Smart small space: 12 Smart Designs for Small-Space Living

12 Smart Designs for Small-Space Living

The Hardworking Home: Furnish your compact rooms more efficiently with these creative built-ins and adjustable pieces

In a compact living space, each piece of furniture should earn its keep. These 12 ideas — including adjustable tables, sliding bookcases and nesting and expanding furniture — make the most of small-space living.

Kimball Starr Interior Design

1. Adjustable-height table. A sleek glass-top table with an adjustable base allows you to quickly change a lounge area with a coffee table to a dining area. With a cushy corner banquette, the zone will be just as comfortable whether you’re grabbing a bite or settling in to watch a movie.

Raad Studio

Raad Studio

2. Sliding bookcase. Take advantage of potential floor-to-ceiling storage space over the stairs by mounting a bookcase on a track system. When positioned over the staircase, the shelving is out of the way, freeing up extra room in the living area. Simply slide it back into the room when you want to access the shelves.

See more smart storage features in this home

Black and Milk | Interior Design | London

3. Murphy bed with a twist. Rather than folding down over empty space, this

Murphy bed was designed to fit perfectly over a sofa, so no furniture shifting is needed at bedtime. Just flip down the back cushions of the sofa, lower the bed and voilà! — room transformed.

How to Add a Murphy Bed

Black and Milk | Interior Design | London

Black and Milk | Interior Design | London

4. Expanding dining table. With help from a leaf (easily stored in a nearby closet), what appears to be a simple Parsons-style console table transforms into a

full-size dining table with room for six. Bonus: The cube-shaped ottoman tucked into a tiny closet office here detaches into six stools.

See more of this multitasking London studio

Ute Günther wachgeküsst INNENARCHITEKTUR+DESIGN

5. Pullout work surface. Kitchens sometimes incorporate pullout cutting boards to create extra counter space — why not have a pullout desk? Fully extended, it offers plenty of room to work on a laptop, but when you need the space, it quickly slides away.

Géraldine Laferté

6. Fold-up dining table. When this unassuming wood panel is folded up, there is more room for maneuvering in this small kitchen — folded down, it becomes a dining table for four. The tops of the sleek white bench seats open to reveal storage inside.

Géraldine Laferté

Géraldine Laferté

7. Built-in secretary. A common detail in Craftsman homes, the built-in secretary is a clever way to sneak a work surface and storage into a small space. If the storage is skipped, having a drop-down desk installed is a fairly simple project for a pro or handy homeowner to tackle.

Work with a local carpenter to design custom built-ins for your home

8. Nesting coffee table and benches. With the desk folded up and a set of nesting benches and a coffee table pulled out from beneath the small sofa, this workspace is transformed into a seating area.

Géraldine Laferté

9. Murphy loft bed. Instead of being positioned lower on the wall like a typical Murphy bed, this version folds up high, allowing the lower level to remain usable, even when the bed is down. A ladder (stowed away in a closet between uses) provides access to the bed, while high built-in storage becomes a nightstand.

See the rest of this project

Julie Nabucet Architectures

Julie Nabucet Architectures

10. Slide-away bed. In this unique arrangement, a full-size bed can be slid partially underneath the raised floor, transforming (with the help of a few pillows) into a couch. With the bed out of the way, sleek built-in storage cabinets become a useful part of the living space.

CDA DESIGN

CDA DESIGN

11. Mirror magic. While mirrors cannot literally add space, their value should not be underestimated. Wall-to-wall frameless mirrors give a small apartment a grander feel and make a room look far larger than it is.

Brighten up your space with a contemporary wall mirror

Specht Architects

12. Smart stairs. Space beneath the stairs should be put to work in a compact space, and what better way than with perfectly fitted storage compartments? An open-sided, rather than walled-in, staircase keeps a small room feeling more spacious and allows light into the upper level.

Tell us: Do you live in a small space? How do you make it work?

More:
How to Design and Lay Out a Small Living Room
15 Rooms That Excel at Double Duty

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15 Space-Saving Furniture Solutions for Small Spaces

Transformable Pieces to Maximize Your Home

By

AphroChic

AphroChic

Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason are AphroChic, a husband-wife duo of professional interior designers who cover luxurious and modern home decor products inspired by cultures around the globe.  

Learn more about The Spruce’s
Editorial Process

Updated on 06/26/23

The Spruce / Alyssa Vela

Small spaces don’t always offer enough storage or floor space to live comfortably, but even the tiniest apartments can feel roomy with the right space-saving furniture. From micro-loft apartments to tiny homes, small spaces create opportunities for a streamlined, minimalist approach to your home’s design and decor.

