Moving house is meant to be an opportunity to ‘clear out’ – in most every guide you’ll read, it advises to take a good look at all your stuff and chuck out what you don’t use or won’t fit in your new digs before you pack up your belongings.
For most people, it rarely works out this way: rather than having a full-on clear out, your finalising your change of address and sorting checking home insurance rates. What you end up with is five or so boxes filled with an eclectic mix of junk that you couldn’t class.
So what do you do once you’re at the other end of a move? You’re shacked up and starting to unpack – and your house is getting just as cluttered and as full as your old house. How do you make space, or an illusion of space?
If it doesn’t go, throw it
It’s easier to get rid of things now you’ve moved in; you can see things don’t fit and won’t ever fit, so throw them out and don’t look back. Don’t bother finding a place for it if that’s where it’s going to stay forever, unused and unlooked at.
Removing Walls
Have you thought about expanding the space you have? There may be a few walls you can get rid of to give you more space to work with. Most new build houses have kitchens that open into dining rooms – look into what walls are important to the structural integrity of your building and then see what you can knock down. Open plan rooms aren’t just more spacious, they let in light and brighten what space you do have.
Simple, Clean Colours
Clinical white is overused in decorating – while it can give the illusion of more space, it can also be glaringly overwhelming. Look into soft light greens and pale yellows for warm, but reflective, walls that make a room seem brighter, bigger and fresher.
Building in Storage
This is a dangerous route to take, as you might just end up hiding your clutter away to gather dust. Built in storage can be anything from walk-in closets to roof space, though; think about how you can best utilise the small nooks and crannies of your house to hide your junk. Is there room for a shelf over your toilet, or in the corners of your kitchen? Is there room for a bookcase under your stairs?
Reflective Surfaces
This is trick often used in restaurants and commercial establishments: a mirror can give the impression that the space is double its actual size. Think about putting a mirrored front on closet doors or having a floor length mirror in your hallway – just make sure you’ve used the tip above so what it’s reflecting is a clean, neat home!
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011, 7:48 am | 
Architecture, Tips & Advices | 
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