Getting Creative with Space in Luxury Homes

We all love living by the beach and our beautiful gulf views. But with everything there is a give and take. Many of our luxury homes in South Walton are in prime locations where land is at a premium and the homes are built to maximize views. Many times garages, large closets and ample storage spaces are not part of the overall design of the home or simply can not fit on the postage stamp sized lot. Many buyers are used to massive 2 and 3 car garages, dual walk-in closets and even basements to store all of their “stuff”.
There are a few way to get creative when you don’t have much space. Here are a few basics to consider if you are strapped for storage space. If you are trying to market and sell your home it is critical that the clutter goes away and your closets get organized. You only have one chance for a first impression and you definitely do not want your potential buyer to feel cramped in many of the critical areas of the home.
Closets -You can get creative to maximize the space in closets.
Use double-hanging sections and every inch of wall space for things like shoe and tie racks. Sometimes you can even utilize the inside of the closet door for extra storage. It is OK to only put hanging items in a closet. If your closet is especially tiny, consider installing additional drawers in another part of the room to house smaller items of clothing.
Furniture – Bigger is not better.
When selecting furniture for a room, be sure that the piece is right size for the space and setup. Big, beautiful furniture can be great, but it can also be a disaster in a small room. A streamlined arrangement frees up valuable space and helps establish a clutter-free haven. You do not want potential buyers distracted by the massive “man chair” that blocks the best view in the house.
Empty Spaces – You paid for it, you might as well use it.
Look around for valuable space that is not being used. Empty spaces can be a great opportunity to increase storage as well as help create order. Instead of those dust bunnies taking up residence under the bed, put that space to good use with some under-bed storage containers. These work especially well for infrequently used or seasonal items. Another good place for things like that on high shelves. The less often you need to access the item, the less accessible it should be. Many homes in South Walton have built in benches where there is large amounts of storage under the seat. This is prime real estate to store infrequently used items…or Christmas birthday presents from snooping children!
Books – Your home is not Barnes and Noble.
If you have read a book and have no intention of reading it again, you should get rid of it. Share it with a friend, or donate it to a charity. Over the years they essentially become clutter, taking up valuable storage space.
Leisure-reading items can be kept in the bedroom, but save those college calculus books for the home office.
It’s always a good idea to get advice from your real estate agent before making any changes or improvements to your home. As your local market expert, we have valuable insight on what endeavors will yield the most for your time and money. If you are interested in making a move to either buy or sell real estate in South Walton, please give Tracy Baranowski a call at 850.259.4270 or Craig Baranowski at 850.259.1788 or email  us info@teambaranowski.com. We are here to help.