Many of us have unutilized and underutilized spaces in our homes with so much potential. They need someone with a vision to transform them into great spaces that can significantly drive the property’s value. With a little effort, you can turn your home into a property fit to be featured on the pages of Architectural Digest.
Does my home have underutilized spaces? Short answer, yes. Many don’t realize this, but every home has underutilized spaces. Unless you’re one of the hosts of Fixer Upper or Extreme Makeover, there is a space in your home that can be better utilized. Before we explore creative ideas to transform our home’s underutilized spaces, let’s first identify the most common underutilized areas we have in our homes:
Basement
Thanks to horror movies, basements in a home are considered a dark, scary space that is best left locked up. However, unless your house is featured in one of the Conjuring movies, the only frightening thing under your ground floor is rats, which you can easily get rid of by calling an exterminator. The basement is generally a huge space with so much area to utilize and transform into a living space or an area where you can plan feasts with friends or convert it into a cinema to watch movies on weekends with family or friends. Whatever your idea, all you need is a top basement finishing company to help you, and you can all but make a second home down in the basement. Sadly though, most of us only use the basement to store junk.
Attic
Like the basement, the attic is another part of the house portrayed as one of the spooky areas in Hollywood’s horror movies. In reality, however, the attic is one of the interesting spaces in a home. The slanted roof, the large windows, and the ladder entrance make the attic a wonderful space if properly utilized. There is a reason why kids always seem fascinated with the little room tucked away atop your house with stunning third-story views.
Under-the-Stairs Area
The little nook under the stairs is another underutilized space that rarely meets its potential. Harry Potter had a bedroom under the stairs; we still need to realize how much that little space offers. Even those of us who try to use the area, nine out of 10 times, end up adding a heavy door to it so it can be used for storage. The entire nation is a tad bit obsessed with storage. It is truly sad, considering how the area under your stairs can be the highlight of your home.
Creative Ideas to Transform Underutilized Spaces in Your Home
If your home has any of the above spaces underutilized, or if you can identify any other space, you have the perfect project. If you’re up for the challenge of a home makeover, and have the time and funds required for the task, here are some creative ideas to upgrade the underutilized spaces in your home!
A Spare Bedroom
An additional bedroom can add thousands to the value of a house. Does your basement and attic have the potential to be turned into a spare bedroom? If yes, then you can transform them into an extra bedroom.
An attic bedroom is a whimsical space perfect for guests or even your growing teenager. Depending on the size of your house, an attic bedroom can easily fit a double bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and many other things (Remember Hilary Duff’s bedroom in A Cinderella Story). If you have a reasonably sized house, you might even have space for an extra bathroom next to the spare bedroom you designed.
A basement bedroom, on the other hand, can be quite the thing. Basements are generally large spaces, and even with the biggest bedroom furniture you can find, you will likely be left with a lot of space. With a living area, a small kitchenette, and a separate bathroom in the basement, it will make the perfect space for guests, or you can rent it out and make some extra cash every month!
A Workspace or Studio
With work-from-home gaining more and more traction in the job market, having a home office or studio is only the smart thing to do. It can also double as a study for you and your kids to use. Again, the attic and the basement are great options for building your home office or studio.
If you can work in a well-lit area, especially if you are a photographer or designer, the attic may be the right place to set up the base. With the abundant light from the windows, you will have the perfect set up to work on your creative ideas. However, the basement might be a better option if you work beyond 9-5 and require silence and solitude. You can work in peace all alone. A home office or studio is the perfect idea for a home makeover, and yet again, the increase in your property’s value will be the cherry on top!
A Statement Feature
The previous two ideas apply to big spaces that can be utilized for various purposes. However, what about the odd, little empty spaces that you have around the house that are either too large to ignore or too small to make a whole functional room out of? We’re talking about the area under your stairs, the little alcove in your dining room, or the little nook in your bedroom.
Well, you’ll be happy to know that there is so much you can do to these little spaces to create a statement feature in your house. There is no set rule for these areas; it depends on what you want in your home. Here are some fun ideas to consider for such spaces:
- A Tiny Library
Add shelves under the stairs or in the bedroom nook for a gorgeous mini library.
2. A Home Bar
Find a remodeling professional to add cabinets to the dining room nook and have your home bar.
3. A Décor Feature
A mirror in the alcove, a small fountain under the stairs, or some paintings in the bedroom nook can add beauty to these underutilized spaces.
Conclusion
Apart from the above ideas, you can do much to transform your home, even on a budget. All you need is a free, creative mind and the drive to make it happen. Undoubtedly, a home renovation project comes with a lot of work, but the results are worth it. And before you know it, you’ll be looking for more spaces in your house that you can redo!
