It’s been almost a year since we all started spending a lot more time at home, which means it’s been almost a year since we realised just how much an issue space and storage in our homes was going to be. Over the course of the last twelve months, we’ve all gone through a series of lockdowns and have self-isolated or shielded, a lot of us had to figure out how we were going to work from home, and those of us with kids have either had to start home-schooling or make room for our university student family members to work in, or both. Just when we think that we have figured out a system that works for everyone, a new challenge emerges to throw everything out of the window and we start from scratch.
However, homeowners are at least in the fortunate position of being able to make their own space. Some of these efforts might be big projects that require a huge amount of planning. Others may be as simple as repurposing existing spaces or constructing new ones. If you are still finding it hard to make sure that everyone has their own personal and work space in your home, then it is high time to take a step back, take a look around, and think about how you can create a little more room.
What’s Going On With That Box Room?
We understand, no home is truly complete without the box room. That little space that’s too small to be used as a bedroom by anyone over the age of 10, but has come to be an invaluable storage option for all those bits and pieces that, for whatever reason, you don’t feel like you can throw away.
Well, the time has come for the room for everything marked “miscellaneous” to start pulling its weight. If there is space for a desk and chair, then you have a brand new second study raring to go. If there really is not enough room for someone to work comfortably in it, then you need to seriously reassess how you’re using it for storage. With everyone in the house desperate for a little bit of elbow room, you need to Marie Kondo the entire house and that includes the contents of the box room. Get ruthless about throwing stuff away, and make sure that everything in that room needs to be there.
How Are You Using The Garage?
Now, the garage is an unquestionably practical space, but this point is for everyone who doesn’t have a car of their own. What are you using that garage for? If it is simply an unkempt space where there are a few DIY items and a chest freezer, then it’s time to get creative. There are many different ways that you can refurbish your garage to turn it into a completely different space.
With a little work and creativity, it can become an office, or even an extra media room if you are having a lot of disagreements with your kids about what should be on the television in the evening. If you’re willing to go big on this project, you could think about adding some more light to it, and if you’ve got an external garage, you could think about adding an extra room on top to really start building up that space. If, however, you just don’t think it would work as a room in its own right, then once again this is an invaluable storage space that you are not making the most of.
Treat Yourself To The Shed You Want
Many of us don’t feel like a garden is truly complete without a proper shed. If you’ve moved into a new build with a from-scratch patch of green, then maybe you haven’t found time to put one up yet. If you’ve moved into an older building, then you may be staring out of the window at a rotting heap of wood that’s full of cobwebs and piles of junk that you don’t want to investigate too closely.
Well, a proper garden shed is not just a potential answer to your space issues, it’s a practical addition to any home that can take on a range of functions and can be made to suit any budget. Whether you just want a simple wooden shed to house your gardening equipment, a garden workshop to allow you the space, peace and quiet to get on with your home improvement projects, or a large shed that you can treat as your little oasis for a drink at the end of the day, garden sheds are the perfect option for anyone in need of a little more room. You can even use it as a home gym or garden office! If you need a little inspiration or you’re not sure where to start, check out Shedstore.co.uk. The site has a range of options and plenty of information about which materials and styles will best suit your needs.
Don’t Be Afraid Of The Cellar
If you are lucky enough to have a home with a cellar, you will know that there are some limits to what you can do with it. Depending on where you are in the country, they can be cold, they can be damp, and they are not always the ideal spaces to set up a desk and office chair to start working from home. However, with a little ingenuity they can become excellent storage.
Now, a big cellar conversion project will set you back and is also a big commitment in terms of time, so if you are working on a budget and are keen to find storage solutions as quickly as possible, then it may make more sense to think about what you can store down there and how you do it. Make sure you invest in storage containers that can withstand the aforementioned cold and damp as cellars are a favourite spawning ground for mould (so no putting cardboard boxes full of books down there). If you want to put down new surfaces, invest in a dehumidifier to make sure that it’s completely dry. And remember: you can always keep those emergency beer and wine supplies down there.
© Copyright 2021 Antonia, All rights Reserved. Written For: Tidylife
