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Design 101
How To Furnish Small Spaces
When it comes to dorms, apartments, or other small spaces, it’s essential to elevate the functionality and efficiency of every nook and cranny. That means you need to carefully choose and arrange your furniture pieces to maximize every square foot — without having things look too cluttered or overwhelmed. Ready to make your small space feel bigger? Here are some common design tips, tricks, and creative solutions to create more storage and space in any room.
August 8, 2024
How To Make the Most of Your Small Space
Create the illusion of more space
Bloomingdale's
Even if you can’t change the size and dimension of your space, there’s always ways to make a room seem larger than it is. Choose furnishing that has a light, airy, and open look, including furniture made with thin legs or frame, as well as ones made with surfaces that are translucent or reflective like glass, acrylic, or chrome. Furniture pieces that are lighter in color or have low profiles can also go a long way in helping a room feel larger.
Take advantage of vertical space
Mathis Home
When furnishing small spaces, don’t forget to look up. There’s so much wasted vertical space in most rooms — especially rooms with high ceilings. Draw the eye up with taller bar-height tables and stools in your dining or kitchen areas. In the bedroom, especially for the little ones, opt for lofted beds or bunk beds that can save you a ton of floorspace. For storage, consider skinny and tall bookcases, dressers, or floating shelves that can declutter your space without taking up a lot of room.
Use multipurpose furniture
Bloomingdale's
Why purchase a sofa and a guest bed when you can combine both in a sofa bed? This versatile piece can be used as living room seating, then easily converted into a bed for overnight guests. Choose furniture that can serve multiple functions so you can eliminate some redundant pieces and free up precious space. Common choices include storage ottomans and benches, dining tables and desks with built-in drawers or shelves, and storage bed frames with slide-out drawers underneath so you won’t need to invest in a separate dresser.
Invest in collapsible, stackable, and adjustable designs
The RoomPlace
Similar to the tip of using multipurpose furniture to save space in a small home, we also recommend searching for adjustable furniture that can be modified and adjusted to fit a range of sizes. For example, a dining table with extra leaves can accommodate a larger family reunion, then be retracted to its smaller form for everyday use. Or you can get nesting coffee tables or stackable chairs that have a small footprint but can be expanded. There are also a range of murphy-named designs — the most iconic one being the murphy bed — that can be stored in the wall undetected until it’s needed.
Consider size and scale
RC Willey
One of the best ways to serve your small space is to choose furniture that is the right size and scale. Choosing light and minimal designs and proportional furniture pieces lets them shine without overcrowding. Your goal is to maximize the functionality of each piece while decreasing the visual clutter. For example, if your space is too small for a large sectional, consider loveseats, accent chairs, benches, and other more compact options. Other smart swaps include using a small cafe table instead of a large dining table, a smaller size mattress and bed frame, finding a rug that’s the right size for your room, and more.
Accessorize sparingly and intentionally
Bloomingdale's
When adding the finishing touches to your space, choose furnishings with a critical eye. Less is more when it comes to small spaces. You want each piece to do a lot so you can add as few pieces as possible. To add more flair without cluttering your space, consider smart pops of color, eye-catching patterns, and interesting textures or finishes.
Light up your space
Rooms To Go
Dim overhead lighting tends to make any room look small. Similarly, interior designers tend to avoid dark color schemes for smaller spaces. Instead, add bright and warm lighting through sconces, chandeliers, and pendants that are ideal for lighting a room without taking up floorspace. The brighter your room is, the more open, airy, and larger it can feel.
Reflect light (and good style)
Gardner White
Here’s a simple yet highly effective interior design trick: Use mirrors in your space to create the optical illusion of more space. Decorative wall mirrors and other reflective surfaces like mirrored furnishings can make even the smallest room feel endless. Plus, furniture made of shiny metal and glass can reflect light and make your room feel even brighter and airier.
Shop Space-Saving Furniture Ideas by Room
Small living room furniture ideas
Small bedroom furniture ideas
Small dining room furniture ideas
Find Furniture for Small Spaces
Once you get the basics down, it’s time to choose the best furniture to outfit your small space. Remember the key is to find multipurpose pieces that fit the scale and theme of your room. Whether you’re in a small apartment, dorm room, or other space with minimal square footage, find the right pieces to create a blend of functionality, flexibility, and style.
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