When it comes to creating a space-saving custom home design, one of the most important things you’ll need to consider is how to make the most of the space you have. So we’ve compiled a list of the five best ways to ensure your new home feels lighter, larger and more spacious, no matter the size. We’ve included ideas that you can incorporate from the design phase all the way to the finishing touches so that your home maximises space at every opportunity. So, let’s start with the initial design –
1. Design based on lifestyle
Your lifestyle will dictate how much space you need, what is important to you – and less important – and what kind of space you’ll need. When designing your home, consider things like whether you are looking to create a space to entertain, if you prefer open-plan spaces, or if your family likes to spend more time in the garden or around the pool. Asking these questions will help you discover what’s important to you, so that you can maximise space to accommodate it, and allocate less space to the things that don’t matter as much.
It’s also a good idea to consider where you’ll do different things. For example, does your family usually eat at a kitchen table, or do you eat at a dining room table? If you spend more time in the kitchen, then maybe a dining room is less important. Considering how your family is likely going to use the space will also help you maximise it and get the most out of your lifestyle-based home.
2. Built-in wardrobe and shelves
Some of the most effective space-saving custom home designs include built-in wardrobes and shelving. Instead of cabinets and dressers taking up space, push back into the wall and use that space to store your clothes and other things instead. Remember, because you’re building into the wall, you can extend your storage space up to the ceiling and include hanging space, adjustable shelf heights and different-sized drawers.
If you’re considering using built-in space, you could also consider a built-in desk or study space. This makes use of space in an efficient way, and because it’s built-in, you can close away your workspace when it’s not in use.
By incorporating built-in wardrobes and shelves, you’ll be using less space, as well as creating a cleaner, less cluttered design for your rooms. This is also going to give you the feeling of having way more space in your home.
3. Floating shelves
When it comes to our lifestyles, space is most often taken up by the need to store our things, while still allowing us access to them when we need them. In many cases, our bedside tables, kitchen utensil spaces, and office supply spaces are occupied by horizontal storage space, which doesn’t maximise the use of the space we have available. Floating shelving changes all of that. They still allow you the countertop space you needed previously, but the area underneath them isn’t taken up by a large piece of furniture. Instead, you’re left with a much more spacious and less cluttered feel. When considering floating shelves, it’s also a good idea to go vertical when you can. As you’ll see in our next tip, approaching things from a vertical way instead of horizontally, makes use of wall space, and creates a sense of height in a room, which results in that room feeling larger and more spacious.
4. Using vertical design elements
Using horizontally shaped furniture and decor in a custom home results in more floor space being taken up, while the wall space above these pieces is left unused. This makes a room feel slightly more cluttered and bottom-heavy. By incorporating more vertical furniture, lighting and decor into your design, you won’t just be saving floor space, but vertically-shaped elements draw the eye up towards the roof, which automatically increases the feeling of the room’s height and makes it feel bigger. Some of the most popular vertical-shaped pieces include ladder-style shelving and more narrow stacked lighting.
5. Strategic lighting
Using lighting strategically can make a room feel significantly larger when it comes to space-saving custom home designs. When approaching your lighting, incorporate a mix of as much natural light as possible, with overhead and walled lighting, to brighten up spaces and create the feeling of more room.
Brighter (more white) lights will always make a room feel more open and airy, instead of warmer golden colours, which create a relaxed, but slightly heavier feeling to a room. To compliment your light choice, choose lighter-coloured paint for your walls, as well as lighter finishings and decor. All of these elements will come together to create a brighter, more spacious room.
Sensationally space-effective
Using clever design, smarter storage ideas, and strategic lighting and colour choices, making your home feel spacious and open is easy. Building a custom home is an extremely exciting process, and you’ll be looking to partner with a building team who won’t just listen to your ideas on how to maximise space, but will be able to offer even more ideas themselves. When you book a discovery session with Enso Homes, you’ll find that we’re experts at bringing space-saving custom home designs to life. We’ll guide you through the entire design process, and ensure that every element resonates with your vision of creating a spacious dream home. Get in touch with a member of the Enso Homes team today and let us create you a dream home that is as beautiful as it is space-efficient.
