9 tips to optimize the space of a new home
Need decorating ideas in a small apartment? Or practical solutions for moving? Check out these 9 tips to save space, maximize the feeling of space, and make it easier if you’re moving abroad.
1 - Adapt the dimensions of the furniture
Note the widths and lengths, the positions of the doors and windows. Take the time to linger in each room (even remotely with the virtual tour or photos) and write down the words or phrases that come to mind. For example: cozy, bright, high ceilings… This is a good starting point to grasp the flaws and strengths of each space.
A cosy bedroom will ideally be furnished with compact furniture. If, on the other hand, the volume is generous, furniture that is too small will seem lost on a huge area. Be careful, the idea is not to load the space. You can perfectly have a minimalist layout, with few large pieces of furniture in a living room with high ceilings.
2 - Think about retractable furniture
In small apartments, consider retractable furniture. These solutions are often less restrictive than we imagine. You may have had the wrong experience with renting fold-down, noisy and jammed beds. Rest assured, the latest generation mechanisms are easy to handle on a daily basis.
Moreover, retractable solutions are not limited to hidden furniture. It can be a bed that folds into a sofa during the day, or a small shelf that can transform a large worktop.
3 - Recover "lost" volumes
In housing, and more particularly in old buildings, it is not uncommon to have unused volumes. Here again, the idea is not to overload every corner of the house, but to study all its possibilities.
What is most often missing is storage. And it doesn’t get better with time. If you have a large area of free walls above the front door: attach one or two boards to it and you’ve got a new niche for hats, umbrellas and other last-minute accessories.
4 - Buy modular for temporary needs
Has your new company set up alternating teleworking? If you don’t have a dedicated room, you can recreate optimal working conditions at home with modular solutions.
It can be a simple movable wall on legs that is easy to move and store. The goal is to have a bubble of concentration, a clearly defined space for temporary needs.
After work, the movable panel is put away and the retractable desk shrinks to take advantage of maximum space at home.
5 - Adjust the volumes of the rooms
Of course, you can’t push the walls. On the other hand, you can play with shapes and layouts to change the perception of volumes.
It is then necessary to find the right balance between optimizing storage and feeling of space. Let’s take the example of a tall, narrow room that will serve as your office. If you line the walls with shelves up to the ceiling, you may have a storage effect.
To maintain a certain harmony, all you have to do is go against the “defect” of the piece. Too long? Stretch furniture and décor upwards. Too high? Opt for elongated storage units fixed to the walls to free up floor space.
6 - Bringing in the light
Light plays an essential role in this work on the feeling of space. The brighter your interior, the larger it will look.
You say to yourself: “bringing in the light, it doesn’t depend on me”, and you are right. The amount of natural light you will receive depends on the size and type of windows.
What you can do is maximize the diffusion of available light by choosing highlights and maintaining a wide unobstructed perimeter around the windows.
7 - Install XXL sheers
Several tricks act as trompe-l’oeil to make a book appear larger or smaller than it really is.
If you think a window is too small, you can install a large, very light curtain. The fabric will be illuminated over a wider surface than the glazing, which can significantly improve the feeling of space.
You can get inspired by apartment or house decoration ideas for curtains by searching specialized magazines or catalogs.
8 - Adopt the best provisions without delay
We are beings of habit. Once the routine is established, it is difficult to change it.
It’s better to take the time to think about the best possible arrangements before moving in, rather than coming back to it later.
First of all, because an installation is faster than a redevelopment. But also, because it is easier to evaluate your options with fresh eyes and in an empty space.
9 - Rent furniture chosen and installed remotely
It’s not easy to be on all fronts during a move, and even more so abroad. Future expats can save valuable time by choosing to rent furniture for the duration of their stay.
By going through Homat, a specialist in long-term furniture rental for expatriates, you benefit from a simple, easy, flexible and fast formula.
Select from the catalogue, the furniture and interiors adapted to your new home (bed rental, dishwasher, TV cabinet, etc.). Homat takes care of the rest: transport, installation, fittings and appliance connections… Nothing is left to chance.
When you arrive, all you have to do is put down your suitcases and fill the cupboards.
