With the rise of the modern townhouse and apartment living, floorspace has become even more of a luxury than ever before. To maximise every square inch of available space in their homes, homeowners should find ways to make rooms appear as multi-functional as possible.
Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, explains that the way in which people use their homes has changed ever since the pandemic. “The shift towards remote working has transformed the way that buyers search for properties. What’s more, with interest rates being as high as they are, buyers have a smaller budget but a growing list of must-have features for a home. This often means that every inch of available space needs to be working hard to maximise the overall functionality of the home, no matter how big or small the home might be,” he notes.
According to Goslett, the best way to achieve this is to create multi-functional spaces that offer more bang for your buck. For example, he suggests that if the home does not have the space to dedicate a whole room to a home office, then it could be worth incorporating a built-in desk option within a corner of the living room or one of the bedrooms.
“This advice is particularly important for sellers who can stage the property to help showcase the possibilities of the home,” Goslett suggests.
For sellers who are not sure how to create a multi-functional space, RE/MAX of Southern Africa shares the following ideas:
- If your property has an enclosed living room, include a convertible sofa bed so that it can easily transform into a guest bedroom
- If your property does not have space for a dining room, you could add a kitchen island with a few bar chairs so that the space can double as an eating area
- Any room in the home can easily double as a work-from-home space simply by adding a fold-out wall desk – just remember to position this near to a plug point.
- Maximise your outdoor space by creating an indoor-outdoor living area. Simply add a roof structure and a way to enclose the sides. There are more affordable ways of achieving this (e.g. wooden pergola and canvas sides), but there are also more luxurious ways of achieving this (e.g. louvered awning and stackable doors).
Whether you are selling or simply looking for ways to improve the overall enjoyment of your home, these clever design solutions not only save space but also adapt to our evolving lifestyle needs, making homes more versatile and efficient.
“By combining the purposes of various rooms to serve multiple needs, homeowners can enhance the overall functionality of the home which can greatly impact the property’s resale value. Sellers who are not sure how to improve the use of the home’s floorplan can get some free advice from a local RE/MAX Agent. As suburb experts, a real estate agent can share valuable insights into what buyers are looking for in the area and how your home compares to other homes on the market. They can then help sellers make improvements to the home so that it is more competitive within the current market,” says Goslett.
READ: How to choose the best lighting trend for your home
Home-Dzine share 5 thrift store necessities
If you are looking to decorate a brand new home or give your home an update, it's not always easy or inexpensive to make the necessary changes to alter the look of a room - or your home. Buying brand new items can work out very expensive, even if you shop at discount home stores. One way to add a unique touch to your home interior is by shopping around for secondhand bargains.
Brass or copper lighting
Popular in the 70s and 80s and recently become trendy again to add a metallic touch to room, most people toss these out or sell them to secondhand stores for a bit of cash back on items they no longer need. You will commonly find items like candle sticks, pendant lights, and knicknacks that you can pick up at bargain prices.
While it might not be an item you would generally consider for your home, look at this purchase into a fun DIY project that you can transform with a few craft accessories.
Chalked paint is easy to apply and requires very little prep work and can be used to give your brass accessories a fresh look. And since it doesn't require much preparation when using chalk paint you can simply apply and transform for a unique fitting that will add to the decor of a room, or introduce a vintage feel..
Table and standing lamps
Every room needs a little light to brighten up the space and a little light may be just what your home needs. Once thing that's great about giving a table or standing lamp a makeover is that it is easy to buy new lampshades. Buy a new shade in a colour and design that will complement the existing decor in the room.
Spray paint or chalk paint is an easy way to give any table lamp a new look, plus you can choose the right colour to match your colour scheme. When looking for inexpensive table or standing lamps, choose one that will be easy to work with and easy to keep clean.
Coffee tables and side tables
Side table, coffee tables and end tables are great secondhand store bargains if you find them. When you come across good buys - check before you take to make sure the bones (framework) are good. You don't have to have to spend too much to give these a makeover, otherwise it isn't worth it. Make sure drawers are in good condition and that any superficial damage will be easy to repair.
Giving this type of furniture a new look is relatively simple - even if it has seen better days. You only need a few basic tools (drill / driver, jigsaw and sander) to make them look good. As with other items we discuss here, you can quite easily paint with spray paint or chalk paint to match your existing room decor and theme.
Looking good with mirrors
Whether you find some old picture frames or vintage mirrors, you can give these a quick makeover with paint. You will find plenty of ideas for making your own picture frames in our Craft section, so go ahead and add a good looking mirror to your home. A fun idea is to collect an assortment of different sized and shaped mirrors to create a statement wall.
Breakfast trays, serving trays or trolleys
Many people associate serving trays with something grandma would have, but these items have come back into fashion and are considered versatile pieces that every home should have. While they may not fit in with your style, you can give them a simple makeover or restore the metal finish to match what you already have.
Think out of the box with serving trays - they look great as a decorative centrepiece on a coffee table or dining table, or even on a server or consol table.
Give new life to secondhand
With shopping for bargains at secondhand stores there’s always room for improvement, and you get to buy at affordable prices. Don’t be afraid to browse your local secondhand stores in search of must-have bargains.
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