When you live in a small house or apartment, fitting in everything you need can be challenging. Fitting everything in and making it look stylish can be an even bigger challenge. Think of it this way: it can be what makes designing for a small space so fun. Coming up with clever design solutions to your small space dilemmas makes it all the more worthwhile in the end. Whether you want to make the most of your studio space apartment or maximize a tiny room in a small house the following small space design ideas will help the space feel so much larger while still maintaining that style factor you’re after.

 

1  Be Resourceful 

When space is limited and you don’t want to shop for new furniture, use a chair as a side table and install wall sconces to save surface space. Instead of a chair and for a sleeker more modern look, you can also install a small floating shelving unit by your bedside. Painting the walls a bright cheerful color like this pale, turquoise hue will also help to set a happy mood in a tiny room.

 

2 Hide The Utilities

In this restaurant space below, designer Toledo Geller used drapery to cleverly conceal
pipes and HVAC which created an elegant look and avoided visual chaos.

3 Downsize Your Dining Table

Small round tables aren’t just for breakfast nooks. Trade in your giant dining table and
opt for a small, round dining table, giving you loads of extra space as designer Emily
Henderson did in this space.

4 Mount Your TV

A media console is the biggest space waster in a small living room. To gain extra floor
space, mount your TV on the wall or above a fireplace. You’ll also achieve a sleeker
more streamlined look.

5 Do Double-Duty

Pieces that can serve multiple purposes are key: Find a table that can function as a
desk and a dining table, get a deep sofa that can double as a guest bed, or buy cubes
that serve as a coffee table and bonus seats when guests are over.

6 Use Mirrors

It’s the oldest design trick in the book. Mirrors will make your space feel larger, lighter,
and airier. A fun convex one pictured here adds an element of creativity and personality
without taking up a ton of space.

7 Keep It Neutral

Calm, even-toned rooms fool the eye into thinking they’re more spacious than they are.
Make sure to add a variety of textures to keep the space from falling flat.

8 Get A Wall Desk

Do you think you have no room for a home office? Think again. A mounted wall desk
like the one pictured below takes up much less space-and you can mount shelves
above it for even more storage. Designer Tariq Dixon creatively transformed an unused
corner by installing a great functional wall-mounted desk.

9 Forgo Bulky Pieces

Although under the sink storage can be great, larger vanities with a lot of drawers and
cabinets can end up looking oversized and awkward in small spaces. In this bathroom
designed by Studio B, the dainty marble vanity has plenty of surface space and the
extra towel tracks and hooks take care of storage needs.

10 Build A Partial Glass Wall 

Tearing down walls, enlarging windows, or swapping solid doors for glass opens up
views and connects adjacent spaces making your small space feel much bigger.