Many furniture designers offer solutions with items that transform into something else or fold up neatly when not in use. Whether you’re thinking about downsized living or have a small space at home that could use some customization, discover these 15 transformable pieces that will make small living feel larger than life.

What Is Transformable Furniture?

Transformable furniture is a piece of furniture that has more than one function. It usually converts from one component to another, reducing the number of furniture pieces in a particular space. This feature is handy by giving you more floor space and often more storage.

• 01
  of 15

  Use a Murphy Sofa Bed

  Make Space

  If your space is so small that you need help deciding whether to have a comfortable bed or entertainment space, look at Resource Furniture. This can be your go-to for transforming furniture pieces in every room of your home, like the Nuovoliola 10 Murphy Bed.

  Hidden away in a cute little three-seat sofa, this queen-sized murphy bed disappears seamlessly into the decor and transforms with hardly any hassle. The shelf above the couch even transitions smoothly into the foot of the bed, offering additional nighttime storage without any extra attachments.

  How to Choose a Murphy Bed

• 02
  of 15

  Decide on Art or Chairs

  Studio Dror

  If you have more wall space than floor space, yet you still need extra seating whenever company comes, Studio Dror has just the thing for you. Created by ingenious designer Dror Benshetrit, the Pick Chair takes just a second and only one hand to morph from exquisite wall art to comfortable seating (and back to art).

  If you appreciate Dror’s designs, check out the rolling Tumi suitcase that expands by stages, ending up twice as large as its original size. In just a few snaps, you are back to a modestly-sized carry-on that is easy to store without taking up too much extra space in your home.

• 03
  of 15

  Get a DIY Loft Space

  Home Crux

  The great thing about an industrial loft space, even a small one, is the open floor plan that allows you to develop several options for furniture arrangement. If you have high ceilings, you may have an amazing amount of usable space overhead. With the Vancouver, Canada-based brand, Expand Furniture, you can monopolize that space with transformable space solutions. 

  Take a look at the do-it-yourself loft space that offers more area in which to live and more floors on which to enjoy it. It may not turn your loft into a duplex, but you can add a home office, a bedroom, or even just extra storage space while helping to define and separate the rooms beneath. This innovation allows you to use more of your available vertical space.

• 04
  of 15

  Pullout a Desk or Bed

  Inhabitat

  Even though transformable furniture pieces are perfectly suited for small-space living, you can still live in a small space to appreciate them fully. If you have to decide whether you can have an office or a bedroom with the right transformable pieces, you do not have to choose one.

  Instead of pairing a bed with a sofa, the Majestic from Hiddenbed puts a queen-sized bed inside a classic-looking, secretary-style writing desk. Once the desk folds into a bed, the writing surface slips easily beneath, offering under-the-bed storage. Even more impressive, once you bring the bed down, you have a pair of valuable shelves that sit over the bed for holding any nighttime necessities. This innovation gives you twice the room in half the space.

  The 7 Best Bunk Beds of 2023 for Adults and Kids

• 05
  of 15

  Fold a Kitchen

  Design By Goci

  Kitchen space is also at a premium in a small home. A hardly existent kitchen can make preparing a full-sized meal challenging. Goran Goci Bjelajac, a Helsinki, Finland-based designer, has developed an answer.

  Goci offers the best of all worlds: a fully functioning kitchen that conveniently folds into a stylish-looking box that sits quietly in the corner until you need it again. This convertible culinary station features a refrigerator, oven, cooktop, and dishwasher. The expanded kitchen can also be placed into several different configurations, all taking up various amounts of space and returning to its original, space-saving box form.

• 06
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  Reveal A Secret Kitchen

  Archiproducts

  Another incredibly clever kitchen option, the PIA Pop-Up Kitchen from Dizzconcept, is designed to give every appearance of a modern and stylish entertainment cabinet. It can even hold a television on a wall mount on the inlet at the front of the cabinet.

  When its doors open to 90- or its entire 120-degree span, an astonishingly well-appointed kitchen is revealed to include a dishwasher, waste disposal cabinet, and integrated refrigerator, along with a fully integrated hood, LED lighting, electrical outlets, and an open shelf that can hold a freestanding microwave oven. The doors are 6 inches deep and can store dishes and utensils, bottles, and other cookware. The 6-foot-long countertop includes a sink, faucet, and stovetop.

• 07
  of 15

  Expand Nesting Bookshelves

  Not every small space needs a miraculous solution. Sometimes, all you need is extra storage space. Unrivaled masters of elegant minimalism, Japanese designers have been meeting small space questions with innovative answers for years. A perfect example is the simple expanding bookshelf by the Japanese design company Nendo.

