Photo of Luxury Burlington Home for Sale

 Friday, October 21, 2016     Laurence Mongeau     Renovate and Refresh Your Space

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There's a lot you can change about a home, but without a major renovation, square footage is rarely one of them. Making smart use of space can make a room, a floor or an entire house feel bigger. There are plenty of ways to optimize the space in your home to give the appearance of increased space but the key to creating that illusion is to be organized and to find clever ways to maximize every square foot in your home. Here are some tips, courtesy of www.wedothehomework.ca.

Use mirrors: One simple way to make any room seem bigger, longer or wider is to add reflective surfaces like windows and glass that create reflections. Mirrored tabletops or mirror placed under candles or vases can bounce light in different directions. Get creative with your reflective surfaces.

Every surface counts: Most of us tend to focus on the flat, horizontal space we have available and ignore the endless possibilities of a vertical surface. Shelves, art and objects can be placed on walls to draw attention upwards which creates the illusion of more space.

Brighten up: Make sure to keep curtains and blinds open to allow as much light in as possible. Light makes a room feel larger and more airy. Hanging curtains from the ceiling instead of the window frame will also make the room appear to have more height.

Storage creates space: Storage is the easiest way to make any room appear larger than it really is. Using storage bins under beds, in closets and bathrooms can hide clutter and open the room up to more space. Mudroom benches conceal a lot of items such as wet umbrellas and rain gear that can damage hardwood floors.

Tips for the kitchen: Dark surfaces can be a big culprit in making rooms seem smaller or – as small as they actually are. By giving cabinets and doors a coat of light paint and using glass on doors to lighten the space you can give the impression of a larger kitchen. Hanging a pot rack on the wall will not only give you more storage for pots and pans – it will add some style to your space.

Spacious living places: There are several ways to make the areas you lounge in look larger. Flat screen TV's can be mounted on the wall or hidden in cabinets and using large, bold pieces of furniture that are proportioned to each other can make any room seem more spacious. The trick is to avoid overstuffed furniture and patterns that are too bold.

Creating width: The quickest way to fix up a space is to give it a fresh coat of paint, however wallpaper can be an invaluable tool for increasing space. Tone on tone wallpaper can trick the eye into thinking a room is wider.

While a small space will always be small, these tricks can help you to make it look and feel larger. Any sort of clutter can quickly reduce that space so make sure to consider storage options to maintain the illusion of more square footage.

For more information, visit www.wedothehomework.ca, a website created by the Ontario Real Estate Association to educate homeowners about the buying and selling process.


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5      11 reviews


Photo of Leslie Quinsay

Leslie Quinsay
  July 12, 2024

Laurence is wonderful to work with and always goes above and beyond! She has helped us in both the buying and selling processes multiple times. Highly recommend.

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Gail Alteen
  May 28, 2024

Just want to say thank you for your hard work and dedication in getting my home sold. You were very organized, professional and honest. It was a pleasure to work with you.

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Clarissa
  May 27, 2024

Laurence is an exceptional real estate agent. She is professional, knowledgeable, and attentive to my needs. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a great agent. Thank you, Laurence!

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Stephanie Bishop
  May 21, 2024

Laurence worked diligently at following up with each person who viewed the property... always available to let me know what kind of feedback she was receiving. No matter when, there is only one person I will ever deal with to buy or sell real estate, and that is most definitely LAURENCE MONGEAU!

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