6 tips to help you free up space in your home

Lindsay Whitney Lindsay Whitney
Minimalistic Interior spaces ---Living room interiors, Preetham Interior Designer Preetham Interior Designer Living room
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We have all been there: we've cleaned and still the house feels cluttered. The reason for this is more often than not a problem of arrangement, a lack of storage, a lack of enough space or really just having too much stuff. 

In recognition of this all-too-prevalent dilemma, homify has put together a list of six tips on how to create more free space in your home or flat – from top to bottom. But first, we start with the trash!

1. Get rid of stuff you don't need

Yes. Nearly all of us probably need to start freeing up space by just chucking out several big and small things we really don't need anymore. And literally getting rid of your clutter can do a lot to de-clutter your mind, your whole life. 

Hanging onto to things for years without those things ever figuring into your life is the opposite of healthy, and it hampers your home's free space, and yours. If it's hard, we understand, but suck it up and grab a trash bag.

2. Storage below

Optimise the bottom half of your apartment by looking to opportunities for storage there – under your bed, under your bathroom sink and dining table are the most probable places you could use for storing things that previously had no permanent home in your home. 

The good things about bottom storage is that is doesn't take a lot of money. For a dining table, you can put things beneath and get a super sassy table cloth to cover. And for under the bed or kitchen sink, just buy some storage cases, pop in your out-of-season clothes or what have you and ahh!!! – much better! 

3. Downsize your furniture

While we all love large furniture items, most of us tend to have more furniture than we actually use, or buy furniture that is simply too large for our spaces. 

So go with a simple furniture scheme; things like ottomans, side tables instead of clunky coffee tables and single, plush armchairs are great, comfortable yet space-saving alternatives to large and cumbersome sofas.

4. Install plenty of hooks

If you have blank wall space you do not plan to use for art or decor, install some hooks--you might as well make it functional. Also, hooks are very hip; there are so many varieties these days, from the quirky foosball ones as pictured here to shabby-chic, wall sized hooks. 

And just like pictured here, you do not necessarily have to use the hooks just for jackets or sweaters; hang your shoes up for a clearer entryway or hang your pots if you're lacking on cupboard space.

5. Storage above

By storage above we mean installing some higher shelving - built-in ceiling shelving or just conventional, wall-mounted shelves. The point is, to get stuff out of the middle view of the space, to get it high and out of the way. 

The stuff you store here will only either be stuff you don't need frequently – out of season clothes, yearbooks, old love letters – or, in the case of wall-mounted shelving, great decor your want to showcase by putting it a bit above eye level.

6. Build a loft area

The last idea is to build a loft or have one built for you. Especially if you are struggling with a very tiny room, building a loft to put your bed on makes a world of difference. A lofted bed gives you space downstairs to have a whole other room – an office, a kitchen or a lounge area. It's also just kind of fun and cosy to sleep in a lofted bed – particularly in cold seasons, when the lofted bed gets all the warmth.

So we guarantee that if you do at least half of the things on this list, you'll find your home or apartment feels a lot freer, easier to move around and live in!

If you liked this article, you'll love: The small but beautiful family apartment.

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