Small Spaces

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. 

Ideas for small spaces.

Whether your small space is a bedroom, apartment, or home, here are five ideas to help you maximize the space you have:

One wall of shelves adds storage and opens the floor space.

1) Raise the heights of storage. Keep things off the floor and use taller pieces to make a small room appear larger. For example, a bookcase that spans the entire floor-to-ceiling distance makes a ceiling seem higher. Dedicating one wall to bookshelves that takes advantage of every inch, or using a large armoire or storage piece on only one wall, will make a room look bigger and eliminates the feeling of a cluttered space. Close off a few shelves with doors for neatness.  Stack file cabinets or chests (safety first) on top of one another rather than lining them up along the wall. Left a bed off the floor to add storage drawers, and if the ceiling is high enough, perhaps making a space underneath for a desk, lounge area or reading nook.

 

Loveseats make a narrow apartment comfy but not crowded

2) Use furniture wisely & make every piece count.  For a small living room use a backless chaise or daybed to divide adjoining space or functional areas; for example, separate the kitchen area from the family room or the living room from the dining room. Downscale your seating and even tables so you have the function you need while retaining an open feel. Try using a storage bench instead of dining or desk chairs to serve a dual purpose. Open backed shelves make great room dividers but look nice from either side. 

White works in this tiny bedroom with stacked storage.

3) Keep it light. While you don't have to use white paint, a lighter color background (floors, walls and even shelving) will help make a small room feel more open. Monochromatic color schemes are great for small spaces since they blur the boundaries between walls and furniture to make a space feel expansive. Don't hide windows, rather make them appear larger by placing window coverings above or to the sides. Position a mirror to capture light and reflect it back into the space.








4) Take it off.  If you can remove doors to rooms that don't need privacy...do.  Opening a small bedroom to a hallway makes the room seem more connected to the other spaces, may add light, and there are many uses for the doors so they don't need to be stored ( a desk top, a panel for an appliance, a new back to a bookshelf).  Hanging a curtain or beads instead provides a more open divider but eliminates door swings and maintains a more open feel.

5) Glass (or other transparent material :)) is your friend. Need a privacy divider but it blocks light? Tempered glass walls and door inserts allow light to pass through rooms but create privacy. New resin and plastic products with embedded designs are also available. Can't do a whole wall? Create a small interior 'window' or even an over-door transom to allow light in.  Glass tabletops help a room feel more open than wooden tops.