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Homeowners Finding Creative Ways To Maximize Current House

BOSTON (CBS) --- When it comes to houses, there aren't a lot for sale and prices remain sky-high. It's causing many people to stay put.

There are a number of creative trends that are catching on as homeowners maximize the living space they currently have. Acacia Walker-Weinstein and her husband Morgan Weinstein are totally redesigning the spare room in their South Boston condo. It is going to be a nursery and a guest room. To make the best use of tight space, they went for one of the hottest trends today: a Murphy bed that folds into the wall.

"We were concerned about this space and this area being a little too small, but having this new adjustment to our guest bedroom has sort of solved all of our problems," said Walker-Weinstein.

The Weinstein's worked with Andrea Egan, a senior designer at Boston Homespaces of Hanover. She is working with more couples who have decided to redesign their current home.

A popular upgrade Egan is seeing a lot of these days involves the renovation of closets. "Your clothes are organized. Your shoes are organized, everything is on racks that you pull out."

Transforming a kitchen can make sense too. It is now the centerpiece of today's home, according to Mike Delrose of Re-Max Leading Edge in Watertown. "People talk about opening up a wall," said Delrose. "If the kitchen is tiny or has a closed in feeling with no light, that can be a very cost-effective renovation."

More homeowners are also looking to convert space they currently have, but don't really use all that much. It can be a cheaper way to expand a home. "Expanding into an attic, doing some renovation in a basement where you create space, for say, a fitness room," can be worth looking into, said Delrose.

Another idea according to Delrose: "Enclosing an outdoor porch, making it a three season porch, you don't have to create a full room that is for year round living." When it comes to renovations, Delrose says homeowners need to ask themselves if they are staying put and focusing on their own enjoyment, or hoping to increase the sale value in the short-term.

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