There was a time not too long ago when sprawling McMansions and excessive square footage were the trend in American home building. However, most people are looking to save money these days, especially on their living situations. So homeowners have turned their sights toward smaller accommodations as a way to cut down on mortgage payments, utility bills and maintenance expenses.
In cities like Chicago, where condo is king, there are many options for those who seek a home with fewer square feet. But there’s a certain knack to making small spaces work. Here are a few pointers for living comfortably in your pint-size abode…
First of all, take inventory of your stuff. If you moved from a larger place or have lived in the same place for many years, you may have more things than your home can reasonably hold. Note the size of your furniture and how many pieces you have in each room. If it feels cramped, get rid of a chair, table or cabinet, or replace the bulky sectional with a low-profile sofa. This can open up the floor space and make the area seem bigger.
Make every inch of your Chicago home count with built-ins, multi-purposing and creative space use. For example, fashion a closet into an efficient home office by removing the doors, sliding a desk into position and putting the printer, paper, supplies and other accoutrements on shelves in the upper half. A spare room can serve double duty as a place for guests to sleep and a workout or crafting room. Don’t let that awkward, slant-ceilinged space under the stairs go to waste. If is it exposed, build shelving or a cabinet there.
Little organizational details can help smaller accommodations stay orderly. In the kitchen, attach a spice rack to the wall to free up room in your cupboards. Get an elevated dish-drying rack that goes over your sink as opposed to next to it on the counter. Take advantage of space under the bed and other furniture where you can stash storage containers or even make built-in drawers. Install hooks behind doors and in the bathroom/bedrooms. They help keep coats, clothes, bags and hats off the floor. With the right type of hook you can hang pretty much anything on the wall so go to town!
See: Chicago Condos
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