Make your dream come true by reorganizing your space

Maybe you have something in mind that you’d like to add to your space — for example, a display for your favorite figurines, more storage for your clothing, a small office area, or a play ground for your kids — but you think you don’t have enough room. The good news is that by reorganizing or rethinking how you use your space, you can often make it happen.

I’ll show you some real and concrete examples to give you some ideas and help you apply similar strategies to your own situation.

One of my clients complained about not having enough space for her clothes. She had a wooden chest of drawers stored away in the shed, while the one she was using in her bedroom had its two top drawers filled with office supplies and small tools. She also had a fairly large wardrobe that she shared with her husband, but the upper shelf was cluttered with old draperies she no longer used.

We started by removing everything that didn’t belong in the bedroom — office supplies, tools, and so on — and returning those items to their proper place. This first step freed up two drawers for her clothes. She also decided to get rid of the old draperies she didn’t plan to use anymore.

Next, we brought in her chest of drawers from the shed and two side tables that were part of a matching set she had bought years earlier. We also replaced her bed frame with one that includes storage drawers underneath, perfect for storing extra bedding.

Inside the wardrobe, there was enough room at the bottom to add two Ikea Malm or Storklinta drawer units — one for her and one for her husband. That gave her three additional drawers for clothing. With the bedding now stored under the bed, the top shelf of the wardrobe could be used for boxes of seasonal clothes.

We even added some extra storage under the lamps — check out the photo below!

The strategies to take away from this example are:

• Remove anything that doesn’t belong in the space you’re improving.

• Get rid of what you no longer use.

• Reorganize the layout to maximize function.

• Choose furniture that offer extra storage

• Use vertical space by adding dressers, shelves or wall-mounted cabinets.

Finally, before you dive in or make any purchases, remember my three golden rules of interior design:

1. Measure.

2. Measure.

3. Measure again! :)

   
   

Always measure every piece of furniture you plan to bring in and make sure there’s enough room left for comfortable circulation.

Do you have anything you would like to add to your space? Share it with me.