apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

This cushy seat is made private by a surround of gauzy fabric. It instantly creates a "reading nook" of sorts even for those without an architectural nook.

Solution 2: The cabinet at the end of the dining table shown above is a small space solution we will be implementing ourselves. We have a similarly arranged dining table with one end up against a wall (no room to float). The addition of this glass-fronted storage cabinet at the end of the table is an efficient way to add a little dish storage where the end of the table meets the wall.

Solution 3: Open shelving. The open shelves in the kitchen above are visually much lighter than enclosed cabinets. Shelving is installed all the way to the ceiling, with less-used items at the top (like those cake pedestals), and frequently used items within closer reach. Hanging mugs beneath the lower shelf makes them accessible without taking up valuable shelf space.

Solution 4: Lighten up. As we often see in Swedish interiors, white lightens the spaces and makes for a brighter disposition inside even if it's gray and dim outside. White doesn't have to mean perfect: the whitewashed floors and walls of these interiors still show age and wear. White also doesn't have to mean stark: some of these spaces have a warm, buttery color to them. The key to appearing expansive is that the white-ish tones of the surfaces are relatively uniform.

See these small space solutions and more Swedish interiors at In My Carport