Tricks for Opening up an Itty-Bitty House

When life in an itty-bitty house starts feeling a little cramped, not all of us have the luxury of moving into a bigger home.

 

Sometimes it can feel like furniture and fixtures are taking over your home, making it feel uncomfortable and less functional. However, moving into a bigger house isn’t the only option for finally having room to breathe.

Take a look at the following suggestions that will open up an itty-bitty house and finally give you the space you need:  

 

Unifying Floors

Using the same type of flooring in two adjoining rooms gives a sense of continuity and openness. The spaces flow together visually and have a sense of expansion. While carpet or tile doesn’t work in every room, you can change up your flooring in order to achieve continuity. Two rooms to consider are the kitchen and dining area, or a dining room and living room. You might try using tiles that look like hardwood floor slabs since they are easy to clean, yet look more sophisticated than porcelain tiles.

 

Extending the View

With a little help from a professional contractor, renovating unnecessary walls makes for more free-flowing space. According to professionals who specialize in major renovations in Huntsville, walls that are not essential for structural support might be downsized or eliminated to extend the floor plan. This way, you can have better traffic flow throughout the home, and make each room a little more accessible and functional—keeping you from feeling closed-in.

 

Continuity of Color

Another trick that will help to open up the space in your home is to create continuity of color. Consider painting two adjoining rooms the same color so that the eye travels from one space to another, instead of sectioning off the house room-by-room. Individual areas within each room might be defined by area rugs, furnishings or wall decor. One room might also feature a wall having an accent color. Additionally, your home will feel much more open and airy with lighter, pastel colors on the walls, rather than dark hues that tend to close the space in.

 

Lighting Options

Especially if rooms have particularly low ceilings, consider investing in recessed lighting. This technique automatically gives the illusion of height by eliminating the space once used by light fixtures. The illumination provided also alters the overall ambiance by adding warmth and a hint of sophistication. Make sure you also utilize any natural lighting by not blocking any windows, or you can try installing skylights in rooms that are particularly dark.

 

Functional Furniture

Choose furnishings that offer more than one function. Ottomans might also serve as additional seating or open for storage. Sofas could harbor a hidden guest bed. Consider the overall size of pieces before deciding on a purchase. If a living space is small, resist the urge to crowd the room with a full-sized sofa when perhaps an appropriately placed love seat and rocking chair might do. While most furniture is bulky and takes up a lot of room, you might consider using lighter, more modern pieces that take up less room and free up space.

 

Look for Potential

Recessed wall spaces might have potential for a built-in bookcase, a cabinet, or a window seat that opens for storage. Likewise, the space underneath stairways might prove adequate for anything from a small home office to more storage space. Walk around and evaluate unused space and imagine the possibilities. A contractor can do an inspection of the home to give you an idea of where you can save space, and how to do it.

 

Window Treatments

If you have thick or dark window treatments, it will automatically close in the room—making it feel smaller than it actually is. Replace any heavy window treatments with light, thin curtains or drapes that will let plenty of natural light in during the day. Mount rods above window frames for the illusion of height. If you plan to remodel any of the existing walls in the home, consider adding numerous windows, or creating a sunroom in order to bring more natural light into the home.

As you can see, with a little creativity and elbow grease, you can open up the feel of your home without too drastic of alterations. Look around the home and consider areas where you can implement these tricks in order to open up the space. You might be surprised at how big your home can feel with a few simple alterations.

 

This is a guest post written by Dixie Somers, a freelance writer who loves to write for health, women’s interests, and parenting interests. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters.

 

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