Moving From A Big Home To A Small Home – How To Make It Work
There are a lot of stereotypes about the Bay Area, some of them true, some of them not, but there is one truth: it’s expensive to live here and you don’t get a lot of house for your money. So, how can a person (or family) adapt to a small home without losing their minds? Here are a few tips:
Store stuff
— If your move into a smaller space is temporary, then by all means, store your extra furniture and things.
Sell stuff
— Sites like Nextdoor.com, Facebook and Craigslist are great ways to get some cash for your extra goods. You can also host a yard sale or sell to a consignment shop.
Look up
— You might feel horizontally challenged, but when it comes to small homes, the sky, er, ceiling is the limit. Hang pots from the ceiling above your stove. Build lots and lots of shelves.
Decorate in neutrals
— Neutrals with pops of colors tend to make a small space seem bigger.
Buy convertible furniture
— Sturdy ottomans can double as seats and many have storage. Sofa beds offer additional sleeping space without having to have an extra bedroom. Folding tables and chairs can be a lifesaver. A murphy bed allows you to hid the bed altogether.
Stop buying music and books
— No, I’m not suggesting that you stop indulging your music and reading habits. I’m all for those, just stop buying the physical versions. For books, use the library or download on a tablet. For music, downloads are just as convenient and take up no space.
Buy smaller furniture
— While a full-sized sofa might seem adult, how often do more than two people actually sit on it? Buy a love seat instead and you might be able to fit a chair that people might actually use. Buy a table for two or four with a leaf and folding chairs for extra guests. Buy a queen sized bed instead of a king. Think smaller and narrower when buying sofa tables, coffee tables and end tables, if you need all of those at all.
Move outside
— If you are in a house instead of an apartment, or if you have a deck, think of it as living space. Invest in outdoor furniture and you might be able to do all your entertaining outdoors.
Going small can be a challenge, but it can be a fun one. Just let your imagination lead the way. If you have any creative ways to make smaller living better, leave them in the comments.
Featured image via Wikimedia.