Now that spring is upon us, so is the peak season for purchasing or rethinking a home. Many new home buyers’ fantasies of ownership become a reality after searching out the right sized dwelling. It is important to make the best use of your newly acquired or existing square footage.
Typically, homeowners decorate and furnish rooms within a home according to the room’s original intention. From formal living and dining rooms to breakfast nooks and smaller bedrooms, many people do not consider alternative uses for underutilized spaces; however, there is a cure for the issue of a wasted living area: rethinking your space!
The fact that a room is labeled a breakfast nook or library does not mean that they must be utilized as such. The possibilities for alternative uses are endless, and with some creativity and re-arranging, it can be a simple process to maximize your square footage. Surveys indicate that in many homes 80 percent of your time is spent in 20 percent of the available living area.
Here are a few simple ideas for repurposing the underutilized spaces within your home:
Turn a smaller bedroom into a closet or additional bathroom. If you have a bedroom that is barely useable, consider converting it into an expansive closet. In many cases, this alteration can be accomplished by opening up a wall between the smaller bedroom and the master bedroom. By adding a set of inexpensive closet doors, this space has the potential to become a coveted walk-in closet. If a larger budget is involved, consider converting the smaller space into a bathroom, which may increase the utility and overall appeal of the home.
From formal dining room to library. Anyone who is an avid reader knows that books can be excessively space consuming and often create clutter. Consider converting a rarely utilized formal living or dining room into an organized library. Line the walls with bookshelves purchased from a hardware store or design custom built-ins, throw in some well-lit seating and bam, instant library!
No need for a breakfast nook? There is something romantic about the notion of a breakfast nook. However, in many households a nook is overlooked and often underutilized. Instead, this area becomes a bill paying area or a space to organize the family calendar. Sound familiar?
If you are fortunate enough to have a nook as well as an eat-in kitchen island or other casual dining area, options are available. Think about what you may already be using this space for and optimize it by bringing in organization and storage solutions to cut clutter. Consider a bulletin board and a small desk allowing you to stash away your laptop and other items needed to handle family business.
Additionally, installing inexpensive doors may be an option to convert an unused nook into a desirable pantry or walk-in utility closet.
Don’t forget the stairs. Even if every room in your home is already spoken for, there may still be underutilized spaces. A built-in storage cabinet or desk can be placed along a wide hallway in order to capture its full potential. Space under the stairs is often overlooked and can be lined with bookshelves or even converted into a handy wine cellar!
Be imaginative and start with the “art of re.” Rediscover, re-arrange, reclaim and re-imagine the possibilities that make your space your home.
Ron Monigold is a Licensed Real Estate agent and a Certified Real Estate Appraiser. He is a member of the National, California, and San Diego Association of Realtors. You can reach Ron at The Metropolitan Group at 619-990-4631 or at ronmetro@cox.net. DRE License # 01865841.
