Turn Wasted Home Space Into Something Functional

No matter the size of your home, there will always be wasted space. There’s that space under the staircase, rooms that aren’t really being used, basements and attics that aren’t being maximised and cabinetry that wastes precious corner spaces. Whether your house is big or small, you need to reclaim whatever wasted space there is and make it useful.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of ideas on how to turn wasted home space into something functional. Here are some of them.

1. De-clutter

Are you in the habit of collecting old junk, from appliances that no longer work to old newspapers and magazines? Do you have clothes and other stuff that you no longer use but are still somewhere inside your home? Then these are the things that waste a lot of your space at home, and you need to get rid of them so you can reclaim that space. De-cluttering can be a gargantuan task, but you can actually do it in increments. As for your excess stuff, you can give them away, donate them to charity or even sell it at a garage sale. Do this, and you’ll be able to clear enough space in your home that you can use.

2. Use that wasted home space under the stairs

There is a wealth of ideas for using that space under the stairs. You can actually build a cupboard under it where you can store housecleaning items, among other things. You can also install open bookshelves in that space. You can get more creative by installing cabinet-style drawers and doors under the stairs for storage. Just think of any way that wasted home space will meet your needs, and do it.

3. Reclaim home space by adding more storage

If you still lack storage despite utilizing that space under the stairs, then you have to add more storage by putting up new cabinets or shelves or overhauling existing ones. For existing cabinets that could use some improvement as far as space usage is concerned, you can add roll-out drawers for deep cabinets to enable you to reach items that are stored in the back. Lazy susans for hard-to-reach corner space will also be great. With more storage, you will then be able to use the space where stuff used to be before you installed new shelves and improved your cabinets.

4. Use empty corners

If your kitchen has empty corners with windows on both walls, which means no cabinets can be placed on either wall, then install a breakfast nook in that space. Put a small table there, an L-shaped bench which can double as storage for cooking utensils and other kitchen stuff, and you have a perfectly good breakfast nook.

5. Finish unfinished areas

By unfinished areas, we mean the basement or attic. Instead of just leaving the basement to the furnace, the washer, the dryer and the attic to out-of-season gear and boxes of family trinkets, you can actually transform it into a living space. Sure, you’re going to have to do some work like insulating the area, hanging drywall and adding flooring and paint, but you’ll be reclaiming significant square footage that way. Basement and attics have now become popular choices for annexing space for living, and you should get in on the fun too if you have them.

These are just some of the ways you can turn wasted home space into something functional. If your quest to reclaim wasted home space involves work that would require the expertise of tradespersons, we at Tradebusters can help. Our exclusive network counts some of the most reliable tradies this side of Australia as members. Give us a call, and your quest to reclaim wasted home space will become easier.