How To Economize Your Smallest Rooms

Many people today are living in smaller quarters, particularly city dwellers. The idea is to save money, but sometimes smaller spaces can actually be more expensive if they are not used efficiently. Going to a restaurant every night for dinner, because you don’t have the space for a kitchen table, is not a good option in today’s economy.

The best way to economize a small space is to maximize its potential. That means making use of every inch of usable space in a way that will be most functional to your immediate needs. There is no room for waste in small quarters. Here are some ideas to make your rooms that much more efficient.

Pare Down Personal Belongings
Particularly if you are moving from a larger home to a smaller residence, getting rid of unnecessary clutter and infrequently used items is absolutely necessary. Opt to keep a few treasured items, and get rid of doubles and triples of the same item, unless you will be using them on a daily basis. Be absolutely brutal about only keeping the things you need and getting rid of the rest, or storing them in an external space outside of small rooms. An attic or hall closet is great for this if you have one.

Maximize Your Closet Space
Much closet space is used inefficiently because storage items don’t fit into conventional shelves. Adjustable wire shelving in closets are great for small rooms. You can adjust it to the sizes you need and change the sizes when necessary. If you don’t have the option of installing your own shelf system, you can still customize conventional closet space with such items as hanging clothes, shoe organizers, and plastic storage cubes. The idea is to divide closet space into usable sections which will work for your storage needs.

Scope Out Hidden Spaces
Try to think of your small rooms in terms of total cubic space. Most rooms have more space vertically, so buy furniture that is slimmer and taller, rather than wide. Furnish small rooms in keeping with their small scale. Don’t overpower them with large furniture. Opt for flat screen television sets, and pull-down furniture that stores against the wall, such as Murphy beds and pull-down tables that can be flipped back up when not in use. Make use of multi-functional furniture that doubles as storage.
Most rooms have unused corner space as well. A small round table with a few chairs can be placed in a corner for a kitchen or office area. Another unused space is near to the ceiling. Open shelving can be placed above eye level for storing memorabilia. Keep it clean and simple, with just a few items. Too many knickknacks make a small room feel heavy.

Keep Rooms Light And Bright
Bright rooms with light colors make the space feel larger. Avoid too much drama in decorating patterns. A wall-mounted mirror, correctly placed, can give the illusion of more space in a small room.

Economize Your Utilities
The value of small spaces is they don’t require as much utility usage. Take full advantage of this by scaling down on the sizes of electrical appliances. Opt for heating and air conditioning units that are the right size for the capacity of your smaller home. According to Shorty’s Plumbing & Heating Inc, newer Winnipeg heating and air conditioning models come in more compact sizes.

Smaller rooms can be just as useful and decorative as larger rooms, if they are furnished in proportion to their smaller scale, and decorated thoughtfully.