The home we live in becomes many things for us. It is our sanctuary, our springboard, our place of belonging and growth and safety. It is the backdrop for the lives we live, the memories we make, and the days we carry out.
When it comes time to make a move and settle into a new home, buyers are met with a sundry of questions. What are you looking for in this space that will embody “home” to you? What are must-haves and what can you do without? One of the prevailing questions is: what size of a home is right for you? Sometimes this may mean downsizing from your current space, and sometimes it may mean a move up in size. I want to suggest today that more space isn’t always better. Although at first thought more space often seems appealing, it also comes with more upkeep and maintenance. This can end up taking its toll on your time, energy, and mental space if it’s not serving your lifestyle well. Sometimes, it’s not as much about more space as it is about having the “right” space.
Let’s explore together three of the top ways to make the most of the space you have, allowing your home to work for you and be a lifegiving backdrop for your family!
- Intentional layout. This is key to making any space the right space. Think about the function of each room and how to best suit the space for that purpose. Having intentional zones in your home can help your space feel functional and workable at almost any size. For example, even though having a room to use as your home office might seem ideal at first, consider repurposing a corner of your bedroom to serve as your office space. With a little rearranging and thoughtful furniture placement, you can create dual-purpose rooms that serve your needs well and save you the energy that keeping up with more space would require!
- Thoughtful furniture. Your furniture should fit your space, instead of trying to make your space work for your furniture. This means making sure your furniture pieces are to scale for your room and don’t overwhelm it. When it comes to furnishing a room, less is often much more. Free up as much floor space as possible. A great way to do that is with vertical storage/shelving and wall-mounted desks. You can even opt for multi-function pieces, like ottomans with built-in storage, to help maximalize your space.
- Clutter control. This is one of the most impactful (and also one of the most challenging) aspects of making any space the right space! Accumulated clutter makes any home feel a little more cramped and chaotic. The nature of life in a home is such that things just accumulate. The best way to stay on top of this is making sure everything has a place to be stored, so you are less likely to simply let it lie on the counter or coffee table.
I hope these three areas have given you some inspiration and food for thought on what amount of space truly serves your lifestyle well! It is a joy for my team and I to play a role in our clients finding and creating that place that becomes “home,” whatever size it may be.
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