4 Tips To Help Maximize Your Space

Judy Olson
2 days ago
7 min read

One of my specialties is working with challenging spaces. When contractors are talking about which walls to take out, and how far to extend the foundation for a home addition, and the hundreds of thousands of dollars you will spend before you even start paying for things as basic as floors and paint, I’m looking at the existing space, and evaluating how to improve upon it—how to invest in the existing space in a way that you will truly feel in your day to day lifestyle.

Most client’s complaints with their space are directly related to poor space planning and inadequate attention to design of storage solutions, and the thing that plagues all of us in the era of instant grat, too much STUFF.

With that, I am going to share 4 tips to help maximize your space.

1. Get rid of the excess

This is the least exciting and most time-consuming tip I will share. The “too much stuff” struggle we share as a community comes down to solutions like purging and organizing. Purging can be easy and quick, or difficult and anxiety inducing depending on your personality. I am the former, my husband is the latter, so I understand how this essential step is more difficult for some households than others. I have a system now where I will ask the following questions:

Do I like this item?

Do I use this item?

Can I specify when I will use this item?

If the answer to all the above is “No” I will give myself permission to donate/toss the item. It is okay to remove items from your home that do not serve you. Let them serve someone else. If an item does not bring you joy, or make your life easier in some way, it does not need to be living rent free in your home that you pay for.

Example:

I recently visited a client who had a VERY small home in a lovely historic district. Her home was immaculately kept, which may seem contrary to this point, but bear with me. As she showed me her problem area, the master suite, it was evident that storage in the small home was sorely lacking. It was set up for storage needs in the 1950’s, not today. I asked her to show me the full home, so I could get a sense of how we might nip and tuck. She then showed me to the two other bedrooms, both of which were full of her son’s belongings and preserved exactly as he’d left them years ago when he moved out. It was awkward as I had no desire to offend my client but couldn’t with my solution-focused brain justify designating that percentage of the already limited square footage to nostalgia. My client’s immediate needs demanded change, and so I made some gentle suggestions to maximize storage options in the guest bedroom/s, which she liked, but hoped to preserve at least some of the memories within the space. My world is full of give and take scenarios like this. I can’t offer solutions without change, and those who struggle with change will struggle with finding solutions.

2. Systems

This is the still boring but slightly more exciting tip. I have recently been dabbling in home organizing (which is its own specialty) and can say that it is not really enough to simply add a closet, or a cabinet, or a butler’s pantry. You need to have a system set up, down to which drawer is used for your cutlery, stamps, socks, big toys, small toys, handsoap backstock, etc, etc. Having a designated spot for EVERY single item in your home is a challenge, and it is a process of its own. In order to live in a clean and organized home, you have to start at the foundation, with systems and designated zones, and through thoughtful design make the putting-things-away chore more enjoyable and EASY. The good news is it does not take a fortune to implement strong systems yourself. You don’t need luxury built-ins to have a space that serves you well, you just need strong awareness of how you live, what you need, and what you don’t.

If you can identify your most basic and essential needs, and make practical simple changes/shifts based on your lifestyle (and combine this with tip #1), things will naturally click into place. On the flip side, if you are drowning in mess, and like many, simply too overloaded to process how to begin, consider calling a local home organizer. They will ask the right questions to help get things sorted out for you. Or if your project is larger (i.e. kitchen update plus den/playroom plus home office plus guest bath), I invite you inquire on my website and I will make an appointment with you to evaluate your space personally and determine the next steps to get it done with my team. No, it's not free. Yes, it is worth the investment.

3. Custom cabinetry

I have a weakness for custom cabinetry, I’ll admit. As a designer with a passion for challenging spaces, I naturally have a passion for custom cabinetry that can help me maximize every cubic inch. Custom cabinetry sounds intimidating to some, but it is in many cases a key element in a space that exceeds client expectations.

So what is custom cabinetry really? Custom cabinetry for me is defined as a system of fixed built-in wood cabinets that are configured and specified in a specific way to suit the end user. The cost of this can range depending on wood type, hardware type, inserts/upgrades, and which sizes are required to fit the space available. For instance, to complete a small kitchen could cost as little as $25k in cabinets, or as much as $100k. It ranges considerably, which is why I discuss budget upfront. As lovely as custom cabinetry can be, it’s not in everyone’s budget. What I usually suggest is to invest more in spaces you spend more time in, and less in spaces that you spent virtually no time in. If you are planning a project in the future that will require cabinetry, and need help organizing your plan and budget, you can inquire for a Pre-Reno consultation, and I will help you sort out your ideas and formulate a plan and rough projected expenditures.

4. Murphy beds

The space saving solution known widely as the Murphy bed has re-emerged in popularity over the last decade. It is a fantastic way to reclaim a space that has been dominated by a bed, which in west coast tract homes especially is pretty common. Depending on how often you have guests, and who your guests are, this may or may not be worth the investment. But if you decide to purchase a Murphy bed, it is definitely an investment if you want one that is designed to last and be comfortable for the user. If you have the grandkids visit once a year, sleeping bags on the carpeted floor are fine for a couple nights. But if you have aging parents who come once a year and stay for a month or longer, and need a comfortable bed that can be set up in seconds, you probably want to consider a Murphy bed or Wallbed.

I had the pleasure early in my career of working with the founder of my local Wallbeds N More, Elizabeth Roller (shout out to my wallbed lady and dear friend Liz).

I admire her commitment to client satisfaction and product integrity.

Wallbeds N More offers an amazing warranty, and has a team of dedicated installers to make the process seamless and hassle free for their clients. They offer a range of products (ergo the Wallbeds N More company name) but I am particularly partial to their top selling product, the Wallbed. One thing I really appreciate about their products is the absence of any particle board. And what's even more amazing is their support for local craftsmen. The majority of the WNM product is built right here in California! If you're in a financial position to support your local businesses, Wallbeds N More is a terrific resource.

At the San Ramon branch (soon to be Danville branch) there are several styles and configurations of Wallbeds, most of which are compatible with shoebox small bedrooms and dens. When I compare the cost of a home addition with the cost of a Murphy bed/Wallbed, there is no question that it is at least worth considering, especially on a large-scale project, where there are several areas to renovate/improve upon. Whenever I need a Wallbed solution for my clients, Wallbeds N More is my first stop.

*INSIDE SCOOP

If you want to explore the local Wallbeds N More, I HIGHLY recommend calling first to schedule an appointment. I worked with Wallbeds for years, and can tell you honestly that it’s never as simple as just “stopping by”. Buying a wallbed is like buying a car (okay it’s faster than buying a car) because there are features, upgrades, dimensions, and warranty questions that always come up, and you want to make sure you have dedicated attention when your questions inevitably creep up.

ALSO, don't wait until the last minute to order a bed for your holiday guests. To enjoy the best solution for YOU, definitely allow a good 10 weeks lead time. I can't tell you the number of times I've had clients upset that they can't have a fully customized solution ready in 3 weeks. Dude, custom doesn't happen that fast, ever, unless you're retired and building it yourself from scratch.