Scaling up position size with options vs. direct share ownership?

I've been dipping my toes into options for a while now, mostly for income generation on existing positions. I'm wondering about the mechanics and best practices for scaling up my overall market exposure; is it generally seen as more capital-efficient to do that via further options contracts (e.g., more calls/puts) or by accumulating more shares directly, especially when managing risk on a smaller account? What are the key considerations people factor in for something like this?