  When open, the Nest Shelf grows from a collapsed size of about 2 feet to a fully extended length of just over 4 feet. There are also two other size adjustments, helping you meet your storage needs with minimal fuss.

• 08
  of 15

  Transform a Small Desk Into a Long Table

  Resource Furniture

  Another offering from Resource Furniture, the Goliath transforms from a small writing desk into a full dining table. Available in indoor and outdoor materials and sturdy, reflective glass construction, this 17.5-inch desk uses lightweight aluminum leaves to expand to just over 9 feet, with enough room to seat 10 guests comfortably.

• 09
  of 15

  Enlarge a Coffee Table for Dining

  The Ozeta Studio designers in the United Kingdom have a series of transforming tables. The Mondial can switch from being a 9-inch tall coffee table to a 31-inch tall 6 to 8-person width-expanding dining table in a matter of minutes with a gas-powered mechanism. The tabletop and base materials are fully customizable from marbleized glass, white glass, and wood, including rolling wheels for maneuverability. This company delivers to the United States; expect steep delivery fees.

• 10
  of 15

  Get a Table That Grows With Your Needs

  Based in Canada, Save Space Furniture is another company focused on turning coffee-type tables into dining tables. The Largenta table can rise to 30 inches tall and expand to about 77 inches long, seating eight people comfortably. It sits about 11 inches high and 47 inches long as a coffee table.

  The Valento is smaller, about 67 inches long and 29 inches tall, while the Rio is the smallest of them, seating about six people. The tables come in different finishes, like white gloss, black gloss, and wood stains. Save Space Furniture regularly ships to the United States.

• 11
  of 15

  Relax in a Transforming Ottoman Bed

  Metro Otto Kube

  Sofas that convert into sleepers are nothing new; however, ottomans that convert into a bed are more revolutionary. Look at the Relax a Lounger line available in big-box and online stores throughout the United States. The Metro Otto-Kube ottomans-turned-sleepers are a budget-friendly option for the occasional house guest. When not in use as a bed, they convert into a simple ottoman in many colors—black, navy, brown, and green—to name a few.

• 12
  of 15

  Mount a Wall Desk

  Wayfair

  Consider a Latitude Run Andersonville Desk if you’re looking for an occasional desk in a box that expands down from its picture frame set on the wall. The transformation couldn’t be more straightforward than releasing a simple latch and folding out the desktop and its supporting end piece. It includes four open shelves and an attached bookcase to store office supplies, writing utensils, or display decorative items.

  The desktop offers just enough space for a small lamp and laptop, accommodating about 20 pounds of items. The tabletop dimensions are 36 inches long by 22 inches wide and 26 inches tall. It’s made of manufactured wood; it isn’t the sturdiest construction but makes for an excellent sporadic-use item with several finishes.

• 13
  of 15

  Save Space With a Wall Bed With a Desk

  Casa Design

  Casa Design features Clei modular furniture with many space-saving options for desk beds, particularly the Adam Tavolo queen bed, a horizontally opening queen wall bed into a 5-foot-fold-down desk. Less than 13 inches deep when closed, it has two shelves above the bed that can be omitted to accommodate lower ceiling heights.

• 14
  of 15

  Hide a Three-in-One Bed, Bookcase, and Desk

  Expand Furniture

  The Compatto is a revolving decorative bookcase, queen size bed, and a 65-inch long table. It includes a 6-inch deep memory foam mattress. The table folds away, and the Murphy bed rotates 180 degrees while balancing books and items on the vertical shelf. The dinner or desktop table can seat four to six people. This high-quality Italian-made design frequently sells out. It has high-end finishes and a five-year warranty.

• 15
  of 15

  Unfold a Bookshelf Into a Table

  Murphy Bed NYC

  Murphy Bed NYC offers a convertible bookshelf that turns into a table or wall desk. Although it’s MDF with laminate, it’s sturdy and durable. The table dimensions are 28 inches high by 50 inches long and 33 inches wide. When it’s collapsed, it’s only 9 inches deep. This transforming table comes in white, brown, and light wood colors. It delivers for free anywhere within the United States.

15 Space-Saving Furniture Solutions for Small Spaces

5 ways to organize a small space smartly

A small apartment is a rational solution for living in a modern city. But small areas require a very reasonable approach to the organization of space.

Living in a small modern apartment, you want to organize the space wisely. Clothes, books, jewelry, utensils should be placed appropriately so that the tiny apartment is not overloaded with things. To get the most out of every square meter, rely on built-in wardrobes, open spaces, mirrors, transparent furniture, light colors and a good apartment designer.

