We all love to maximize our small spaces. A tiny room can serve many purposes, with the right layout, scale, the function of the pieces you use, and a bit of creativity.
For example, a living room does not need a sofa against the wall. Try placing your seating in the center - maybe a chaise or two instead - and use furnishings that do many things. A desk/dining table will serve a small space for computer work, bill pay and office functions, and for eating and gathering, as a serving and dining table. Bookshelves can be configured to store as well as display, and even conceal a flat screen TV and audio equipment.
In small living spaces, raising your furniture up, gives space underneath for storage. 
Bedrooms with bunk systems are great for children who need space for entertaining and homework. For teens, beds on platforms create a second level for sleeping, and a desk, toy storage and even a lounge area can be worked in underneath. Dividing a small room without a closet with a book/shelf unit can create a headboard, walk-in closet, wall space for art, and niches for books or display. Raising a mattress onto a platform with drawer storage can eliminate the need for dressers.
Small apartments with single wall kitchens can be transformed with a single unit that includes a tall standing cabinet, a flat surface for a table, and upper cabinets, all joined into a self-standing rectangle. The end result is a divider, cabinets, a table/desk, and a place under the table for seating, the garbage can and the cat bed! Using wall-to-ceiling cabinets makes a small kitchen space look larger. Adding glass to cabinet doors makes them feel less imposing.
You have a small kitchen. What are the design elements that you can use to maximize the space? Try one of these 5 for a big impact.
1) Light. If you have windows, then don't dress them up! Keep window coverings simple so there is no blocking of light. Without windows, you'll need to rely on fixtures. Choose LED under and in-cabinet lighting for clean, white light. Be sure that your fixture globes and shades are clean, light in color, and the bulb wattage is correct. Switching to compact florescent bulbs, which are lower wattage use, often means a brighter light.
2) Color. When there's little difference between the colors of the walls, the counters, the cabinetry, and the woodwork, your eye glides over the surfaces looking for a place to rest, and that movement tricks you into thinking the space is larger than it really is. Light colors are great in a small kitchen. They reflects light, which enhances the sense of space and makes the walls seem to recede. White is the most popular color and is traditional and right for many design styles.
3) Organize. Small kitchens can have storage challenges. Counters often become storage areas, but eliminating clutter can help any space feel larger. Clear off the counters, the windowsill, and the cabinet tops, and stash as much as you can behind closed doors.
4) Use Glass. Making a small kitchen feel larger is a matter of fooling the eye and tricking the brain into thinking the space is bigger. One way to do that is to remove some cabinet doors or replace the solid fronts with glass. Adding in-cabinet lighting showcases the depth and also adds a sense of space.
5) Carve Out Storage Space. Shelves flush with the walls and recessed into space between the studs add storage without consuming valuable space in a small kitchen. If you don't have space within your kitchen, instead look for a spot near your kitchen, such as a breakfast nook or passageway, to implement recessed shelves.
