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Much of the Boston area is on de facto lockdown in an effort to stem the spread of novel coronavirus, with thousands more people working from home—in many cases, alongside not only their partners but their children due to school systems throughout the region shuttering for weeks.
The lockdown, then, is creating space challenges for residents as they adjust themselves—and adjust their surroundings—to being home pretty much 24-7 rather than working remotely (and traveling or commuting for work).
So how are you solving such space challenges? What are you doing to free up capacity in your house, condo, or apartment, especially if it was never designed for so many people in it at once all the time? The experts have long had their say, and well before coronavirus. Here are some of the things they’ve suggested.
Find space in new places. Under couches, tables, and beds; in the ceiling volume and via exposed beams; plastic bins and toy chests are your friends; that space behind the couch, you’d be surprised; roll those clothes, don’t fold ‘em; etc. It’s long been recommended that if you want more space, make it. “We definitely worked in storage everywhere we could,” interior designer Jessica Helgerson explained to Curbed in 2018 re: the inside of her small cabin near Portland, Oregon.
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Repurpose existing spaces. Who says the bottom kitchen cabinets have to be for plastic containers or baking supplies? This is a serious, longterm lockdown, people. Sort things and cull others (see below) and move something else in that’s otherwise hanging out and consuming space. Use your closet heights to your advantage and learn to stack or balance. And, if you do roll up your clothes rather than fold, that can free up drawer space (really). The point is to get stuff put away to free up more space in your home for you and yours.
Cull. Cull some more. You don’t have to spend $89 each on Hikidashi boxes, but now would be the time to sort and cull those things you rarely use and don’t need. They can be stored, donated, recycled, or trashed completely (municipal garbage and recycling pickups continue despite coronavirus). The culling not only cuts down on clutter but frees up space and leads to repurposing. That old rack for holding plastic toy bins? It’s a shoe rack now. Deal.
These tips for creating a more spacious home without hunting for a new one (because who wants to do that with Boston’s prices?) can be just the tip of the iceberg. What else are you doing to free up space in your Boston-area home? Sound off in the comments below or on social.