Transparent furniture

Light kitchen set takes care of the small kitchen space without overloading it. And transparent furniture will give additional lightness – for example, ironic postmodern chairs made of transparent plastic of a classical form.

Open space

One of the main rules for organizing small apartments: get rid of as many walls and partitions as possible! The rooms should flow one into another, forming a single whole. And individual details can “respond” for zoning: textiles or lighting fixtures – both ceiling and floor. By the way, no matter how great the temptation to “roll up” the entire small apartment in white, bright accents still do not hurt – they will add depth and volume.

Floor-to-ceiling wardrobes

A whole Narnia is hidden behind the doors of capacious wardrobes – clothes, household appliances, and non-everyday items. A well-organized storage system allows you to use every centimeter of space, while maintaining the external order in a small apartment. By the way, if part of the wardrobe doors are mirrored, this will visually enlarge the space.

L-shaped sofa

Corner sofa is not only roomy and comfortable, it can become an additional storage space. And the “smart” modular design allows you to turn the sofa into a home theater, an extra bed or a cozy area for gatherings with loved ones. In addition, such a sofa serves as an excellent separator between the living room and the kitchen-dining room.

Accent on the bed

Even in a small bedroom, a bright color dominant is acceptable: the most logical thing is if it becomes a bed. You can highlight the part of the wall behind the headboard with color and support this color with curtains and bedding.

Natural colors

Natural colors are ideal for decorating a bathroom in a small apartment. The color of sand, clay, natural stone relaxes, psychologically warms and visually enlarges the room. You can add dynamics due to different textures. And the transparent partition of the shower cabin will allow you not to overload the limited space.

Discuss the project

If you didn’t find answers to your questions on the site, if you want to discuss the features of your object or future interior – fill out the form, I will contact you as soon as possible.

Ivanna

Private interior designer Ivanna Degtyarenko, 2006-2021

Personal data processing

5 tricks that should expand a small space (but they are not always successful) not always good

1 Light walls

Trying to make a small room as spacious as possible, at least visually, people start making mistakes even at the finishing stage. So, it is believed that light walls expand the space, increase it. White and other light colors can really do this, but you need to be smart about your choice of wallpaper or paint. It’s just that you can’t choose something “light” – in this case, the walls will be lost, and the room runs the risk of becoming faceless. It is much better to choose a light, but interesting, complex shade, such as olive or blue.

Instagram @enter_my_attic

Instagram @idstudiowarsaw

Instagram @gemmanicoleathome

2 Accent Wall

The main benefit an accent wall can give a room is a sense of depth. It seems to become voluminous and because of this it seems larger. But sometimes the accent design, on the contrary, flattens the room, makes its geometry distorted, changing the proportions of the room. For example, by placing an accent on a long wall in a narrow room, you will enhance the effect of the corridor. And by making the shorter side bright or dark, you can bring the space closer to a square shape. The palette also influences: dark, warm, saturated shades will bring the wall closer, and cold, as if diluted, will move it away. If the print or color for the accent wall is too active, it makes sense to highlight only its fragment, leaving the basic tone and texture on the sides.

Instagram @dazzuremodeling

Instagram @cozyandpolished

3 Glossy Surfaces

Gloss reflects light and can be easily abused. Often they make glossy facades in small kitchens, wanting to visually make it not so compact. But in a small room, an abundance of gloss from both above and below will only press from all sides. Make only the lower cabinets glossy, and replace the upper tier with open shelves – this combination will already help to expand the space. Another mistake is to make too many glossy surfaces in the living room, also striving to increase it. Gleaming shelving, cabinet fronts, a coffee table – all together will look redundant and will not increase the space. Stop at 1-2 objects that will reflect the light. A glossy stretch ceiling is also an unambiguously unsuccessful solution. This technique from a typical European-style renovation has become obsolete, without visually raising the ceilings in any room.

Instagram @thephillipshome_familyof4

Instagram @arqinspiraoficial

4 Furniture that blends in with the walls

When furniture is chosen to match the walls, it seems that it will not catch the eye and “free up” space in the room. However, such total interiors are a skillful thing and have nothing to do with small rooms. If you are afraid of the effect of congestion, then use a similar color scheme and play with shades, for example, pastels. If the room has very large furniture (wardrobe, shelving with a home library to the ceiling, TV wall), then it can be decorated in the color of the walls, but only on condition that other items create the necessary accents and “hooks” – so that what to pay attention to.