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5 frugal ways to expand your living space

Go outside
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Go outside

Maximizing your living space may require you to think outside of the box. Or home, to be more specific. If you have a yard with some useless, empty space, you have a perfect opportunity to dramatically increase your living space in a stylish, fun and unique way.

"The absolute cheapest and easiest addition that you can do is creating an outdoor room," says Vern Yip, HGTV personality and interior designer. According to Yip, almost anything you can find indoors has a counterpart designed to withstand Mother Nature. This includes drapes, rugs, seating, tables, lighting and even beds that are fade-, mold- and mildew-resistant.

Yip recommends installing a premade gazebo in your backyard or outdoor area. These gazebos range in price from $1,700 to $18,220, according to the Gazebo Depot website, and come in a variety of shapes, colors and styles. They feature fabric, waterproof canopies to protect your new room from rain, sun damage and other weather-related problems. They can easily accommodate an entire living room set, and many are portable in case you eventually decide to move out or just want to reposition your outdoor room.


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