Try these small-home solutions to make compact rooms into functional, inviting spaces.
Do the littlest spaces in your home feel cozy and invitingor cramped and uncomfortable?
If it’s the latter, you don’t necessarily need tobuild an addition.
Credit: Josh Grubbs
You just need to figure out how to maximize the square footage you have.
Try these small-home solutions to transform your compact rooms into functional, welcoming spaces.
Always measure before buying furniture to avoid surprises.
Credit: Laurey Glenn
Usearea rugsto delineate various zones within the larger space.
The edges of each rug provide a visual cue about where one area stops and another begins.
In the kitchen, consider using a neglected corner for seating with abuilt-in banquette.
Credit: Dylan Chandler
For privacy, installsimple shadesor blinds that can be rolled up during the day.
Limit Your Color Palette
In small-space design, using too many colors can feel chaotic.
So select a few favorite shades and stick with them.
Credit: Dave Greer
In this living room, sky blue and rusty orange accent a neutral background.
Embrace Curves
Useround or curved elementsin a small room to create a smoother flow.
Add Small-Space Barriers
If two people share a small office, introduce physical barriers to separate workspaces.
Credit: David Tsay
Folding screens, bookshelves, and curtains can all act asroom dividersto create privacy or define zones.
Painted white like the walls, this fireplace blends in and avoids being a visual distraction.
The cohesive look makes the small room feel open and spacious.
Credit: Adam Albright
Put Walls to Work
Bathrooms are often the smallest room in the house.
Toenhance storage in a tight space, think vertically.
Place a tray on top to corral books and accessories or offer a sturdy surface to place a beverage.
Credit: Annie Schlechter
When needed, the ottoman can provide comfy seating for extra guests.
Even small mirrors expand the sense of space by reflecting views and light.
Let Small Rooms Breathe
Accessories personalize your space.
Credit: Graham Atkins-Hughes
But filling a small room to the brim will actually detract from it.
Introducing too many prints in tight quarters will create confusion.
In this bedroom, a little bit of pattern on the bedding goes a long way.
Credit: Paul Costello
The designs are subtle and small in scale, establishing a sense of texture within themonochromatic blue palette.
Allowing elbow room between the wall and seating gives the impression of depth and space.
Smaller, portable pieces that can be rearranged give you layout flexibility, which is especially helpful when entertaining.
Credit: Edmund Barr
Here, a lightweight table, an upholstered settee, and two bistro chairs form acozy dining area.
To give your room the illusion of spaciousness,bathe it in white.
White surfaces bounce light around the room, making a small space feel bright and open.
Credit: Edmund Barr
Lean Into Coziness
Small rooms feel cozy and intimate by nature.
Embrace that feeling by decorating with ample texture and warmth.
Choose furniture and textiles that feel plush and inviting, and layer in pillows and throws for extra comfort.
Credit: Brian Mc Weeney
Bonus points if you add a fire feature, like this little stove.
Double Up
Tap into wasted space to create bonus storage.
Drawers built in beneath thiswindow seatcan hold extra linens, dishes, entertaining supplies, and more.
Credit: Laurey Glenn
Add a bookshelf to your kitchen or pantry for your most-used items.
Eliminate the obstacles, and you create a sense of limitlessness.
The transparent surface also allows the table’s decorative base to shine without weighing down the space.
Credit: David Greer
Rattan chairs further contribute to the airy feel and visual openness.
For example, a daybed anchors this living room and creates space for guests to sleep.
Keep extra pillows and blankets nearby to ease the transition from seating area to sleeping quarters.
Suggested paint color: Silver Mine PPU26-18, Behr.Credit: Peter Molick
In this bedroom, a shiplap accent wall achieves this effect without overpowering the room.
The soft white paint color ensures the breaks between boards are noticeable without visually breaking up the space.
Create Counter Space
If your kitchen lacks counter space, look to temporary solutions.
Credit: Annie Schlecther
This freestanding unit adds a work surface next to the stove, compensating for the storage shortage.
Look for bar carts on wheels for mobile use or tables that fold flat for extra space-saving capabilities.
Carve Out an Office Area
No room for an office?
Credit: Dane Tashima
You don’t have to sit at the dinner table to get your work done.
Use Fold-Down Furniture
Small spaces beg for stowaway furniture.
The quick setup and tear-down makes it easy to transition the room between dining and living space.
Credit: David Land
Sleek pale-blue lockers house bulky jackets, while a rolling cart holds laundry supplies.
Choose Small-Scale Furnishings
Small spaces are quickly overwhelmed by large or overstuffed furnishings.
Instead, choose neatly upholstered pieces with compact frames and slimmed-down silhouettes.
Credit: Laurie Black
Make Space in a Small Hallway
Small homes mightlack a designated entryway.
When you’re squeezed for space, use furniture to demarcate the entrance while keeping it visually light.
Vintage suitcases stowed beneath keep this table from looking like a design afterthought.
Credit: James R. Salomon
But one oversize piece of art can create a strong focal point that actually opens up a tight space.
Here, a graphic painting perched on aconsole tabledelivers a dramatic performance.
The rest of the room remains neutral and subdued, giving the artwork a chance to shine.
Credit: Annie Schlechter
Repurpose a Foyer Table
Squeeze more function into small spaces by looking up.
The table’s height and long legs play up the room’s vertical dimension.
The open space beneath both it and the console vanity contribute to the room’s airiness.
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