Why it’s not about how big the house is, but how happy the home is.
Small space living isn’t just a trend, it’s become a complete exercise in clearing your mind and erasing the complexities of overextending our lives. Whether you believe less is more or more is more, there’s something to be said about keeping your home organized, focused, or even small in total square feet. Tiny homes and small space living interestingly isn’t just an architectural movement, it is a social movement that is redefining what it means to be a home owner and a consumer in the 21st century. Here’s some tips to get you started on the path to freeing up your mind and redefining the art of living big, with less.
The KonMari Method
If you haven’t read it yet, definitely check out Marie Kondo’s KonMari method for simplifying, organizing, and storing. “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” Marie Kondo guides readers through her methods of tidying up, and in doing so, you’ll learn just how much stress is being contained in your brain by a cluttered home.
Double Duty
Find furniture that does more than one thing. Consider an ottoman that also provides storage, a bench that is suitable for sitting and storing, and a tv stand with sufficient draw space for… you guessed it, more storage.
Digitize Your Media
Hard copy DVD’s, BluRay, Video Games, and yes, even those who are still clinging to their VHS tapes, all of this media is now available in digital format! Gone are the days of the DVD towers and spinning CD racks. Purge the media and start your cloud collection.
Therapeutic Condo
No shoveling, no salting your sidewalks, no watering or cutting grass, lower overall insurance costs due to exterior coverage etc. Get the relief of knowing everything is taken care of in a maintenance free townhome! Consider a town home such as Calgary’s Essential Savanna or Edmonton’s Essential Allard and get the peace of mind of knowing your home is taken care of.
Be a Magician and Create an Illusion
Two words: BIG MIRROR. It doesn’t have to hang on the wall, it can lean behind a couch, but a large mirror in your living room will give you a feeling of immense space, which surprisingly feels nice.
No Room for Monsters
This one isn’t ground breaking, but it’s definitely needed! A bed takes up so much space (soft, warm, luxurious napping space…) so make use of all that room underneath. As the title suggests, there won’t be any room for monsters under the bed when you start utilizing the space for storage – another win!
Pull Down Furniture
Whoever murphy was, he/she was a genius. Free up room by storing your bed vertical! These beds are surprisingly cost effective and still provide great comfort to those unexpected guests. Don’t stop there though. You can make anything pull down – desk, table, night stand… the ideas are endless.
Garage Lifts
You don’t need room on the floor, that’s for your vehicle. Look up! Make use of all that elevated space in your garage. Companies like Costco and Princess Auto sell surprisingly affordable motorized and non-motorized storage lifts – save a bit of cash to buy one and you’ll save a lot of space.
Live Outside
It’s difficult in the winter, but one of the best perks of living in a turnkey environment is not having to be at home 24/7. Get outside, go wander. Live the life of a local and enjoy the amenities of your community! You’ll begin to not only love the space you call home, but the entire neighborhood you live in.
