There are certain realities we have to live with when we’re a homeowner.

Our property is going to eat into our monthly salary a fair bit. We’re going to have to become something of a DIY master if we’re going to ensure it’s always in excellent condition. And whatever space we have, we have to learn to live with it. In a small home, it can often feel like the walls are closing in on us, especially after we’ve just been shopping and brought home even more stuff to fill the space. You can’t make your home bigger (unless you want to build an entire addition!), but you can change how you perceive it. Take a look at some of the ways you can reclaim your space.

Get crafty with storage.

Most people are nowhere near as smart as they think when it comes to storing their belongings how they should. There’s a closet and a few cabinets, but is that really enough to house all the material items? Or are you letting things clutter up your home, making it look smaller than it needs to? If so, take a look at adding some smart, crafty storage options to your small home. Take a look around and find the “dead space”; could a storage unit go there?

Choose the right infrastructure.

There are certain things that you need to have in your home, but there’s no rule that says these things have to be big. A small home is the perfect fit for smaller appliances. A vintage fridge will be much smaller than a modern one, and will look cooler too if you find one that works well with your home decor. And electric tankless water heater reviews often praise the compact size of the appliance. If you can avoid the bulky stuff, you’ll find that you have so much more space. And if you can, ditch the dryer – if you live somewhere generally dry, you don’t need one anyway. Save some electricity and some money by using a clothesline instead.

Move things up.

The floors of your rooms may look covered from corner to corner, but what about the walls? Most walls are fairly bare, so why not put them to good use? You can put just about anything on a wall, from plants to bikes to fold-up chairs when they’re not in use. By making this simple switch, you’ll have made more space on the floor, making it easier to walk around. This also gives your home more personality as you display your personal belongings, and visually creates more space to move through the room.

Use mirrors and light to your advantage.

Everything is about perception. If you’ve got a cluttered, dark, small home, then it’ll be no surprise that you’re complaining about space! Instead, convince yourself it’s bigger by using the oldest trick in the home design book: add lighting to brighten up the space, and hang large mirrors on the walls to make the room look bigger. Even if it’s just trickery, this will give the appearance of spaciousness.

Keep things simple.

Finally, remember to keep things as simple as possible. An overly complicated home can work, but only if the property is big enough to handle it. When space is an issue, don’t try too hard; the minimalist chic mentality is the way forward. Or, at least, it will be until you’re able to afford a larger house.

How do you make your small home work for you? Let us know in the comments!