Finding or creating the room to fit everything you need into your home is a struggle almost every homeowner must face. Whether you merely want to get organized or need more space for loved ones, finding the extra square footage can be challenging. Luckily, there are simple ways to maximize the space in your home without having to get rid of everything.
1. Get Organized
This is the simplest and most cost-effective way to make more space in your home. Whether you are rearranging cabinets and drawers or redoing the closet layout, organizing storage spaces of any kind can create space you did not think was there. A good way to begin is to pick just one area to start with. Make sure to complete this space before moving on to another. Organizing the house can get overwhelming if you allow yourself to jump around too much. Clear out what you are ok with donating or throwing away. Once these items are gone, think about how you would like to categorize what is left, putting things with the same or similar functions together. Then, think about the space. If it is a closet, consider hanging shelves on the wall and buying bins or baskets to keep everything together. Try to create layers. A spot that may only fit five pairs of shoes in a row will be able to fit ten with a simple shoe rack. Shelves, racks, cubbies, and bins are good ways to layer your space. If it is a drawer you are focused on, use dividers and small open containers to keep things together.
2. Think Vertically
Some of the most underutilized spaces in any home are the walls. They are great for hanging decorations, picture frames, and paintings, but they are also great places to keep frequently used household items. Anything you hang on the wall frees up space on the floor, in cabinets, and in drawers. Many people choose to hang their pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils from hooks to save precious cabinet space. The TV is also commonly hung on the wall to create more space in the living room. To eliminate those messy cords hanging from the back, you can keep them folded neatly behind the TV in a wall-hung cabinet. Floating shelves are also great space savers because they provide the platform to display items without the bulk of supporting side panels or the loss of floor space from a base. They can also be placed just about anywhere you want, so there is no need to clump them all together. If you want more surface area than floating shelves or hooks provide, then consider building a shelf into the wall. This requires a little more work, but the results give you the benefit of a full bookshelf without losing space.
3. Maximize Your Furniture
Storage space does not only have to be in closets and hard-to-reach places. You can hide things in plain sight with the right furniture. Nearly every kind of furniture piece has options that double as storage. These help maximize the space they take. There are bed frames with extra shelves on the backboard and drawers underneath. Some bed frames even come with hidden shelves you can pull out from the sides of the backboard. Coffee tables, cushioned benches, desks and even the dining room table can also feature drawers and hollow spaces inside meant for storage. If you need more space in your child’s room, consider getting a lifted bed with a desk area underneath. Extra storage should be a basic requirement when buying furniture for residents trying to maximize their space. If it does not have space to store or place things, there is probably a better option that does.
4. Reclaim Spaces
If your home has an attic area that is collecting dust, you can gain a lot of space by finishing it and transforming it into a clean livable area that is pleasant to go to. You can choose to use it purely as an organized storage space for extra items, like holiday décor, or make it into another common area or bedroom. Whatever your needs are, it is worth the time and effort to turn these rooms around. Walls that were left with exposed studs can be finished relatively easily with drywall and paint. Another simple way to extend your living space is enclosing the patio area. This does not have to be done with solid walls. You can enclose the patio with screening or even glass to preserve the outdoor feel of the space but keep out unwanted visitors like mosquitoes. This makes the home feel bigger and can make your outdoor space better suited for gatherings and relaxation. In addition, you can place storage benches or trunks outdoors without having to worry about as much weather damage.
5. Break Down the Walls
Many homes have closed-off floor plans with walls separating every little space. Tearing down a separating wall or two can open up your floor plan and give you more freedom to use the space in a way that best fits your needs. It can be daunting to bash through a wall in your home. However, the results can dramatically expand a room, making your entire home feel bigger as well. The extra space that was taken up by the wall can then be used for whatever you want. This option may not be viable for every room, as some walls are crucial to the support of the house. Make sure you consult a professional before taking a sledge hammer to anything. A very popular place to break down the wall is underneath the stairs. Most choose to turn this space into an extra storage room or even extra pantry space. Depending on the size of your space, this could also double as your go-to area for shelter during storms and/or a mini playroom or reading nook.
Every family reaches a point where it needs a little more room. Even spacious homes can sometimes fill up quickly, and there are many reasons why you may need more space. Whether you are looking to create space for purely aesthetic or functional reasons, these methods can help you get the most out of your home. 
Jamie Soto
Home & Yard Magazine
