Would you do it? Would you live in 500sqft or less?

My answer is no; I mean come on, I have 2 kids and a husband and we enjoy our space. I would, however, downsize, by a 1000sqft. In fact, I would like to downsize by that much in our next home. I love to watch all those shows on HGTV about “tiny living” because they inspire small living solutions, and that’s what this blog post is all about: Creative solutions for living in smaller spaces (not necessarily 500sqft and less, but smaller spaces in general).

One thing I have learned while watching those shows on HGTV is to consider all the places you can incorporate storage. In a kid’s room, you could use a loft bed and put a dresser underneath. Even if you have a bed that is a foot off the ground, you can put storage underneath. Ikea (one of my favourite places) has an entire sub-category on their website devoted specifically to this (Turn Sleeping Space Into Storage Space). Click here to check out their bed storage solutions. They even have headboards with built in storage, which eliminates the need for night tables; this is perfect if you have a small bedroom.

While closets are great for storage (duh) did you also know they make excellent office spaces, craft rooms, bars, mudrooms, etc. You don’t need a walk-in closet to do this but a closet with double doors is certainly more ideal. When I had my 1-bedroom condo, I had a closet that I converted into an office space before I went to sell it. To create the space, I took out the lower shelving, painted the closet a light blue colour, put in a narrow desk and a chair and put a chalkboard and whiteboard on the wall. Voila…office space.

(Photo Source: http://www.hometalk.com/20904808/-closet-desk-makeover)

(Photo Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/364228688600970954/)

I’ve also seen some very creative furniture which converts from one use to another. For instance, a couch that converts into a bed, a coffee table which pulls up and out into a dining room table, or a small kitchen table which extends to seat 8 people. Check out this video of how one guy transforms his small New York apartment into a multitude of innovative uses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYV0qATsyts

I love envisioning how a space can be used in multiple ways. If you’re thinking of downsizing or if you’re looking to sell a smaller home – let me help you transform your space to make the absolute most out of it.

Written by:

Fiona White – REALTOR® with Sutton Group – West Coast Realty

Phone: 778-552-6246

Email: fwhite@sutton.com

Website: http://www.fiona-white.com

Facebook/Instagram: @fionawhiteatsutton