If you live and work in an urban area or a place with a high cost of living, chances are you may only be able to afford or find a small living space to rent or buy. And as you can probably imagine, there are common issues and inconveniences you can encounter when living in a more compact unit. But lucky for you, there are many other people who find themselves in the exact same scenario as you. Here are some common relatable small living space problems and tips to resolve them.
Lack of Outdoor Space
One of the biggest challenges of living in a small and compact space is that you are unlikely to have immediate access to a connected outdoor space. It can be very pleasant for one’s mood to sit outside on a nice summer night and have dinner or a drink, but if you lack that kind of outdoor space in your home you will have to find an alternate spot. To get fresh air, you should try finding a place to live close to an open green space that you can walk around and enjoy. Many modern American cities have many parks scattered throughout neighborhoods for exercise and other outdoor activities so it shouldn’t be too hard to find a place close to one. Moreover, another option for a lack of outdoor space in your compact living area is to have houseplants. Redecorating your home with houseplants gives off feelings of the outdoors through your walls or tables, which can be beneficial if you have no other outdoor options. It may not be as good as fresh air, but it is still psychologically beneficial as you get to experience bringing the “outdoors in.”
Not Enough Entertainment Space
In many smaller spaces for living, you may have a hard time finding room to put appliances and furniture in for entertainment. You may not have enough room for large couches to put in front of a television, or there might not be a proper full-sized dining room for socialization. Before you try to find a bigger space, there are things you can do to adapt to the compact area without spending too much money or effort. First, you should evaluate which room is best for each use. For example, switching your living room and dining room could provide more space for whichever activities you do more or whatever area you find yourself entertaining in the most. You can also purchase smaller furniture at stores such as Pier 1 that is optimized for the amount of space. Another thing you could look into is buying a multi-purpose table, so you can perform many functions of the home without wasting space. These solutions will help you deal with the entertainment challenges of living in small spaces.
Lack of Storage Space
Another challenge of living in a compact space is that you might not have enough room to store everything you need in your daily life. Anyone can try decluttering their home, but it can be hard to decide what to keep and what to toss to make more room. And even if you don’t need to declutter as much, your essential items still may need more space themselves than you have available.
If this is the case, there are solutions that you can use to get the most out of your existing space and create more. Instead of leaving things horizontally across the floor, you should invest in products that will make the most of the vertical space in your home. That is the most efficient way to use space, like how urban planners prefer to build taller buildings in crowded areas for more floor space. Additionally, you should try multi-use furniture that you can use as storage for some items to maximize the efficiency of your limited space. Consider buying some storage bins or multi-functional ottomans and tables which can be an efficient way to keep items tucked away without a mess or clutter.
While living in a smaller space might not be the easiest, if you implement the right solutions, living in a more compact home can be just as pleasant and functional as a larger home.
