Bookmark this, then call the contractor.
If you've decided you want to renovate your house, hold on a minute! You're going to want to put down the wrecking ball until you've read through these clever space-saving ideas. From storage solutions to easy lighting hacks, these tricks ensure you get the most out of a remodel. Ready, set, call your contractors.
In lieu of floor lamps or table lamps, install wall sconces. Not only do they save space on your nightstands, but they also make bedrooms looks much more polished and refined. Now you can use your slim bedside table for essentials only.
Installing spacious sliding drawers within your cabinets can clear up room on your countertops. Aside from cooking essentials and a wine collection, keep your trashcan and appliances inside a cabinet. Not only will this make the room look cleaner, but it'll hide your garbage.
When you have a small space but are blessed with high ceilings, take advantage of that height by building a loft. In a studio apartment, this can make all the difference, as it separates your private space from the kitchen, living room, and bathroom.
A built-in banquet or bench can serve as dining seating in an eat-in kitchen. If you choose something more sophisticated, it'll make a small dining nook in the kitchen as elevated as a formal dining room. Plus, if you customize it to your space with scale in mind, the size and shape won't look too bulky. Floating shelves are also a good call. Display your décor on them to show of your personal style in a small but mighty way.
If you work from home a lot but don't have an extra room to convert into an office, install a sliding table somewhere else in your home, whether it's the living room, kitchen, or bedroom. Then you can slide up a chair when you need to and tuck away when you don't.
Before you commit to building a custom kitchen island or eat-in bar with stools, think about how realistic it really is for your space. In a narrow galley kitchen like this one, a small kitchen island is stylish and functional without taking up all the useable space.
If you build shelving into your walls, you won't have to take up space on the floors with an etagere or bulky armoire. This way, you can use that extra floor space with statement-making furniture. If having one less furniture item makes you feel like you'll have less room to show off your personal style—don't fret. A bold paint color like this one will do the trick (and it takes up exactly zero square footage).
If you have an awkward corner in the living room by the fireplace, install a custom upholstered bench. This creates extra seating when guests come over while also filling a gap in the room. And it takes up less space than a large lounge chair or settee.
If you're renovating a small bathroom and want to make it feel bigger, use the same floor tiles throughout the room so the shower blends in seamlessly, creating the illusion of a bigger room. And instead of installing a door or a step into the shower, consider a transparent glass slab to prevent water from splashing.
Add a wall unit that allows you to display your cookware. Wall-mounted storage can end up saving you a ton of storage space and if you have pretty copper cookware like this, it should be out in the open for others to see anyway.
Taking advantage of every little nook and cranny in the house allows you to use the more spacious rooms for something else. Whether you need an extra powder room or closet, that awkward space under the stairs is full of untapped potential.
Hadley Mendelsohn is the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.
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