Adjusting to a married lifestyle can be a challenge. If your spouse has moved into your one-bedroom apartment, you now have double the stuff with half the space. Cramped quarters are uncomfortable and can put strain on any relationship. Without some distance people become irritable, and what starts off as “to have and to hold” quickly spirals into a fight about invading personal space. With these four steps, you can learn to open up your home so you can breathe and live better.
Step 1: Contain the clutter.
To start, cut down on the used coffee cups, unopened mail and messy magazines strewn all over the house. Clutter creates a psychological effect of feeling stuffy and closed in. If you’re drowning in clutter, try this technique: Take a large container and throw in whatever’s lying around in the house. Don’t think, just toss. Once it’s full, work on emptying the container. As you purge, check the items into one of six categories: “Keep,” “Toss,” “Donate,” “Sell,” “Display” or “Move.”
Once the container is empty, fill it up again and work through your clutter one box-full at a time. If you notice a pattern in the items you pick up or certain areas where clutter creeps up, invest in some smart organizing solutions. This can be as simple as a sofa organizer to keep your reading material localized, or as intricate as an Elfa shelving system, which is customizable to your space and needs.
Step 2: Use the nooks and crannies.
Once you’re done de-cluttering, scan your home for unused areas that can work as storage. Chances are you will have areas in your house designed for storage. The gap underneath the staircase is a perfect space to add shelves or create a small wine closet—remember, you don’t have to sacrifice all your luxuries in a cramped space. Under the bed, you can store craft supplies and books. If you have a large window, consider using a bench underneath it with storage space and overlay it with cushions for a bright seating area.
Also, check behind closet and cabinet doors. Adding some hooks or a built-in pocket can reserve this space for towels, trays or cutting boards. Inspect your house for the best storage solutions, and you’ll be surprised at the amount of clutter you can cut from your living area.
Step 3: Pick smart furniture.
Now it’s time to look at your furniture. If you’re trying to cram a desk, chair, bed and bookcase into a 13 square-foot room, you may want to consider multifunctional furniture, or simply smaller furnishings. SPACE San Diego is a furniture design company that knows every square inch counts. Its Inova Table Bed lets you transform your bed into an office desk or dining area. Alternatively, Westwood Furniture located in Dedham, MA, has a Furniture That Fits collection. Anything from 72-inch sofas and short coffee tables to narrow chests and petite beds. To save some kitchen space, try Ikea’s fusion table and chairs. When pushed up, the chair backs fit the confines of the table, nearly disappearing from sight.
Step 4: Give an illusion of more space.
If you’re trying to cut back on costs, consider rearranging the furniture that you already have. A rule of thumb is to take out the corners, either by using a plant or by placing furniture diagonally in a corner. Also, try dividing a room into different zones. A multi-dimensional room, such as a living room, can be divided into a seating, dining and reading area. To create a feeling of separation, slide a rug under each zone or add a tall bookcase as a visual barrier.
Cool and low intensity colors make a room look bigger, so if you want to visually extend the room, paint the wall with soft, muted colors like a powder blue or a sandy yellow. Horizontal stripes can also widen an interior. Keep the accessories light and avoid any patterns along the walls, which can feel intrusive. Use mirrors, glass doors and transparent chairs and furnishings, which also allow you to “see through” the space, as well as reflect natural light.
Most important, make sure you find the solutions that fit both you and your spouse’s lifestyle. Always remember that your relationship comes first so, when it’s time to open up your space, make sure you keep the special touches that make your house a home.
Steve Cooper is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Hitched. You can follow him on Twitter at @hitchedmedia.
