Quaint, cosy, charming – these are all words that are commonly associated with smaller homes. But another three words associated with small properties can be tight, tense, and stressful. Whether it’s the lack of space, the clutter, or just that sense of feeling hemmed in, handling the stress of living in a small or compact living environment is essential for your sanity. So, what are the best ways to handle living in smaller homes? From the stress to the space, let’s show you some of the best approaches to deal with this.
Being Organised
If there is one key to living in a smaller space and you feel that cramped sensation all too regularly, you’ve got to be savvy with your storage. There are so many different ways you can do this.
Firstly, you need to get decluttering. When you declutter on a regular basis, you aren’t just determining what is essentially in your life, but it will also keep your stress at bay. There are many benefits to decluttering for our mindset, and we have to make this a regular practice.
Additionally, look at what you can physically get out of the house. You might find there’s a lot of precious items, but this is where the best storage units come in handy because of the cost-effectiveness and the opportunity to get rid of items without actually getting them out of your life.
Amplifying the Space
If you are feeling the struggles that come with small home living, you’ve got to make more of the space. One of the best places to begin is to be a master of illusion, and mirrors are an amazing solution here. Mirrors create the illusion of a larger space, and placing mirrors strategically bounces light around the home, making it feel roomier. A good example is if you have a hallway at the top of the stairs. A mirror at each end instantly makes it look roomier.
While it may not necessarily be the case, we’ve got to remember that it’s about subtle psychological tricks that make us feel like we’re not cramped. This is also where lighter colours on the walls can create an illusion of spaciousness. Pastels and whites are two common approaches that can make your home feel more open. Put them not just on the decor on the walls, but if you can, opt for furniture with lighter colours.
Better Storage Solutions
Ensuring you make the most of each space is about how you can store your worldly possessions. One of the best places to begin is to take advantage of vertical spaces by installing shelves, hooks, and cabinets that go on the wall. When you free up the floor space, you’re able to manoeuvre around the property better, and you can keep everything organised.
One of the biggest issues people have when it comes to feeling cramped is because there’s a lot of clutter. Therefore, a combination of decluttering while also using your storage more effectively works wonders. You can also invest in foldable or collapsible furniture that you can tuck away when not in use. If there’s space under your sofa, things can go under there, but there are many different ways to increase that storage capacity. Under-bed storage and floating shelves are ideal.
Additionally, coffee tables with drawers, TV consoles with shelving, and sofas with hidden storage are all amazing ideas to guarantee you can put things away and make the most of the space.
Dealing with Stress
We can make changes to the home in practical senses and play tricks with our minds, but we can also tackle this issue from another angle. Dealing with the stress that comes from living in a cramped space is partly about playing those tricks, but also creating a calming atmosphere. This is where playing with all the different senses can be invaluable.
You can start by maximising the natural light in your home to create a sense of openness. When you can make the space feel brighter, it will be less cramped. Materials like chrome and brass are amazing at reflecting light, so even if you have dark rooms, you can still ramp up the reflection factor.
Additionally, incorporating some greenery such as house plants will contribute to a calming atmosphere. If you are very busy, low-maintenance plants are the way to go. Succulents have many benefits and will most definitely keep your stress levels low. If you still feel the house is cramped and you’ve done as much decluttering as humanly possible, you might need to tackle your approaches to stress. If it’s possible, set up a cosy corner where you can relax, but you should also start actively practising relaxing.
When we feel cramped, it becomes more than a physical sensation but a psychological one. Therefore, learning how to shut yourself away mentally can help to calm yourself down.
Looking Bigger Picture
Getting onto the property ladder is a major task these days. Finding any property that can get you on your journey to your ideal home can mean having to put up with a few imperfections in the short term, but before you move house again you may want to think long-term about whether it’s worth investing in a larger property, especially with regards to house prices and if you can get the right mortgage.
Lots of people get onto the property ladder with a smaller home, but soon feel that they have outgrown the house for various reasons. However, it’s at this point where you may want to make the most of what you’ve got. The house might be small, but if you hang on for a few years, you will accrue enough equity to be able to pay for a house extension all by itself. There are, of course, other approaches that you could use, for example, sheds or outhouses, which could be invaluable if you are working from home.
Living in a small home is most definitely a challenge, but that’s not to say it’s impossible. It’s all about a swift combination of amplifying the space, being more practical with your storage, and reducing your stress.
