Detroit is perhaps the most dynamic neighborhood in Michigan for families, young professionals, and retired people to find a sense of fun and fulfillment. With so many suburbs and neighborhoods from which to choose, everyone can find their niche. Upscale dining and shopping, arts and cultural entertainment, and amazing green spaces await in neighborhoods such as Midtown Detroit, Sherwood Forest, Palmer Woods, Birmingham, Bagley, Ferndale, and Downtown Detroit.
Detroit is a great place to live and work. If you are living in Detroit and are looking to upsize, there are numerous homes for sale in Detroit that will fit your lifestyle preferences.
If you’re not quite ready to enter Detroit’s housing market, there are several simple ways in which to create more space in your home. If you are saving to buy a new home, breaking the bank with expensive renovations is not an option. Here are some easy and relatively inexpensive fixes to add space and value to your home.
Clean up the clutter
Perhaps one of the simplest ways to create more space in your home is to store or get rid of all the things you do not use daily. William Morris, a poet and designer in the mid-1800s, was ahead of his time when he said, “Keep nothing in your houses that you do not know to be beautiful or believe to be useful.” That same principle holds true today.
As you take stock of your belongings, gather items you do not use every day and create a donate pile. Once you have removed any clutter from sight, conduct a deep cleaning of your home to ensure your living spaces look polished. During this time, you can also move furniture around to change up your home’s layout and add flow and space to the area.
If you are planning to move soon, decluttering your home will put you ahead of the game, as you’ll already have weeded out things you don’t need.
Add storage space
Storage space is a point of contention for most homeowners, even those with larger homes. Inadequate storage space can produce unsightly piles and clutter around the house. There are ways, however, to increase storage space and create a neater, more spacious appearance.
Many homes have small nooks and crannies that serve no functional purpose. This is wasted space. One solution is to find a cabinet or shelving unit to fit in the area. Be sure to search flea markets, estate sales, second-hand stores, and even garage sales to unearth the perfect (and budget-friendly) shelving unit that fits your needs. Consider repainting it in a shade that matches the room's overall theme, and be sure to add decorative baskets or bins to hold your belongings and create interest and function.
Another relatively effortless space-maximizing measure is by adding shelving to areas that can accommodate it. Some cabinets and cupboards with adjustable shelving can be rearranged to add more shelves to them. A few extra shelves can take clutter away from visible surfaces and hide them.
Closet organizers are the perfect way to maximize space in bedrooms or pantries. In bedrooms, existing dressers can be moved into the back of a closet, freeing up room to add a desk and chair.
Rearrange furniture
How your furniture is placed within a room can make the room look bigger or smaller. If your furniture is large, but your room is small, setting those large pieces against the wall can make it seem more spacious. However, if you do have enough room, consider moving the larger pieces away from the wall, as it will create the illusion of more space.
Buying multi-functional pieces can also help eliminate clutter. For instance, an ottoman that doubles as a storage piece can hide unused items, such as seasonal decorations. It also provides extra seating. In a bedroom, replacing a headboard with one that has storage can eliminate items such as tissues, books, and lotions from taking up visual space.
Add mirrors
Strategically placing mirrors around the room will reflect light and make the room seem larger. For example, placing a mirror across from a window will allow your home’s outdoor spaces to be featured and highlighted in the room, thus creating the illusion of more space.
Change the lighting
Rather than using the light from a single ceiling light, consider adding more lighting to draw the eye to different areas of the room. Floor lamps, pendant lights, and recessed lighting all work to keep the focus off of a single point, thus making the space seem larger. A glass base, like glass coffee tables, also allows the eye to pass through and create a sense of fluidity.
More costly but effective options
Sometimes, you may need to undergo major renovations to your home if you need more space. If you are staying in your home for an indefinite amount of time, it may be worth it. It may add value if you plan to sell your home. Here are some ways to create space:
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Utilize outdoor spaces. Extend your indoor living spaces by adding a screened-in room accessible from the interior and exterior of your home. Adding a sunroom may cost more, but it will expand your home’s existing space and create a larger return on your investment.
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Finish your basement. This is a great way to add significant space to your home. If the basement is big enough, consider adding walls to create extra bedrooms and bathrooms.
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Renovate your attic to add living space. If your attic isn’t big enough to create a bedroom, consider renovating it into a home office.
Still not enough space?
If nothing you have tried adds the additional space you need, it may be time to start looking for a new home. Whether you’re interested in downtown Detroit real estate or want to find a home in Detroit’s highly-desirable neighborhoods, real estate specialist Austin Black II is more than happy to help. Get in touch with him today to begin your home search!