Seasoned space planners use lots of trade secrets without pause when we look for ways to stretch space. Such tricks are second nature for designers, but you might benefit from learning some of them as you consider ways to coax more effectiveness from your home.
For instance, when planning to add a powder bath or a full bathroom to an older home, we always try to share the existing plumbing wall. That means for a sink and a toilet to operate, they must have contact with water, and it is always more economical to use previously accessible plumbing rather than to bring a new water pipe into a location.
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Another common practice is to allow closets to be back to back or side by side. That way, a 30-inch depth can devote five feet on one side of the wall to a closet and reverse access to another five feet to the opposite side. This example demonstrates how a utilitarian function might open up onto a public room such as a living or family room. A linen closet might not normally be located in the living room, but in some instances might be the only way to allocate space for this purpose.
However, if the doors to the storage area are dressier — such as these stained sliding doors — the homeowner is more apt to experience more freedom in the planning stages.
We’ve all encountered a sticking, never-closing or off-track closet door. But if you use quality hardware, you will win the battle of the sliding closet door! Reliable hardware allows you to scoop out an old closet and turn it into a variety of useful purposes. You can retrofit a space as a home office or a homework station. You might create a compact laundry room within the confines of a closet by utilizing smooth-working bifold doors that clear the opening.
I’ve often mentioned stacking washers and dryers, along with the popular European-style under-the-counter combination washing machine/dryer. Be sure to select a quiet-running model appliance so you can position a mini-laundry right inside a more public space.
For folks who are downsizing, the closet-as-office sometimes replaces a standard room, and maximum efficiency is even more critical. Bifold doors offer easier access to the entire available space.
Another possible use for a closet other than storage of clothing is as a home message center. Some people favor a standup work counter where a laptop computer can be installed, along with a docking station for family cell phones. IPod charging and a message board are often included. This is a great spot for stamps, stationery, paper clips, rubber bands and envelopes. Home mail scales that connect to one’s computer for printing postage are also available through the U.S. Postal Service.
Bill paying can also be done at the home message center, so include a file drawer for paid paperwork. While a lot of people do pay bills online, there still seems to be a fair amount of hard-copy documentation that we still need to maintain.
