How-to: Maximise space within a home.

More often than not, one of the main reasons buyers continue to purchase property is in the pursuit of more space. Whether they’ve had a new addition to the family, have taken up a new hobby or are in need of more storage room, we find the concept of space is repeatedly top-of-the-list for most buyers. 

As stagers, space is always front of mind for us and over the years we’ve found there is a fine line between the effective use of space, negative space and completely dead space. This might leave you wondering, as a seller, what does this mean for you? Well, if you’re not enlisting the help of a professional stager then this article is for you! 

Regardless of your home’s physical size, it’s probably a wise idea to position your property in a way that highlights the illusion of as much space as possible. Creating the feeling of spaciousness ensures the home feels open, welcoming and functional. We’re going to share with you our top, tried and tested tips for maximising space within your home. 

Embrace Natural Light

Natural light is super important to our team. Why? Because the optimisation of natural light can bring oh-so-many benefits to your home above and beyond the concept of space so be sure to harness all the power natural light can offer you!

Not only does it help to improve the perception of space overall, but it also helps to make the home feel much more inviting. You can start by opening up the home through fastening curtains every day and leaving doors ajar to allow the light and fresh air through. If you’re looking to take things to the next level, consider creating a bigger window opening, installing a skylight or knocking a wall or two down. 

Should your access to natural light be limited, try utilising reflective surfaces, such as glass or mirrors, to help create the illusion of space and light. Don’t forget to switch out your yellow toned light bulbs for a bright white to provide more light within your interior. 

Make smart furniture decisions 

One thing most of us will fall victim to in our lifetime is getting carried away whilst shopping, and buying something that isn’t the ideal fit for your needs - ladies, I’m sure you know what we’re talking about here! Well, this can certainly be said for furniture shopping, too. It’s always the most voluptuous (and likely expensive) sofa that takes our fancy and, whilst we all want to spread out on an oversized modular sofa to binge-watch the latest Netflix series, it’s so important to make smart furniture decisions that will compliment your available space perfectly. 

Instead of filling your entire room with a big sofa, occasional chairs and coffee table, be realistic about what you can actually fit in, ensuring it’s the right choice for the dimensions of your living room. Consider furniture with multi-functional purposes such as media units with in-built drawers for extra storage or an ottoman which works well as a coffee table and seating option. 

When displaying your home for sale, there’s always the option of stripping each room back, and removing items altogether that don’t exactly work with the space. After all, you want to give potential buyers the opportunity to REALLY see the space - how their furniture would fit in the space and how they would live there. If the furniture pieces aren’t working, then it’s time to go!

Connect the inside with the outside

No matter the size, shape or orientation of your property, if you’re able to open your home out to your backyard or balcony, you’ll be surprised by just how much more spacious it immediately becomes! 

Creating a connection with the outdoors means access to more usable and expansive space which can be utilised in a number of different ways. Whether it’s extra room for the kids to play, a dining area for everyday meals or as an additional lounging area to be enjoyed, there is so much potential in outdoor areas in adding value to your home. 

Even those with only a small outdoor space like a balcony or courtyard can still utilise this space to make their property feel larger. For home opens, make sure the doorways to your outdoor space are clearly visible and can be opened with ease. Also ensure your balcony or courtyard is appealing to the eye by adding some potted plants, outdoor cushions or a string of festoon lights.  

Expose the floor

A hack we’ve learnt over the years is interior spaces feel much larger when you’re able to see the full extent of the floor. It’s a cheeky optical illusion which can be easily implemented in most rooms which really gives a feeling of free-flowing space. 

To execute in your home, look for opportunities to expose your joinery where possible - like wall-mounted cabinets in a bathroom or shelving in a bedroom. Another great option is to opt for furniture pieces that sit high on tall legs, allowing you to see underneath and for air to circulate around the pieces with ease.

If this is too hard to implement in your property for it’s sales campaign, we suggest lifting up unnecessary floor coverings or rugs, limiting them to just one per room. This will still have the same effect of flowing space.