One of the most common mistakes we see in small spaces: furniture that's too bulky for the room. Our recent apartment search led us through a few one-bedroom apartments. In a light-filled room that could easily have felt spacious, an overstuffed couch made it seem like a closet...
My husband kept asking if our furniture would fit. When I told him the bedroom (filled to the brim with a bulky dresser and wrought-iron bed) was bigger than our room now, he didn't believe me. Our perception of the space was totally thrown off by the oversized furniture.
Lightweight furniture doesn't have to be modern. The old-fashioned armchairs in this photo from The Rug Company have graceful curves and turned legs that keep them from seeming bulky.
It also doesn't have to be uncomfortable. This Lenox Sofa from Room and Board looks like a good place to stretch out. Although it has lots of cushioning, the low arms and thin legs make it appear visually lightweight.
When shopping for a small space, look for something that fits the footprint of your apartment while leaving some breathing room. A few options are furniture with legs, streamlined upholstered items, clear glass and plastic pieces, wire furniture, wall-mounted storage units, and furniture with a reflective finish. Add your own suggestions for visually lightweight furniture in the comments below.
Top and Bottom Photos: Knoll
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drooling over that couch.. i love.
view animalhouze's profile
That top picture is so absurdly gorgeous. I almost fell out of my chair.
view jennifer in sf's profile
what kind of desk is that in photo #1?
view zzzap's profile
Not sure about the desk, but the CB2 Graph Desk is close. Just not as sleek.
view Indy Jeffrey's profile
Keep the scale of the furniture proportionate to the room. I think that's what's you're really talking about, sarahc. The proportions of the massive furniture threw off your perception of the size of the room.
You wouldn't want everything "light and airy"--you may feel as if the room were going to float away...but, generally speaking:
avoid dark solid furniture like bookcases and sofas and the like. (Tables with lots of leg would probably be OK) Furniture painted in bright colours or covered in bright fabric also move towards the eye: so they can be perceived as heavier.
Keep furniture up and off the ground--everything ought to have legs, with the possible exception of bookcases and kitchen cabinets. (You really don't want to be trying to clean under 4" of space. Really, you don't)..
Try not to fill the corners of the room. For example, I have bookcases right flush to the corner--I was going for a built-in look. Turns out I closed the room down way more than just 10" If I'd left even 6" open on the side, the room would feel much larger. Same goes for endtables. (That's why suspending them from the wall can be so effective).
Keep surfaces clear.
Keep the path to the windows as clear as you can. Dress them lightly.
view Alana in Canada's profile
Oh man, that desk pic is total inspiration for me. I have a desk now but don't love it and want something small, simple and easy to move. In fact, my current desk is still in my garage almost three weeks after my move!
view rhodesj's profile
indy - haha, i was just telling my roommate how much i liked the graph desk, but man that desk in the photo is even more like what i really want.
view zzzap's profile
Beautiful pictures, but I just can't relate to a Knoll Desk that looks like a prop for a staged house. What would that desk look like with a laptop, desk lamp and the assorted cords power strips and transformer bricks? The problem for me is that in the real world it never looks like this. In fact, there isn't even an outlet near this desk! Inspireing? Yes. Practical? Not for me.
view TeoNYC's profile
Does anyone have a good source for modern sofa legs?
My current sofa has good lines, but it has stumpy bun feet and i've been meaning to replace them since i bought it. Its also a bit low for me so added height would be good. I'd like to go from 3-4" to 6-7".
Turned cone, taper, or even tube shape would be great.
view DahliaCactus's profile
That desk is from Knoll - http://www.knoll.com/products/product.jsp?prod_id=594&flag=cat&cat_id=76
Definitely want.
view dakman's profile