Managing the space and leaving your home stylish and practical can be tricky when you live in a small house, apartment, or studio. Luckily, your local Tampa realtor is on hand to offer some advice. From utilizing the height of a room and bringing in natural light to installing pocket doors and using multi-function furniture, we’ll show you how to be innovative and maximize the limited space in compact homes.
From Your Local Tampa Realtor: Innovative Ideas for Compact Homes
Think Multi-Functioning Furniture
When picking furniture for compact homes, get creative. Think about how each piece can be utilized to its fullest and opt for pieces that serve more than one purpose. Choose a sofa bed for the front room that serves as a comfy couch by day and allows guests to stay over at night. Coffee tables with lift tops and ottomans with storage spaces are practical furniture items with multiple uses, and a dining table that transforms into a desk is an excellent idea when office space is limited.
As a Tampa realtor, we want you to get the most out of every room, especially the bedroom. Lofting beds are the ultimate multi-functioning piece of furniture, raising the sleeping area high off the ground and freeing up much-needed floor space. The area below can then be utilized for any purpose you deem fit. Create a cozy workspace with a built-in desk or turn the space into a spacious closet with shelving and hanging rails.
Work With the Nooks and Crannies
When designing compact homes, it’s important to utilize every bit of available space, including every nook and cranny that may appear unusable and nothing more than a dead area. A top tip from your Tampa realtor is to turn the tight space under the stairs into a reading area for the kids. Or, transform the funny-shaped bay window nook into a seating and storage unit.
Utilize High Ceilings
Many standard wardrobes and shelving units often leave the space above them under-utilized. Compact homes can be transformed by customizing wardrobes, shelving, and cabinets and taking them up to the height of the ceiling. In addition to giving you extra storage space, you’ll also create the illusion of the room appearing taller and larger.
Clever Space-Saving Ideas
Fitting everything you own into a cozy home isn’t easy. Whether you love gadgets, possess a library, or are downsizing but still own too much stuff, finding innovative space-saving solutions is key.
Wall-Mounted Solutions
Wall-mounted desks and tables are ideal for tiny rooms. Worried you don’t have space for an office? How about a wall-mounted desk that drops down when you need it and folds away when you don’t? Turn your kitchen into a dining area when the cooking is done with a dining table that folds out of the wall. And, installing shelving above ensures the wall is fully utilized as an additional storage area.
Door Organizers
Door organizers instantly create additional storage without encroaching on precious floor space. Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, hang these handy solutions on the bathroom, closet, pantry, and entryway doors and help keep areas decluttered.
Sliding Doors
Although you won’t be hanging any door organizers on them, another clever space-saving idea from your Tampa realtor is to install pocket doors. Traditional hinged doors take up valuable space and can also disrupt the natural flow of your petite home. Sliding or pocket doors are elegant and space-saving in design as they vanish into the wall, allowing rooms to be separated or flow freely into the next one.
Foldable Chairs
Chairs take up space in the kitchen, and there’s no need for six chairs to be placed permanently around a dining table unless you entertain daily. Foldable chairs are a versatile solution to keep your home clutter-free. They can be hidden away or hung on a wall when not in use and bought out only when needed.
Nesting Tables
Maximize cozy living spaces with nesting tables. These versatile items can be tucked away neatly when not required and offer a temporary surface that can be used as a coffee table, side table, or desk. Available in different shapes and styles, you’re sure to find nesting tables to match your existing decor.
Sliding Pantry Shelving
Optimizing small spaces in tiny kitchens can be difficult. Hard-to-reach areas at the back of cabinets leave lots of storage places unusable. Sliding shelves allow you to maximize storage in narrow spaces, keep everything organized, and ensure you make use of every inch of your cabinet space: even areas out of arm’s reach.
Play With Decor
Light and Colors
As a Tampa realtor, we know the Florida sunshine can do wonders for our health. But, natural light can also be used to enhance a room’s appearance. Skylights and large windows let in more sunlight and sheer curtains or blinds can help maximize the light that enters. Consider decorating rooms in neutral colors and pastel shades to create a seamless flow and make small spaces seem open and airy.
Mirrors and Reflective Surfaces
It’s the oldest design trick in the book, but the magic of mirrors shouldn’t be underestimated. These amazing design tools can help create a sense of depth by amplifying natural light. Hang a large mirror behind a bed or large sofa to reflect the room back upon itself and visually make the room appear larger. A similar effect can be achieved with other reflective surfaces, such as glossy tiles or lacquered walls.
Whether buying a starter home, living in a small city studio, or renting a room in a house-share, cramped spaces shouldn’t stop you from creating the home of your dreams. From multipurpose furniture and hidden storage to adding mirrors and letting in natural light, there are plenty of ways to maximize the space in compact homes. Contact RE/MAX Florida Team in South Tampa, FL today for more tips and advice on transforming your small area into a practical, comfortable space.
