Six ways you could be wasting space, and how to fix the problem

Have you ever considered doing a space audit in your home, analysing those rooms where the lay-out could be so much better?

If you're considering putting your home on the market this spring selling season, or planning for a summer campaign, you should take a careful look at whether you're wasting space in your home.

Buyers never like a cluttered property, but equally, they're left bemused if not underwhelmed by homes where the owner simply hasn't worked out how to use the space properly. 

In this scenario, it feels like the design of the home – whether it's a house, apartment or condo – is inadequate or difficult to live in.

Even if you're not thinking of selling soon, there's no doubt we all wish we had more space in our homes. 

So, our agents have identified six of the most common mistakes that owners make when furnishing their homes and wasting space.

End Division: If you are fortunate to have open-plan living, it's tempting to place a large cupboard or side-table to divide the living area from the dining table or kitchen. Don't do this. You waste so much space. Instead let a two- or three-seater couch to do the job.

Bedroom Blues: Many renovations feature enormous main bedrooms. They're expensive to build and often unnecessary. A three- to four-metre bedroom will accommodate a king-size bed more than adequately. When renovating, avoid oversizing bedrooms, as they don't add value. A smaller bedroom with an en suite, however, will bolster the property's value substantially.

Island Living: In a smaller home, a space-eating kitchen island can make the home feel cramped. Instead, opt for a peninsula design for the main bench.

Corner Capers: Our agents see space wasted when owners are stumped about how to use an awkward corner or nook. A solution can be the installation of corner shelves, built-in seating or a compact home office.

Dust Collector: Spare bedrooms or formal dining rooms are often under-used. You can repurpose these spaces into a home gym, office or hobby room.

Dumping Ground: Garages are an easy storage solution – it's the dump for everything that doesn't have an allocated space. Soon, it's a junkyard. Remedy the problem by installing overhead storage racks, wall-mounted hooks and shelves to organise your belongings and free up floor space.