Estate agent guide: How to add space
Tuesday, 1 November 2011 10:25 AM
By Andrew Ellinas
One of the main reasons people wish to move home is to have more space. Whether it is to start a family, allow elderly relatives to move in or to just feel like you are not all on top of each other, space is an issue that affects every house hunter.
For those putting their home on the market, creating an illusion of space or just simply making the most of the space available is possible if you think about your home carefully.
Furniture
Furniture can take up a lot of space so take out any extras such as coffee tables and stools that are not necessarily important in the functionality of the house. Place large pieces of furniture against the walls so the open space in the middle isn't broken up.
Top Tip: By moving furniture out and away from walkways, you'll open up the space and make it feel larger. If you can see the floor, the rooms will also look more spacious.
Decorate
Estate agents often advise clients to decorate with light, plain colours to make a room appear larger. However, large expanses of plain wall can also make a room seem very boring, so bear in mind that light-coloured wallpaper with a small pattern can achieve the same sense of spaciousness without looking so dull.
Top Tip: To overcome problems of an ill-proportioned narrow room, keep the emphasis on horizontal lines. Bold stripes or more subtle horizontal patterns will help to make the room look wider. If the ceiling is very high, paint it in a darker, toning shade.
Flooring
Continuous flooring, such as fitted wall-to-wall carpeting or laminate flooring for example, will make a room appear far more spacious. Choose a colour that is similar to that on the walls so that the edge where they join is less noticeable. Patterned carpets should be avoided, as they tend to make a room look cluttered.
Top Tip: Keep the floor as clear as possible. This is one of the simplest ways of maintaining a sense of spaciousness. Take out large rugs to create the illusion of more floor space.
Lighting
Lighting is a key element in opening up a space. Make the most of natural sunlight by keeping curtains and blinds pulled back on viewings. Get rid of very heavy draperies as these can make the room feel smaller and use blinds or sheer curtains. If you do not have a lot of natural light, you can add some lighting features to the room to make it look bigger such as more lamps or installing track lighting or recessed lighting.
Top Tip: Mirrors are essential for opening out a room by bringing light in. Try placing one opposite a window to reflect the light, and replicate an attractive view. Placing a mirror over a fireplace not only reflects light, thus creating the illusion of space, but also provides a focal point and reflects the heat around the room.
Cut the clutter
There's nothing that makes a small space feel cramped more than having too much stuff. With things neatly arranged and out of sight, the space that is in view will feel orderly and open. A cluttered room equals a smaller room.
Top Tip: Don't cover your walls with a lot of pictures. One large painting works better than a group of small paintings. If there's too much going on, all clamouring for attention, it can make the room feel busy and crowded.
Renovate
You may want to consider some simple renovation plans to add more space. It could be as simple as knocking through a wall from a pantry into a kitchen or from a bathroom into a toilet. Don't forget to get expert advice from a builder but by knocking down a wall you can gain an extra three feet without extending the footprint of the property.
Top Tip: For a couple of hundred pounds, you can add a window to brighten up a room or alternatively consider built-in cupboards instead of free-standing wardrobes that can take up a lot of space.
Andrew Ellinas is director of Sandfords estate agents.
Want to be the first to know when we break a story? Follow @AboutProperty on Twitter and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter.
-
Tags:
- estate agent guide
