Small-Space Heroes

Compact rooms call for clever ideas to maximize their potential, both in terms of practicality and style, and furniture designed to be flexible in a tiny interior is worth its weight in gold. Solutions are available to suit all budgets and range from built-in benches with underseat storage to neatly proportioned antiques and contemporary classics. And more and more companies are considering small spaces in their latest products — Heal’s and Ikea are just two of the retail chains with furniture lines designed specifically for spatially challenged interiors. Check out these ideas to boost your sense of space and enjoy increasing the potential of your compact home.

Tuck away an undercounter table. Laptops are now commonplace in our lives, with more and more of us using them as the primary computer. For small interiors, where a kitchen or dining room has to double up as a workspace, consider a pullout, breakfast-bar-style table built into a kitchen unit. This can be used for eating at and working on, then can be easily slid back into place when not in use.

If you’re planning a new kitchen, look for companies that factor something like this into their designs. Alternatively, commission a carpenter to customize an existing cupboard to make space for one.


Make the most of vertical space with bunks. Bunk beds are a classic small-space solution and ideal for children’s rooms, where they provide a platform for adventure games, too. Source a ready-made piece or have a carpenter custom build something, allowing you to fully embrace the proportions of your room.

If the space is particularly wide, then longer bunks are great for sharing, top-to-toe style, when friends come to stay. Natural wood is a classic material and ideal for adding an authentic cabin feel. Accessorize with bedding in nautical shades of blue and white, and don’t forget the ladder for clambering up to the top bunk.


Maximize seating with a modular sofa. Sectional seating helps you make the most of a tiny living room, letting you add as many or as few pieces as the space will allow. A corner setup not only boosts the space allocated for sitting, but creates a cozy nook for sociable gatherings.

Here, because the seating sits just below window level, and with the help of a strategically placed Union Jack cushion, the eye is drawn to the window, subliminally linking the inside with the outside and making the interior feel larger than it is.


Select slimmed-down pieces. Vintage and antique furniture pieces often have petite proportions — we’re much bigger than our ancestors — and work well in tiny rooms. Look for small, slim card tables that are elegant enough to be used as bedside tables, and small, armless slipper chairs with low legs that will transform a tiny corner into a cozy reading nook.


Create just enough room for two. If there isn’t enough room for a dining table and you don’t entertain a great deal, then don’t waste valuable space on a large table and chairs. Instead, consider a tall, bistro-style table and a couple of high stools that can be tucked neatly into a corner and create a stylish nook for mealtimes.

Glass is a good choice for small spaces, as it doesn’t obstruct sight lines as much as solid materials, while shiny metals and glossy whites will help to bounce light around the space and open it up.


Create sociable seating in a small alcove. A built-in bench makes the most of a small alcove for seating many people. For best results, commission a carpenter to build one to your specifications and factor in underseat storage for a fabulously chic dual-purpose furniture setup.

Upholstery in rich velvet or linen is a smart touch. Consider using the same fabric for any window treatments to create an elegant but pared-down feel to the tiny space, and to give it a simple, harmonious look, rather than chopping up — and therefore shrinking — the space with different shades.


Invest in dual-purpose pieces. A slim, contemporary sofa bed is perfect for space saving and, of course, doubling up as a bed, whether for the occupant of a tiny studio or as additional sleeping space in a one-bedroom pad.

Look for unfussy styles and neutral tones in soft, tactile fabrics, such as wool and felt. Splashes of color and pattern can be introduced with cushions and throws, which can regularly be changed for an instant decor update.


Scale it up to trick the eye. In a compact bedroom, use the play-with-scale technique often adopted by hotel chains to make their rooms feel large and sumptuous: Use a big headboard to fool the eye into thinking the room is more spacious than it really is. An upholstered one in soft linen or wool, accompanied by a pile of pillows and soft, layered bedding, will further emphasize the feeling of luxury and comfort, and add a sense of importance to a small space.

More: Houzz articles on outfitting a great small space

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