by Rebecca Tollen
Bigger isn’t always better. More square footage usually equals a bigger footprint and more money, not necessarily a better space. Whether it’s new construction or a renovation, it is a common misconception that building bigger is best.
“People usually spend the bulk of their building or renovation budget making their space as big as they can”, says Interior Architect Nico Sauzier. Often times you can get the flow and function you want with less space, which means spending less money on the build. The extra money you save from leaving off a couple hundred square feet during construction can pay for better quality flooring, finishes and furniture inside.
Before adding extra square feet to the project and extra line items to the budget, it is important to spend some time getting to the heart of what you want from your space.
“Ask yourself what you need from your house and how do you want to use it,” he says. “Truly honest answers to those questions allow me to work from the inside out and create a space that satisfies needs and tastes without breaking more ground or their budget.”
Start the conversation in a relaxed environment, maybe with a bottle of wine and allow yourself to think about what you want from your home or renovation in relationship to the functions you need. Once you understand what you want and like, prioritize your needs and wants so the budget can be focused on key elements first.
Do you entertain a lot? If so, you might want the kitchen to open into the dining and living rooms or create an area in the kitchen, like a bar or island, where people can congregate. Opening up space by suppressing partitions is one way to save while making the room a bigger feel and a deeper perspective.
Do you have children? You might want the family room to be a space where you relax in without looking like a toy store.
“Honing in on what you want and need from the space allows me to design and build smarter, which does not necessarily mean bigger,” Nico says.
The family room, for example, doesn’t necessarily have to be bigger to accommodate both children and adults. Putting in built-in shelves or furniture with hidden storage spaces like benches and coffee tables solves both situations without building more.
Another way to create space without adding square footages is to add or enlarge windows. This creates the illusion and feel of more space because your eyes track the horizon instead of a blank wall, which increases the perspective of a room’s size.
One of the best ways to increase space without building an addition is to knock out walls separating rooms to create an open living, kitchen and dining room floor plan. Each room is an individual zone in one large, lofty, open space. This is a relatively low cost renovation that creates an abundance of space. Architectural elements such as a soffit or drop down ceiling, archways or columns define each area.
You can also define the individual living, dining and kitchen areas with furniture and accessories. In the living room, an area rug under and a floor lamp over the couch, coffee table and chairs defines this area. In the dining room, a chandelier over and a buffet alongside the dining room table does the same.
Keeping counters, floors and surfaces clutter free also increases the appearance of a room and creates more space. This takes planning - assign each thing a place - and maintanance - putting each thing back in its assigned place. This not only creates more space, it creates a more tranquil, soothing environment.
When you really think about how you will use your space, truly consider your wants and needs and create a home build or renovation accordingly, it is possible to create more space without adding square feet. Less really does create more.