Using the space you already have in the most pactical way possible may involve some internal alteration such as dividing off a large bedroom to provide two smaller ones or knocking down a wall to give dining space within the kictcen.
Adding shelves and units to walls will give space for storage that lives the major area of flooar uncluttered. Choosing the right internal fittings for cupboards can considerably improve storage facilities so that everything gets put away. Needless to say, being strict about keeping only the things you use allows more space for storing essentials !
Rearranging space
There are no rules about how the space in a home should be used, so do not be bound byy convention but rather utilize the space in the best way to suit you and your lifestyle. For instance, a big kitchen with dining and living space and a small sitting room may suit a family better than the other way around.
In a smaal flat, a compact compact 'kitchen in a cupboard' leaves maximum space for eating and relaxing.
It is worth considering how you would use extra rooms, if you had them. Then see if, by doubling up on the role of one room, you can include the extra requirements. A spare bedroom may also become a work or hobby room, a living room could also act as a periodic guest room.
Two rooms into one
By knocking down a wall you will gain a feeling of space but lose privaacy. It is worth bearing in mind that you will also be removing walls that could be used for storage.
Interior walls, particularly plasterbord or lath and plaster on a stud frame, are comparatively simple to remove ut sometimes even these can be load-bearing.
To decide if a wall is load-bearing look at the direction of the floor joists. If these, and those on the floor above, run at right angles to a wall then is it probably load-bearing. If the joists run parallel with the wall then this is unlikely, but the wall may support
Interior walls, particularly plasterbord or lath and plaster on a stud frame, are comparatively simple to remove ut sometimes even these can be load-bearing.
To decide if a wall is load-bearing look at the direction of the floor joists. If these, and those on the floor above, run at right angles to a wall then it is probably load-bearing. If the joists run parallel with the wall then this is unlikely, but the wall may support another partition wall in the upper storey.
If you are at all unsere about whether a wall is load-bearing or not contact the building inspector of your local council for advice - his approval is in any case necessary before you commence the work. If you intend removing a structural wall, or one bearing a partition above, a beam and piers will be needed to take the weight.
A rolled steel joist (RSJ) can be used to span an opening of any size but longer lenght are very heavy. Galvanized steel box beams are lighter and do not need special preparation before plastering (RSJs do). They are available up to 5.4m (17¾ft) long. Brick piers on properly constructed foundations are necessary to support whatever beam you use.
One rooms into two
If what you need is more rooms, then it is comparatively simple to install a partition wall to divide one room into two. There are rules governing such things as window size to floor area, however, so check that the new rooms will comply with public health and building regulations before you start.
On a solid floor you can use light-weight building blocks which are easy to erect and have good sound insulation properties. These are finished with plasterboard panels on each side. On wood floors you can erect a simple framework of 50mm by 75mm (2in by 3in) rough sawn timber then nail plasterboard to each side. The use tape and joint filler will hide the joints between the boards.
Fold back panels can hide a kitchen in a living room or open it up for use.
Clearing space
You can make space by keeping only the things you use and so avoid cluttering storage areas with oddments that 'might come in useful sometime', but stay in the top of a cupboard, under the stairs or in the loft year after year.
When stored items go over a preset limit (say, six months without being used) get rid of them by selling through a local paper, a card in a shop window or a car boot sale. Real rubbish can be taken to the dump or removed by arragement with the council refuse departement (most will provide this service free of charge). Local charity shops may accept old clothes for re-sale.
Efficient storage
There are two main ways of storing items; display storage for those belongings you want to show off and hidden storage for the less attractive equipment and the things you want to keep relatively dust free.
A well planned wall of shelving allows just the right amount of space for everything.
Display storage
Shelves provide ideal display storage and if you put them up or build them yourself they can be tailored to your needs.
Brackets screwed to the wall are best for individual shelves, while fixed battens create an unobtrusive base for alcove shelves. Alternatively, you can allow for some adjusment by using metal or wood uprights with regularly spaced holes into which you slot specially designed brackets. Shelves hung on slings anchored to the wall are another possibility for light objects.
The advantage of an adjustable system is not only that shelf positions can be altered at some future date when the use changes but also extra shelves can easily be added. See Shelving Systems and Divider Shelf Unit for putting up shelves.
Freestanding units
Freestanding units can easily be reorganised when required and will even move with you.
These allow you to take your storage system with you when you move. Modular systems, made to a standard height and depth, and consisting of boxes, some with the addition of doors or drawers, can be used to cover a whole wall from floor to ceiling or positioned in an alcove. You can also use them freestanding to divide off sections of a room, a study area in a bedroom or the loo in a bathroom for instance.
Ready-made systems are expensive, but you can make your own from veneered chipboard or blockboard, using plastic blocks to join the sections together and lay-on ready-made cupboard doors. The choice of board finished and colours is wide and includes wood veneers, many plain colours and even leather look-alikes. You can cover edges with matching iron-on tape, or give them a more expensive finish with shaped timber moulding (the instuctions, you can see in Divider Shelf Unit give ideas for straight forward unit construction).
Hidden storage
Apart from providing an ideal spot for shelves, alcoves can be used very succesfully for cupboard to take a sideways hanging rail from plaster-board on a timber frame in much the same way as you would fit stud wall. You can fix skirting and coving to the side and front and fit a room door or cupboard doors. The result is an unobtrusive yet usefully deep fitted cupboard (see Walk-In Alcove Cupboard for fitting instructions).
If you need a large cupboard the simplest way of providing one is to use a wardrobe kit with sliding doors that run on tracks at floor and ceiling level. You can fit end panels if the cupboard is to run only along part of a wall and add a ceiling batten if it is necessary to lower the ceiling height (see Sliding Door Wardrobe for installation detail).
Planning interior fitments
The great advantage of fitting your own storage system is that you can tailor it exactly to your own needs. Before ordering materials or internal units it is a goog idea to assess the type and number of contents accurately, allowing for expansion, and then divide up the space to suit your particular needs.
TIP
Wall storage can provide additional heat insulation if placed on an outside wall, and sound insulation on a party wall. Books are especially effective for both.
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