If you’re like us, you’re addicted to HGTV. You see those gorgeous, big houses that are on display and you think, “I wish my house was bigger” or “I wish my house could look like that.” Well, we are here to tell you that you can create space in your home today with just a few easy steps. You CAN have a gorgeous house that feels spacious and beautiful, even if you don’t have a lot of space. We’ve made a list of 5 easy ways you can make your house feel bigger without having to tear down walls and add on. (Your significant other, and your checkbook, will thank us!)

 

Make Use of Hidden Storage Space

Storage space is essential, especially when you are living in a smaller home or apartment. The trick to opening up your space when you don’t have a lot of it is easy with hidden storage compartments. Try to find coffee tables with room for storage bins underneath so you can store the junk you don’t want people to say but just can’t seem to give away. You can even find ottomans with secret lids on them, so you can hide random junk in plain sight. What a time to be alive.

GO-GO (Get One, Give One)

It’s tempting to keep every single piece of clothing you have, along with every shoe that may or may not have a match (the other one might turn up someday!). Unfortunately, the truth is that in order to keep a spacious house, you have to give away your old junk and declutter. An easy rule of thumb to remember is that every time you get something, you give the old one away. Did you buy a new shirt that you adore? Great! Give away that shirt that’s been hanging in your closet for 10 years that you’ve only worn once. Voila! Decluttering is as easy as replacing something old with something new.

Be Strategic With Your Furniture

The goal with any living space is to make the room feel open and spacious, but not so spacious that it feels uncomfortable and empty. To make your living room feel spacious AND comfortable, try moving your furniture so that they create a social half-circle, with the main focus on either a TV or the fireplace (depending on your preference!). Add a rug to make it feel cozy. For your bedroom, place your bed on a wall opposite of the door to make it feel like you’ve got more room. In the end, this is YOUR space. Make it comfortable for YOU.

Create Space in Your Kitchen

The kitchen is the busiest room of your entire home (who knew kids could eat so much?), so it has to be functional AND enjoyable to cook in. Maximize your kitchen space with vertical storage shelving. Use drawer organizers for your utensils, dry goods and food storage containers. Get rid of old food, half- eaten dry goods, and try installing some overhead pot and pan hooks to free up space below your counters. A tidy, spacious kitchen makes for a happy cook!

The Ultimate Rule of Creating Space

Here is the golden nugget of interior decorating wisdom on how to make your house feel spacious: When you get something out, ALWAYS PUT IT BACK WHERE IT BELONGS. Pick up after yourself AT LEAST daily, and you’ll be surprised at how a clean house can feel like a big house. With clothes, dishes, toys or couch pillows everywhere, it’s hard to feel comfortable, especially in a small home. Tidying up only takes a couple of minutes if you do it often, so try doing it as often as you think about it. The more floor or counters are visible, the bigger your house feels.

How do you create space in your home? Let us know in the comments!