You Probably Forgot To Renovate These 5 Spaces At Home

When it comes to renovating a home, key areas like the bedrooms, living room, kitchen and bathrooms often come to mind. In reality, a house is made up of more than just that!

Besides doing up the major spaces, these 5 commonly overlooked corners in your home also deserve some well needed TLC. And if done right, they can really help tie a home's look together - or serve as a standout in its own right.

1. Store Room

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Just because no one ever goes in there, it doesn’t mean you should ignore it and squeeze everything under the sun into this space! What you should do instead is keep it organised so you can access you stored treasures conveniently.

Interior Designer: Moonlit Inspiration

Instead of leaving four bare walls within its confines, install shelving in the store room itself. If the space is small, try wall shelves and non-bulky wire racks. The exterior counts too - make it a fun feature piece to the rest of your wall run, or perhaps consider concealing the door for a seamless look.

Interior Designer: Exuidea Design

Lastly, make sure there's enough walking/standing space that lets you get in and out without hassle. You’ll also want to leave a little room for new things to be stored. If this is not doable, be ruthless and get rid of items you aren’t using. Remember, a store room is a privilege not a reason to turn into a hoarder!

2. Laundry Room

Interior Designer: Surface R

You probably have to spend time in here, washing, drying sorting and maybe even folding. Why not make it a convenient, comfortable and safe space? Note that safety is even more important when you have kids or small pets, as the combination of water, electricity, a hot dryer, bleach and detergent can be a fatal mix.

So the first thing you should do is keep chemicals out of reach of children and pets; a lockable storage cupboard is best in these situations. Moreover, storing your washing chemicals out of sight is generally a tidy look.

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In terms of design, maximising your space is likely a top priority since these designated areas are often tiny. Thus, you’ll need to mind the size of your washing machine and dryers as these will take up the most space. Measure your large appliances and its intended space before you buy.

Interior Designer: Dess Interior Sdn Bhd

However if you’ve already bought machinery that is too large, consider stacking them if possible to save space. Consider doing up some smart space-saving designs, such as crafting a recessed or indented wall to house your machinery.

3. Ceiling

Interior Designer: Nevermore Design

Even though you probably don’t realise it, ceilings actually have the potential to frame a room and fix its flaws. Ceiling treatments are an interior decorator's secret weapon to improving the overall design of most spaces. A stylish ceiling can change the look of a room by making it look bigger, stylistically upgraded and even more exclusive.

Interior Designer: Fix Design Solutions

Ceilings can be jazzed up with all kinds of treatments, such as mouldings, painting, exposed wood beams or arching. Designers may also add to the décor by choosing materials that are out of the norm or unique like wood or bare concrete.

Interior Designer: One Roof Design Sdn Bhd

Another option is to consider modernising your ceiling with trendy recessed lighting. This will help even out the overall illumination of your home without the use of old-fashioned lighting tubes that sometimes result in poor lighting.

4. Staircase

Interior Designer: Cabineto Sdn Bhd

The ever practical staircase is filled to the brim with all sorts of possibilities! Not just a tool for you to get from one level to another, a stairwell can also double as a functional storage piece.

Interior Designer: Design Spirits

Think hidden drawers under each step, or maybe creating a small storage area or hang out nook under the stairs. Of course, with all things pretty and practical - do remember to make sure things are safe! Besides sprucing up with these ideas, make stair maintenance a key routine.

Interior Designer: Designva Interior

Check regularly if the stair treads have any cracks or slips. Also, if your stairs are made of wood, do check for termites, and consider replacing the stair slabs if the wood becomes soft or brittle.

5. Backyard

Interior Designer: Moonlit Inspiration

While your front garden is probably a floral haven, the backyard might be left wild and unkempt for the simple reason that it doesn’t get a lot of traffic. However, having a backyard that is pretty and tidy can give you yet another space to enjoy.

Interior Designer: Dutch Studio

A simple way to improve your backyard is by keeping it clean! Get rid of unnecessary clutter and rubbish like old paint cans or renovation throwaways. Next, make it a little more homely by adding outdoor décor essentials like flower pots and wind chimes. You might even want to set up outdoor furniture pieces if you have the space; garden tables, lounges, benches, swings and patio umbrellas are excellent additions.

Interior Designer: One Roof Design Sdn Bhd

If you have the budget to upgrade your backyard further, consider landscaping or installing a water feature to create a perfectly Zen space!

Overlooked corner SOS?

How do you start decorating these totally forgotten areas in your home? With an interior designer, that is. Whether it's coming up with a bold look for a dull space, or simply making it functional, we can match you up with 5 interior firms for free - based on your budget and style.

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