Anita Kohn designed this wardrobe office

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IFyou’re a homeowner cramped into a pokey flat, space isn’t so much the final frontier but a thoroughly explored square metre of carpet.

In today’s market, renovating rather than relocating is all the rage. But if you haven’t got the budget to build an ­extension, how can you make the most of what little space you have?

The experts say it comes down to storage; if you can find a way of decluttering, by making use of your home’s dead space, then you’re halfway to swinging that cat with room to spare.

“One area of dead space quite literally overlooked is under the floorboards,” says architect Robert Speight.

“Many Victorian and ­Georgian houses have a good 30cm under the floor, enough for a decent-sized drawer.”

Speight, of Richmond firm Architect Your Home, says the space is ideal for storing items such as bottles of wine or hiding old trainers.

“You could either put a hatch over the hole and pull the rug over, or make it into a design feature. For example, wine bottles can be kept in a structural frosted glass box, visible through the floor.”

Speight’s team have even built a rowing machine in a floor cavity (above right), hidden by a trap door. Although any ­under-floor storage means stripping the floorboards then lining the space with a damp-proof membrane.

Another space ripe for ­renovation is in your ­wardrobe – which can be ­converted into a study, says ­designer Anita Kohn.

It’s not quite Narnia, but the depth of a cupboard is more or less that of a standard worktop. “All you need to do is fit a desk, a light and space for a chair,” says Kohn, of ­Living In Space. Shelving is an obvious space-saver and the area above headboards is ­often unused.

But you don’t have to go DIY-crazy to give the illusion of space. Mirrors give depth to a room, particularly in a galley kitchen, while ­transparent tables and chairs go almost unseen.

Big floor tiles also make a kitchen or bathroom look deceptively bigger.

They may not give you an extra room like an ­extension, but a few space-saving steps may just ­double that square metre of carpet for a fraction of the price.

Top furnishing tips...

See-through speakers

Black discs are a thing of the past – a transparent Ferguson Hill FH007 speakers set is £395.

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Worktop bins

Save valuable kitchen real estate by having your bin double up as a work surface. The IT Kitchens Work Top Waste Bin is £20 at B&Q.

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Vac-packed clothes

Squash your space-hogging clothes in an air free bag by using your vacuum cleaner. Saves 75 per cent space. JML Vac Pack, £9.99 for two bags.

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Upside down plants

The Boskke Sky Planter hangs from the ceiling (the ultimate neglected space). From £19.50.

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