How to Gain Space Without Extending It
Check out these clever ideas for finding extra space around your home for everything from storage to another sleep area
Denise O'Connor
6 October 2017
Denise holds a degree in architecture from Richview School of Architecture in UCD. After graduating in Dublin she moved to London where she worked on residential, healthcare and office schemes including the award-winning headquarters for Holiday Extras for which she was project architect at Walker and Martin. In 2005 she returned to Dublin and set up architecture and interior design consultancy Optimise Design.
Denise is an architecture and interiors columnist for the Irish Times and a contributor for HOUZZ. She is also a regular contributor to various other publications and also gives lectures on a range of topics. She was a presenter for the first series of the RTE TV show ‘The Design Doctors’ and is the creator and name behind the successful paint collection for Dulux called Signature...
Denise holds a degree in architecture from Richview School of Architecture in UCD.... More
Are you crying out for more space? Before you you start to plan an extension, take some time to look at how you are using your home. It’s more likely that what you really need is more room for storage, and that the very space you crave is right under your nose.
Go up the walls
Your walls aren’t just for displaying artwork. Take a look around your home to see if there are any wall surfaces that you can transform into shelves or a cupboard. Here, the homeowners have lined their staircase wall with shelving to accommodate books. By putting redundant areas like this to good use, you will free up space elsewhere throughout your home.
Check out these 10 unusual things that you can store on your walls
Your walls aren’t just for displaying artwork. Take a look around your home to see if there are any wall surfaces that you can transform into shelves or a cupboard. Here, the homeowners have lined their staircase wall with shelving to accommodate books. By putting redundant areas like this to good use, you will free up space elsewhere throughout your home.
Check out these 10 unusual things that you can store on your walls
Get a good joiner
Here, a neat and functional home-office nook has been built in next to a window. The doors can be closed when the desk isn’t in use, and the built-in banquette to the side creates a lovely and inviting space to sit and relax. This whole joinery piece is a really efficient, attractive and unobtrusive new feature.
Here, a neat and functional home-office nook has been built in next to a window. The doors can be closed when the desk isn’t in use, and the built-in banquette to the side creates a lovely and inviting space to sit and relax. This whole joinery piece is a really efficient, attractive and unobtrusive new feature.
Max out under the stairs
The area under the stairs is often poorly utilised, but there are a number of companies that provide excellent bespoke solutions to allow you to maximise this space.
Drawers and cupboards can be created to store everything from shoes and sports equipment to umbrellas and bags. Here, the area has been used super efficiently to create a small study space and an overflow area for the kitchen.
Browse through these images of under stairs storage
The area under the stairs is often poorly utilised, but there are a number of companies that provide excellent bespoke solutions to allow you to maximise this space.
Drawers and cupboards can be created to store everything from shoes and sports equipment to umbrellas and bags. Here, the area has been used super efficiently to create a small study space and an overflow area for the kitchen.
Browse through these images of under stairs storage
Look above your head
Consider going into your attic to gain some extra space in the rooms below. This can be a great way to gain floor space without having to extend. It’s also a clever way to get another room. For instance, you could add a mezzanine level over a living space to create an additional seating or den area.
Here, the homeowners have used the space to create a mezzanine level in their children’s room. This smart design has allowed them to have room for a second bed on the higher level, freeing up valuable play and storage space below.
Consider going into your attic to gain some extra space in the rooms below. This can be a great way to gain floor space without having to extend. It’s also a clever way to get another room. For instance, you could add a mezzanine level over a living space to create an additional seating or den area.
Here, the homeowners have used the space to create a mezzanine level in their children’s room. This smart design has allowed them to have room for a second bed on the higher level, freeing up valuable play and storage space below.
Think about transitional spaces
Landings and hallways are often simply used to pass through from one room to another. Try to give them a more useful purpose.
Here, a box room was removed to let light into this landing space. The built-in joinery is used to create lots of storage and a lovely space to sit and read.
Landings and hallways are often simply used to pass through from one room to another. Try to give them a more useful purpose.
Here, a box room was removed to let light into this landing space. The built-in joinery is used to create lots of storage and a lovely space to sit and read.
Tackle your laundry
If you want to keep your washing appliances out of the way, you don’t have to sacrifice a whole room (or extend) to accommodate a utility or laundry area. By simply concealing the washer and dryer in your kitchen, as they’ve done in the image above, you’ll keep them hidden. You can use a similar solution for storing clothes drying paraphernalia, laundry detergents and ironing equipment, too.
If you want to keep your washing appliances out of the way, you don’t have to sacrifice a whole room (or extend) to accommodate a utility or laundry area. By simply concealing the washer and dryer in your kitchen, as they’ve done in the image above, you’ll keep them hidden. You can use a similar solution for storing clothes drying paraphernalia, laundry detergents and ironing equipment, too.
Use every square inch
Think you don’t have enough storage space in your kitchen? Could your kitchen cabinets be brought right up to the ceiling to give you storage space for those appliances you use less frequently? Here, every square inch is utilised, making a small kitchen extremely functional.
See how these kitchen storage hacks exploit every square inch of space
Think you don’t have enough storage space in your kitchen? Could your kitchen cabinets be brought right up to the ceiling to give you storage space for those appliances you use less frequently? Here, every square inch is utilised, making a small kitchen extremely functional.
See how these kitchen storage hacks exploit every square inch of space
Keep it simple
Look for clever ways of incorporating storage into unused nooks and crannies. Be creative, as sometimes these spaces are not so obvious.
Here, the designers have created a section at the end of the bath for a drawer of toiletries. This could free up space elsewhere in the bathroom.
Read more:
18 Tricks to Make a Tiny Space Seem Bigger
Tell us:
Have you made more room in your home for storage or for a home office or something else? Share your ideas and experiences in the Comments below.
Look for clever ways of incorporating storage into unused nooks and crannies. Be creative, as sometimes these spaces are not so obvious.
Here, the designers have created a section at the end of the bath for a drawer of toiletries. This could free up space elsewhere in the bathroom.
Read more:
18 Tricks to Make a Tiny Space Seem Bigger
Tell us:
Have you made more room in your home for storage or for a home office or something else? Share your ideas and experiences in the Comments below.
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Designing space saving storage has been my raison d'etre for the last ten years. Of the hundred or so pieces I've built in that time this is probably my favorite, a climbable storage "sculpture" that clears play space for two active young boys..
Using space in the plinths and incorporating drawers is also a good idea.
Missed out one of the best space gain in a kitchen - drawers in the kick board space. So very useful for roasting tins, serving platters etc. Also generally have drawers not cupboards as much better use of space and easy access of the whole depth.