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When friends of mine first bought their condo in Los Cabos, it was as a vacation retreat. The couple has since retired and decided to live in Cabo full time. Rather than move into a larger space, they elected to make do with their condo until the timing is better for them to buy something larger.
Another new acquaintance recently moved out of a 5,000-square-foot home in Vancouver, British Columbia, and drove to Los Cabos. She donated, purged, and gave away all but the things she loved and is now making “space” in a compact three-bedroom condo.
Whether one lives in an 800-square-foot apartment or a 4,000-square-foot house, everyone can use a little more space. As these new full-time residents are learning, you don’t have to move or add on to get rid of that claustrophobic feeling. There are challenges, but most can be overcome with a little planning.
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The most difficult issue that comes with living in a small dwelling is not the size of the residence itself, but rather the overabundance of belongings packed into it. By exploring some resourceful storage solutions, you can create both space and increase functionality and enjoy wherever you live. Here are some tips to help maximize your space and make the place more livable.
Be more organized
For some, this is quite a task. Make an honest assessment of the items you own and then determine what can be donated or thrown away. Start by being ruthless about everything you don’t need. A good rule of thumb is to pick up an object and ask yourself, “Have I used or worn this in the last three years?” If the answer is a resounding “no,” you know what you have to do. A mantra you might use is, “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” Once you have on hand only the items you intend to keep, it is time to create room for them. Storage compartments are a great way to get organized. When you have outfitted your home with all the necessities, make a rule of only buying new purchases when you are willing to give something else up. Keep the center of the room clear. Doing so gives the appearance of a more spacious area. Streamlined organization can make any area more inviting, regardless of its size. In fact, a smaller room can actually be an advantage since it discourages excess.
Think vertically
There’s usually room to be found in the air. Without extra floor space, utilize the wall. Choose tall, slim bookshelves and hang paintings and posters high on the wall to draw the eye upward. When you’re working in very small quarters, every square inch counts. Buy rolling bins for under-the-bed storage of linens, seasonal clothes, shoes, and the like. Make the most of your closet by adding hooks, shelves, and plastic storage bins. A baker’s rack in the entryway can serve as a catchall for keys, hats, messages, and more.
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Adhere to simplicity of design
Clean lines, classic colors and patterns, and practical design all contribute to a more comfortable small-space dwelling. An open living area can be divided into sections, such as a comfortable one for watching television (one of the slender new wall units that don’t take up as much room as the older console models) and an eating area (maybe a counter with stools), with another setup outside for entertaining. Stick with one color scheme throughout to avoid having the rooms looking disconnected.
Use multipurpose furniture
An ottoman can serve as a storage trunk as well as a coffee table or a footrest. Bookcases are not just for books anymore. Add storage for remotes, photos, and more by fitting your bookcases with baskets and tins. Choose furnishings that are good multiuse pieces such as a daybed—it’s a couch by day and a cozy bed by night. A guest room can double as a workout area or home office. Anything with built-in drawers or shelves helps save space. Look for easy-to-store furniture that can be folded, stacked, or retracted. A fold-away dining table takes little space.
Furniture placement
Keep furnishings in scale with the room. In small rooms, use slim rockers, open-back chairs, a simple sofa or love seat with exposed legs. Position a sofa facing the living room entrance to increase a sense of space. A glass coffee table is easier on the eye than a solid wooden one. Pale furniture opens up a room. Keep a few stylish folding chairs in a closet to accommodate extra guests. Opt for smaller pieces of well-designed furniture, and avoid overfilling the rooms. Do away with furniture you can live without. Less is truly more when decorating a home. Keep scale in mind by placing several smaller pieces around a larger one for balance. Decide on a focal point. Even in small spaces, deciding on what you want to focus attention on is important to the overall feel. Place the most important furniture (the pieces you plan on using the most) before anything else. Create a conversation area. Grouping is a good idea. For instance, don’t place a sofa all by itself. Place a table with a lamp beside or near it. Multiple pieces that go together bring a sense of uniformity to a room and add comfort and coziness. Furniture placement can transform a room from a place that is dull, drab and cold into a retreat you will want to enjoy as much as possible.
Use smaller electronics and appliances
The more limited the space, the more you need smaller-sized utensils to fit into it. Most anything you use in the kitchen, including microwaves and coffeemakers, is usually available in smaller sizes. These space savers can make a big difference when you have little or no counter space. Hang pots and pans on hooks. Organize a corner cabinet with a lazy Susan and keep all your cookbooks on the top of your upper cabinets.
Be an illusionist
Mirror, mirror, mirror the walls—they trick the eye and give an illusion of more space. Use pastel shades of paint to make a room look larger and brighter. Painting one wall a different color than the others adds a feeling of depth to the room. Use blinds instead of curtains. If you must use curtains, choose a thin, sheer fabric and skip the lining. Hang potted plants outside your windows. They give a lovely foliage effect, but don’t use too many plants indoors; they crowd the place. Separate the kitchen with a partition. On one side facing the kitchen, make shelves to hold utensils, crockery, cutlery, and spices and use the other side as a bookshelf.
Light up your home
Lighting can make a world of difference. Use low lighting around seating areas and strong lighting in a bathroom, kitchen, and office. A low-hanging paper lamp in a corner adds a lovely touch. Use track lighting aimed at walls.
Take the indoors out
When is a wall not a wall? When it vanishes. Bring the outdoors into your home, blending the indoor and outdoor space. Cabo’s nearly year-round indoor-outdoor lifestyle attracts a lot of new residents, both full and part time to our world-famous destination. Many builders and designers use elements such as disappearing glass doors that open to verandas, making a wonderful extension of a home’s interior living space. And many residents have created outdoor living rooms with complete kitchens and dining areas. These features expand the livable square footage of a home and its ultimate enjoyment.
Be thankful for your Cabo home, regardless of its size, and make the most of it by thinking outside the box. With a little creativity, even the most unlikely space can become the room or home of your dreams. Not all of us can live in mansions and not all of us want to. Never let the size of your space deter you from creating your own personalized living environment.
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Copyright © 2009 - Joseph A. Tyson - All Rights Reserved - www.loscabosmagazine.com
Los Cabos Magazines, Inc - Tyson Promotions, Inc - Promociones Tyson, S. A. de C. V.
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico - Last Revision - June 1, 2009 - MKS
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