Despite there currently being a second national lockdown in England, the lettings market remains active, with increased appetite to move home leading to continued rental growth across the UK.

Unsurprisingly, the rise in people working from home as a result of Covid-19 has led to many tenants moving from small, modest flats to rental properties with more space for a home office. At the same time, long-term tenants who may be looking to get on the property ladder in the future are waiting it out and saving in their current homes.

But how can tenants prepare for a big move without overcrowding their current space? Below, using advice from self-storage company Space Station, we list seven ways to maintain a comfortable living space while building a collection for a future move.

Go unfurnished or part furnished

Many London flats come with the option of being furnished or unfurnished. It may sound obvious, but choosing an unfurnished flat is the best route if your long-term plan is to compile your own homely belongings to take with you when you move.

Plus, any furniture already in place in a furnished flat will only take up space you could be using for your own.

Invest in storage space

If you’re in a furnished property and want to get ahead on buying larger items, such as sofas or dining furniture, it may be worth investing in some self-storage space.

It needn’t be expensive, either. There are plenty of options in terms of size and cost, and online tools can help to work out exactly what you need based on what furniture you have.

Scale down where possible

Having limited living space isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it can encourage you to think wiser when planning the layout of your home and you can save space with the basic furniture you buy.

While long-term goals may include a king-sized bed or a cosy L-shaped sofa, scaling down to a double bed or a two-seater sofa in the short-term can save valuable floorspace if you’re limited.

Utilise storage within furniture

No matter where you live, household items such as beds and sofas are at the top of the list when it comes to accumulating homely belongings.

These can also double up to be used for storage. An ottoman storage bed or a sofa set with a foot pouffe container, for example, are stylish storage options perfect for storing clothes, bedding and extra cushions.

Display stylish décor on ladder shelves

Shelving is often the key to increasing storage in a property, whilst also providing your home with some striking decor.

A ladder shelf, another popular shelf type in the home, not only helps make your living space look the part but will also allow you to display multiple items without invading floor space too much.

Install hooks and rails to keep the space tidy

A simple, inexpensive way to maximise space you may already have is to install temporary hooks or hanging rails within your cupboards or on the
inside of doors.

These will enable you to almost double what you can store in the kitchen, such as a spice rack or pots and pans, and hang items such as dressing gowns and towels in your bathroom.

Create your own built-in storage

Small apartments and studio properties are usually open-plan, so it can be beneficial to install storage units that can double up as room dividers. Not only does this offer a practical storage solution, but it can also create an interesting focal point in the space.

If you’re in a studio flat, consider using furniture to divide your living and storage space, or add a unit around your TV in the living room to create a focal point,
as well as extra storage.

As a top letting agent operating across Essex and East London, here at Ideal Locations, we can make your moving journey as quick and safe as possible. For more information on our current operations,please contact us today.