in UK homes, is tight.
You may be thinking that, because your property is small, it is impossible to renovate your property and is pointless due to space constrictions. The truth is, you can still renovate your home, no matter how small it is.
Get rid of the clutter
Clutter is by far the biggest contributor to a space looking and feeling smaller than it actually is. Before committing to any renovations, we recommend that you set aside time to sort through the items you have in each space and determine what is essential to keep and what can be done away with.
If you want to maximise on limited space and make your home feel cleaner and more organised, cut the clutter and clear out the junk you don’t need.
Invest in storage
Following on from our previous point, the best way to get rid of clutter is to work on your storage. Storage quickly becomes an issue when you’re living in a small space. Where do you store everything that could cause clutter when your square footage doesn’t have much room to budge?
Trust us when we say that investing in things like floor-to-ceiling cupboards (which can add up to 40% more storage space to a room) or hiding cupboards behind doors is a worthwhile renovation.
Think vertical
Working upwards rather than outwards is your best bet when you’re dealing with limited space. Take advantage of any bare walls above furniture items or fittings and install shelving and cabinets.
This ensures you’re not taking up the much-needed room on the floor. When it comes to installing shelving, build up a little higher to save space and create the feeling of more height in the room overall.
Upgrade smaller things
Renovations don’t have to be huge. Simple things you can renovate to totally revamp a space would be installing modern kitchen cabinets or giving the space a slicker feel with imitation granite countertops. White, cream, or neutral colours in your kitchen will do wonders for making space seem bigger.
Utilise corners and hidden spaces
Don’t let any space go to waste. We’re taking about the corners in rooms that aren’t utilised and spaces that are hidden away by doors. Ideally, you want to fill in empty corners with furnishings or storage options. You could also look at using furniture in these spaces that is multi-purpose and mobile that can be easily rolled out for use and tucked away if needed.
Break down a wall (or two)
By far the most effective renovation you can do that gives you more space is to opt for a more open plan layout of your home.
Knocking down walls is the best way to truly open up your space and give you more room to work with. For example, many Victorian style flats in the UK have cramped kitchens which often don’t allow for a full-size washing machine. In these homes, space is generally not being used to its full potential and natural light is often lacking.
Consider removing walls to reconfigure the space to allow for more space, light, and storage.
As life-long Londoners, we’re used to working with small spaces and actually love the challenge that comes with limited square footage. No matter the size of your space, our designers will collaborate closely with you to find the solution that fits best with your property and your lifestyle. Contact us to get a quote for your renovation plans here.