Interior designers share 6 of the best and 4 of the worst ways to use extra space in your home

• Interior designers told Business Insider the best and worst ways to use extra space in your home. 
• Bookshelves can provide extra storage, and you should take advantage of windowsills and ceilings.
• A built-in unit or cabinet can lower the resale value of your space since it’s less versatile.

Whether you rent an apartment or own a home, it’s essential to consider how your design choices allow you to make the most efficient use of your space. 

Insider asked interior designers for tips on the best and worst ways to take advantage of extra space in your home.

Declutter your closet by efficiently storing clothes you don’t need

Mark Cutler, an interior designer at Cutler Schulze, told Insider that he recommends separately storing clothing you don’t regularly wear instead of filling your closet with clutter.

“Just because you have a large closet, it does not mean you have to fill it or occasionally purge,” Culter said. “Having all that extra space means you should be able to space out your wardrobe.”

He suggested using vacuum bags that can fit under the bed since they’re protective and easy to tuck away.

Book lovers should consider adding a bookshelf

According to Charli Hantman, owner of August Black Interior Design, it can be tempting to fill your extra space with additional large pieces of furniture, but there are other options worth considering, like wall art and sculptures.

“Extra space doesn’t necessarily have to be filled corner to corner. It’s nice to have a variety of things to look at to create depth and visual interest,” Hantman said. “I love finding art and wall sculptures that work together but have their own personality.” 

Gallery walls are a stylish and eclectic way to bring unique pieces to a room. 

You can add seating to unused corners

Mona Ying Reeves, founder of Re:modern, told Insider that people should consider transforming extra corners into “casual conversation spots” using the 90-degree rule.

“People tend to engage more when they sit perpendicular to each other rather than directly face-to-face,” Reeves said. “Add a pair of chairs or a small café table to entertaining spaces.” 

On the other hand, defining extra space with permanent features can lower the resale value

Although fake plants conveniently add greenery to your room, interior designer Andra DelMonico, home-design writer for Trendey, said they’re not worth the space.

“You have a dead corner in your bedroom or living room and decide that it’s the perfect place for a potted plant. The worst thing you can do is place a fake one instead of a real, living plant,” DelMonico said. “A fake plant looks fake, no matter how ‘realistic’ it is.” 

She added that you still have to dust the leaves of fake shrubbery without getting any aesthetic benefits real plants provide.

Don’t use your empty space without some sort of plan

Heather McKeown of Land and Sky Designs told Insider that “one of the worst ways to go about using extra space is to be a man without a plan.”

“A room without a sense of purpose or organization is like a lost ship at sea, floating aimlessly in the waves waiting for a storm to hit,” McKeown explained. “In this scenario, you are the storm, and the chaos of disorder is that lack of direction.”

Without a clear vision, rooms can become a cluttered, stressful mess, according to the design pro.

This story was originally published in September 2021 and most recently updated on October 18, 2024.