The escalating price of condo units has brought about the downsizing of condo dimensions.  Residents are forced to make do with cramped spaces.  There are, however, some tricks you can pull off to create the illusion of a bigger space.   Learn these things by heart if you want to avoid being struck with an attack of claustrophobia.

The escalating price of condo units has brought about the downsizing of condo dimensions.  Residents are forced to make do with cramped spaces.  There are, however, some tricks you can pull off to create the illusion of a bigger space.   Learn these things by heart if you want to avoid being struck with an attack of claustrophobia.

Refuse to be a sentimental pack rat

Things in your home which have neither function nor beauty should better be donated or discarded.  Go through each item in your condo unit and get rid of anything you do not use.  For one, not all gifts should be kept.  Those tight clothes you have long outgrown could find better use when given to charity.  Toys your kids have long grown weary of must be given to other kids.  When you periodically take the time to purge your condo of unused, unnecessary objects, your unit--and you--will heave out a big sigh of relief.

Enlist the aid of space-saving storage and furniture

Save precious floor space by using cabinets and shelves which span the whole length from floor to ceiling.  A single 6-drawer cabinet certainly uses up less space than two 3-drawer ones.  Bunk beds with pull-out drawers underneath eliminate the need for additional storage.  You can also make use of sassy storage stools which double up as storage boxes.  Other smart storage solutions include baskets which nestle into each other when not in use and chairs which stack on top of each other.

Brighten up

Any interior designer worth his salt will tell you that bright lights and colors widen any room.  A room awash with light and bright pastels evokes images of bright, expansive outdoors.  Bright lighting, vibrant paints and sheer curtains which allow ample light to come streaming in make for a seemingly large space.  You can also use mirrors to reflect lights for a more heightened illusion of bigger dimensions.

Maximize the use of space

The secret to freeing up more floor space is to make use of every nook and cranny which is usually just taken for granted.  Out-of-the-way spots such as the stairwell can be used as storage, for instance.  A bookshelf can be installed in the space between and above windows.  And instead of using standing shelves, put up overhead shelves which do not take up floor space at all.

Organize or agonize

Clutter inadvertently ensues when one fails to do regular clean-up.  And a cluttered home is a crowded home.  But with efficient time management, you can easily control clutter and free up more space.  Simply set 15-minute daily surface clean-ups to take care of the most obvious clutter.  Then on weekends, you can devote 30-minute deep-cleaning sessions to organize cabinets and rooms.  Breaking up your household cleaning chores into sweet and short sessions is a lot easier than doing fatiguing major overhauls.  Regularly cleaning and organizing your space also takes care of the most space-hungry items in your condo—clutter.