While we would all like more space for our kids to grow up in, that is not a luxury we can all afford. With the price of rent rising in the premier metropolitan areas, living in a tight space with children is fast becoming the norm for many. Does that mean it is a bad situation to be in? Not necessarily, if you know how to maximise the space which you do have. Let’s go through a few tips and tricks to do just that, as suggested by experts of both interior décor and child psychology.
Don’t Put the Wrong Idea in their Heads
Parents are often found projecting their own thoughts onto their children unwittingly, which is counterproductive in most scenarios. Even if you feel the space is a bit small to live with children, do not complain to them about it, or discuss any issues related to it in front of them. Infants, toddlers and young children neither know, nor do they much care about such things, until they attain a certain level of maturity.
If parents don’t let their young children feel like something is wrong about the proximity in which they are all living, it is unlikely that they will complain. In fact, most toddlers and young children enjoy staying in close proximity to their mum and dad. External factors begin to play a role later, but a happy, content home with good childhood memories can have prevent teens from being affected by them too much.
Accept Modularity as Part of Your Home Design
The philosophy at work here is that any one thing that can act as two or more things, should do just that. If that space below the high sleeper can house a desk and a sofa, it should. If the study desk can be folded and tucked away as needed, that’s the table you need. If you have a bed that becomes a part of the wall when pushed in, that is ideal. Of course, the examples here may or may not be relevant to your specific needs, but they should help in understanding the ideology behind modular home design.
Every piece of furniture that is occupying floor space should serve more than one function, be it through your own innovations, or the furniture’s innate modular design. It would be even better if the furniture can be pushed, folded or slid into either a smaller form factor, or be hidden away completely like a wall bed.
Save Floor Space with Bunk Beds
Double bunk beds, triple bunk beds and high sleeper beds are ideal for saving floor space and housing more than one child in a small room. Instead of the floor space, they utilise the height of the room. This means that three children can sleep comfortably in one small room, if you go with a triple bunk bed. If you have a single child who is in his/her early teens, just get a high sleeper instead.
Loft beds are meant for only one person to sleep on top, leaving the entire space below free for modifications and handiwork. With the range at BedKingdom, you won’t even have to put in the DIY work, because they have a wide selection of high sleepers with amazing modular designs. If you are looking to maximise your children’s living area, BedKingdom also have several triple bunk beds available in impressive designs from some of the best brands in the UK.
Bright, White Paint Creates the Illusion of More Space
When you paint any room in bright hues, it looks bigger. Paint every room in shades of bright white, off-white, cream or beige to use that illusion to its maximum effect. The ceiling and the walls in each room should not be painted in even mildly contrasting shades, but a subtle difference must also be there to make the room feel like one.
Magical Ceilings
The children’s room should also be painted in similar hues, but the ceiling can be slightly different. Add a high-quality glow in the dark galaxy on the ceiling if they like the idea. Astronaut ceiling lamps go nicely with that theme, and so do rocket lights. Show them a few pictures and videos to see which one they like the best.
dark fantasy kingdom can be a better idea for others. Unicorn ceiling lights or rainbow lights would complement that theme quite well. The potential here is huge, especially if the parents put in a bit of work themselves. Better yet, involve your child and work together to paint, design and add magic to the little room.
Big Windows
Big windows may not always be suitable for the kids’ room, but they are perfect everywhere else. Not only do bigger windows make the house feel a lot larger than it actually is, but the sunlight pouring in will also lift everyone’s mood, irrespective of their age. This has a particularly positive effect on children. Large windows and pleasant views actively work against the claustrophobic effect which tight living spaces are known to create.
It is highly recommended to also use double-glazed glass panes because these allow for perfect insulation during winter months, without blocking out the light or view outside. The children’s room should also have medium-sized windows, but it might be best to not to jeopardise their safety with particularly large ones.
Avoid Clutter
Organised, clean rooms do not just create an illusion of more space; they practically have more space. Be a bit strict if you must, but always ensure that the children pick up after themselves, and keep their room decluttered.
The same advice applies to adults as well, if not more so. Do not buy any appliance or furniture that you don’t need or if it looks too big for your home. Clutter visually and practically takes up floor space, so avoid making the common mistake of putting too much stuff into any one, small space. You can still have a large screen TV though, but only as long as there is sufficient space on the living room wall for it to hang aesthetically.
Rent A Storage Unit
When you have kids, it seems like there is never enough storage space in your home. This can be an even bigger issue if you live in a small space. One option that you may want to consider is renting a storage unit. This will give you extra space to store things you do not use daily, such as seasonal clothing, sports equipment, and holiday decorations.
While you don’t want to keep trash in your storage unit, it can be a great place to keep things you need but don’t have room for in your home. For example, you may want to keep certain things for your kids that you don’t have the space for in your current home, such as special toys or antiques. If you have a storage unit, you can put these things in there and then bring them out when your kids have their own homes or if you move to a larger space. A storage unit can be a great asset to any family living in a small space.
Avoid Hoarding
Anything in your home that you do not need or use, but is taking up space all the same, must be removed as soon as possible. When there are no closets, attics and basements to speak off, or you don’t have enough space in there to store older stuff in, it must be recycled, donated or thrown out. At times, this might be difficult to do due to emotional attachments, but if you do not, it takes very little time for things to pile up and start resembling a hoarder house!
Your focus should always be on improving the living standards of the space that you do have, rather than thinking about the space you should have. With these ideas, parents and children can make any small space work for them and not have a detrimental effect on their lives. A few sacrifices will still be necessary of course, but they do not have to be as dire as people initially believe them to be!
Disclosure: This is a featured post.