Interior designers tell Business Insider the best and worst ways to utilize extra space in your home. Bookshelves can be used as additional storage space, so make use of windowsills and ceilings. Built-in units and cabinets are less versatile and can reduce the resale value of your space.
Whether you’re renting an apartment or owning your own home, it’s important to consider how your design choices can make the most efficient use of your space.
Business Insider asked interior designers for tips on the best and worst ways to utilize extra space in your home.
Organize your closet by efficiently storing unnecessary clothes
Mark Cutler, an interior designer at Cutler Schulze, told BI that instead of filling your closet with clutter, he recommends separating clothes you don’t wear often.
“Just because you have a big closet doesn’t mean you need to fill it up or organize it from time to time,” Kalter says. “Having this much space means you can free up space in your wardrobe.”
He suggested using a vacuum bag that fits under the bed as it provides protection and is easy to store.
If you love books, consider adding a bookshelf.
Betty Brandolino, founder and creative director of Fresh Twist Studio, says that everyone’s specific space needs are different, so avid readers may need somewhere to store more books efficiently. There is.
“Bookshelves can add additional storage space by incorporating lower cabinets, and we use baskets as hidden storage on bookshelves,” Brandolino said. “Styling bookshelves is an art. We love styling bookshelves with decorative items, baskets, picture frames, and, of course, books. It’s all about scale, color, and texture.”
She added that you can add wallpaper to the back of the bookshelf for “extra clarity.”
Turn the extra floor space near your bedroom window into a meditation corner
While your primary suite may feel like you have a lot of space for more shelving and furniture, FLOOR360 interior designer Amanda Oninski suggests creating a meditation area with a rug instead. I proposed.
“Area rugs can be selected to match other décor and can be custom cut to fit a given space,” she said. The rug can also be used as a relaxing floor cushion.
Oninski also recommended adjusting lighting and installing window treatments to create a calming atmosphere.
Secure work space under the stairs
Interior designer Brenna Morgan told BI that the extra space under the stairs is a great place to add storage, but it’s often forgotten.
“I’ve seen drawers and cabinets installed. I’ve seen them hollowed out for dog kennels. I’ve seen them used for wine storage. ” Morgan said. “Usually people avoid using it because it’s not a ‘walk-in’ space and the angles are difficult.”
Morgan advised playing around with odd shapes and angles of stairs to maximize additional storage.
Add visual interest to your space without furniture
While it may be tempting to fill the extra space with large pieces of furniture, there are other options worth considering, such as wall art and sculpture, says Charlie Huntman, owner of August Black Interior Design. .
“Extra space doesn’t necessarily have to be filled from top to bottom; it’s good to look at different things to create depth and visual interest,” says Hantman. “I love finding art and wall sculptures that work together but have their own personality.”
Gallery walls are a stylish and eclectic way to bring unique pieces to a room.
Add seating to unused corners
Mona Ying Reeves, founder of Re:modern, told BI that people should consider using the 90-degree rule to turn extra corners into “casual conversation spots.”
“People tend to engage more when they sit at right angles to each other than when they sit directly across from each other,” Reeves says. “Add chairs or a small cafe table to create a fun space.”
On the other hand, defining additional space with permanent functionality can reduce resale value.
While you may want to specifically define your space to suit your needs, designer Renee Croom of Northeast Kitchen and Flooring Center advises avoiding permanent furniture.
“In bonus rooms, we’ve seen homeowners use furniture to create custom hobby and craft areas,” she told BI. “It was a beautiful space to craft, but it didn’t have the same versatility as if you just used furniture instead of built-in cabinetry.”
Croom added that permanent, customized spaces “are not always the best option when considering resale value,” so temporary or moveable options will be considered.
Do not add a single chair as filler
Hantman told BI that one of the frustrating things about interior design is seeing a single chair placed aimlessly in a small empty space.
“Chairs can be placed just for visual appeal, but they need to be surrounded by other elements, such as lamps and side tables, to create a ‘moment,'” says Hantman. “If it just clutters the space and doesn’t add any value to conversational seating, it will just make the space feel small and disorganized.”
The designer added that it’s okay to have an empty corner of the room, as it allows the eye to focus on more interesting parts of the room.
Fake plants are never the way to go
Trendy home design writer and interior designer Andra Delmonico says that while fake plants are useful for adding greenery to a room, they’re not worth the space.
“Say you have a dead spot in your bedroom or living room and decide that’s the perfect place to put a potted plant. The worst thing you can do is replace a real, live plant with a fake one,” Delmonico says. says. “Fake plants look fake, no matter how ‘real’ they are.”
She added that you still have to dust off fake shrubbery leaves without getting the aesthetic benefits that real plants bring.
Don’t use free space without some planning
“One of the worst ways to utilize extra space is to be the person without a plan,” Heather McCune of Land and Sky Designs told BI.
“A room without a sense of purpose or organization is like being lost at sea, floating aimlessly in the waves, waiting for a storm to come,” McCune explained. “In this scenario, you are the storm, and the chaos of anarchy is the lack of direction.”
According to design pros, without a clear vision, a room can become a cluttered, stressful mess.
This story was originally published in September 2021 and most recently updated on October 18, 2024.
