How To Maximize The Space in Your Condo

There’s no reason you can’t have it all in your condo if you’re smart about it. True, a condo usually isn’t as big as a house, but this just means that you need to be a little more creative. Living in a condo involves making the most of the space you have. Here are a few ideas to help you do just that.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

If you are accustomed to lots of space for your stuff you might find that your smaller space is bursting at the seams. Condo living includes setting priorities for what you really need, not just hoarding things. Sort it out, send stuff to the thrift store and sell those things that you’ve been clinging on to. Look at new ways to store the things you want to keep.

No Wasted Space

Every bit of your space must be used wisely. If you have stairs, use the space beneath for storage, an office or even an extra bathroom. Add shelves that span the length of the walls and above doors. Put a bookshelf under a window, in a hallway or in an unused corner. If you are a do-it-yourself type, use some of the space in between the studs in the walls for built-in shelving.

The need to store things has created an entire industry dedicated to ingenious devices such as rolling pantries for the kitchen, hidden storage behind pictures and mirrors and fold out cabinets that can double or triple your storage area. Get online and do some research if you have a particular problem area that you need to work on.

Look Up

Don’t forget to look up too. If you have decent ceiling height you can build a loft to increase your square footage dramatically.  Stack books vertically, hang plants and utilize the space above your head for pots and pans in the kitchen.

Hide Your Stuff – Everywhere

Your sofa, coffee table, end tables, bedside table and seats should all have built-in storage too. Units on casters are a great way to make a room multi-functional so that when you have guests you can adapt your room to suit the occasion.

Don’t forget the space under your bed. There are rollaway boxes available for storing clothing, blankets and larger items that you rarely use.

Choose Furniture That Morphs

Your tiny retreat needn’t have a bulky piece of furniture taking up valuable space. Today, there are endless options for tables that expand only when you need them, furniture that folds flat against the wall when not in use or modular pieces that can morph into something new when you need it. For example, a sofa might split into two chairs. A chaise lounge is also an option instead of a sofa or loveseat as it takes up less space than a sofa and it is more useful.

One Unit – Two Purposes

Storage is paramount in a condo but so is defining separate areas in your home. Choose pieces that help you to do two things at once. Put low bookcases along a sofa back. They will double as a sofa table.

Keep It Neutral and Open

Even you have a lot of things in your condo you can make it feel bigger by using open shelves and light, neutral colours. Stow the ugly stuff in your furniture and showcase your artsy things where everyone can enjoy them.  Keep window coverings neutral too and add extra fixtures for light. Consistent floor coverings also create visual continuity.  Stretch you space to the outdoors if you can. Continue your interior style to the outdoors and place more storage units outside for your hardier things.

As you can see, there are many ways to use the space in your condo wisely. Once you start to get organized you will likely find you have more space than you ever realized.