Is Your Home Big Enough For Your Family?

You can start with simple space maximisation efforts, such as minimising clutter. You can also double up rooms; for example, you could make the living area also serve as a play area, by keeping a toy box and a few larger items stowed neatly for your children. You can also have two children share a room, setting up bunk beds to free up floor space. Maximise the rooms with the heaviest family use, such as the kitchen and living area, by de-cluttering, installing low-maintenance flooring, and painting the room a lighter colour so it does not feel dark or small. You may also consider installing a skylight, which would allow more daylight in, creating the illusion of space while making the room more pleasant for the family.

To make the best use of your rooms, take a good look at their layout and see if any modifications to the structure will help. For example, if the electrical outlets in the living area are in the middle of a prime space for your sofa, consider blanking the outlets off and installing them in a more convenient location.

You may also need to do some home modification to make efficient use of dead space, such as having a cupboard installed on an empty wall, or removing a radiator from an awkward corner that would work well for a dog bed if it did not get too hot. Installing a closet organiser in your bedroom helps to create more storage for clothes and shoes, freeing up space in the rest of the room.

If you have a larger budget, you could have more substantial modifications made to your property. For example, you could install a conservatory, which would give the family a place to relax in natural light, as well as creating more living space.

You could also convert an attic to an en suite bedroom for a teenager. If you have an unfinished cellar, consider investing in modernising this area to create storage for bicycles, tools, and non-perishable food. Another option is to knock down a wall to open up two rooms, which helps to stop a house from seeming closed in.