Maximizing Space and Beauty in Your Home

Like many retired people, you probably looked forward to shedding the large house and all of those possessions in exchange for a smaller, simpler home and lifestyle. If you have downsized after retirement, you may find having less space to be more challenging than you expected. Luckily, there are lots of ways to not only maximize space in a home but to make it more beautiful in the process.

• Use Every Inch of Wall Space – If you’re wringing your hands about a lack of storage space, try looking up. Oftentimes, people completely overlook all of the extra space that’s at their disposal on their walls. Have shelves installed high up the walls to create a lot more space for storage. Hooks are also very convenient, providing convenient places to hang jackets, keys, scarves and other odds and ends.
• Invest in Multifunctional Furniture – When space is at a premium, it pays to get a little creative. One prime example is investing in furniture that doubles as storage. For instance, a large trunk can be refinished and used as a coffee table or end table while storing pretty much anything that you’d like. Hollow ottomans whose tops open up provide clever storage solutions while offering a place to rest a leg or to sit for a few. There are even benches that open up and double as storage trunks; these especially come in handy in entryways and foyers.
• Install Closet Organizers – Regardless of how large or small your closets are, you can get a lot more bang for your buck by installing closet organizers in them. You will then have shelves, cubbies, hooks and other areas in which to organize whatever belongings you’d like. This is a great way to maximize the usefulness of your bedroom closet, and it’s also a terrific way to transform a closet into a spare bedroom into a neatly organized storage room.
• Decorate with Care – Certain decorative touches can make a small space seem larger. Visual continuity tends to open spaces up; for example, painting the walls and trim the same color can make a room look bigger. Strategically placed mirrors go a long way in this regard too, creating the illusion of a lot more space. You might also opt for furnishings that are more compact or that incorporate see-through elements, and floor-to-ceiling curtains also do a lot to create the illusion of spaciousness.

As you can see, a huge part of making a home look and feeler bigger is simply ensuring that there is a proper place for everything. To that end, investing in things like closet organizers and shelving can help enormously. When combined with strategic decorating and design touches, these tips can make even a small home feel significantly more spacious. They also make it easier to keep your home neat and tidy, which affords you with more time to enjoy your 55+ community!