As a new generation of graduates from renting to homeownership, they face plenty of uncertainties: How do you fill a 4-bedroom home with the stuff that used to be in a 1-bedroom apartment? Upsizing comes with big changes that can leave you not knowing what to do.
Transitioning from an apartment to a larger home is always tricky. However, upsizing is extra complicated for today’s young Kenyan home buyers because they’re really going big.
When Millennials do become homeowners, they jump straight into the higher end of the market. This is by choosing larger properties with higher prices, similar to homes bought by older buyers.
Importantly upsizing from an apartment into a spacious new home brings opportunities; such as plenty of closet space, a yard for the kids, and extra rooms for that home office, the spare bedroom you’ve always dreamed of.
Nevertheless, once the moving is done, new homeowners often face the harsh reality of upsizing: The furniture, wall hangings, and things that fit so perfectly in your small apartment occupy only a fraction of your larger home’s space.
Many new Kenyan homeowners’ first instinct is to hit up their carpenters and buy affordable pieces to fill the space. While budget-friendly furniture has its place, it shouldn’t make up the bulk of your new purchases.
Don’t buy things just to fill space
Although it’s tempting to stockpile new furniture and decorations, it might backfire. Unavoidably, the measurements are wrong, or the piece doesn’t match your existing style or decor.
Kenyans naturally want to fill the space, but you really have to consider how you’re going to use it. It’s advisable to wait until you move in, place the furniture you have already, and assess at that point.
Prioritize with a special piece
Note to furnish a large living room or family room, invest in a sectional couch. Like a dining room table that expands to seat more people, a sectional sofa pulls apart and goes back together depending on design preferences. And such sofas often have expansion pieces you can buy later to further fill space.
Moreover, a sofa is a good investment piece. It’s something you’re going to use every day. Furthermore, sectionals pull apart to create more than one focal point in a room. For example, an L-shaped seating area and coffee table in one part of the living room, and a smaller couch in another.
Place furniture thoughtfully
Furthermore, the furniture arrangement can make a big space seem smaller. Carpets are ideal for making space feel homier.
The great thing about carpets is that they don’t have to be expensive. We advise centring the carpet, then placing furniture on and around it. Even if the rest of the room is empty, you’re starting out with a cosy spot.
Homeowners often make the mistake of pushing furniture right up against the walls. But pulling the furniture toward the centre of the wall helps minimize an expansive room. It gives the room a chance to breathe a bit.
Decorate your space
Once you’ve furnished your new home, it’s time to decorate. Items like a shoe rack in an entryway or decorative vases in a stairwell are classic pieces that also fill space and they don’t have to be expensive.
Remember, there are plenty of ways to use what you already have and optimize your spending for the things you don’t to make your new house a cosy home.