With Australian property prices on an astronomic rise, Australians are having to learn how to do more with less space.
Open your mind and open up your living quarters with these 5 simple DIY projects.
Space Clearing
Before introducing any new space-saving features to your home, eliminate any unnecessary clutter from your space.
Identify all of the objects that you haven’t used in years – it’s time to get rid of them. Obsolete possessions collect dust and crowd your physical space. If disposing of them feels wasteful, donate or gift them to people or organisations that can use them.
Light & Breezy Colour Scheme
Adjusting your colour scheme is one of the best ways to create the illusion of space. The colour of a space influences our perceptions of its shape and size.
Darker, warmer colours appear to move towards us, while lighter, cooler colours appear to recede. Using this simple principle, you can make your space look larger or smaller; direct attention to focal points; deflect attention from unattractive features; and distort the shape of a space
In most cases, a light and neutral colour palette will expand your space visually. In a small home, paint adjoining rooms the same shade. White ceilings generally appear to be higher, making a room feel more spacious.
Paint walls, ceiling and trims the same colour to encourage the eye to travel freely around the space. When you use different colors, the eye stops and starts where the colours change.
Smoke & Mirrors
In the home, mirrors do more than show us our reflections. Mirrors catch and reflect light to create the impression of more space. Knowing this, your impulse might be to rush out and get floor-to-ceiling mirrors for every room – but large mirrors can be expensive to buy and install.
If your budget calls for a more modest investment, why not create a ‘mirror gallery’ with an assortment of cheaper mirrors from discount and thrift stores? Depending on your personal style, you can either hang an eclectic mixture of mirrors on your available wallspace, or paint the various mirror frames the same colour to give them a consistent, contemporary look.
Build In Book Shelves
When space is scarce, a big imposing bookcase can really encroach on your space. Assess the rooms where you need to store your books and identify any nooks, enclaves or recesses where you can potentially build in shelving.
Is there a space under the stairs that you thought was good for nothing? Or a recess above the doorway? Why not convert it into storage space? Building in shelving gives you the freedom to optimise otherwise obsolete or inaccessible spaces.
If you have a large collection of books and possessions, you might even consider building in floor-to-ceiling or wall-to-wall bookcases. This creates the illusion that your ceilings are higher and eliminates the need for bulky storage furniture.
Crystal Clear Windows
The more natural light you let into your home, the more spacious it will feel. Dirty windows obscure light and have a shrinking effect on our perceptions of space.
Window cleaning is one of those tasks that are often neglected but it makes an enormous difference to the appearance of your home. You’ll be pleased by how much airier and brighter your space feels after a simple window clean.
Wipe away the grime with some old newspaper, a measure of vinegar and hot water. If your house has lots of windows, consider hiring a professional window cleaner. They have the equipment and knowhow to get the job done quickly and effectively.
