Small Spaces with a Sense of Humor

There's a saying that the five senses are incomplete without a sixth—the sense of humor. This seems especially true in our homes, where everything can be clean, beautiful, and perfectly in place, but still feel lacking if there's not anything funny or irreverent around to lighten the mood. Humor keeps things from feeling staid, and it give small spaces a bigger personality.

Michael & Danijela's Modern Minimal Milwaukee Home: A creative couple living in Wisconsin made their small Cape Cod house into a home that reflects their offbeat style.

Ji Lee's Playful Pad: This home, featured in Sight Unseen magazine, belongs to guerrilla artist Ji Lee. The teeny tiny ceiling living room is made of miniatures from a Jimi Hendrix doll set.

Kim's DIY Bathroom Artwork: The always-creative Kim of Desire to Inspire decorated her bathroom with homemade artwork that's pretty funny on close inspection.

Alan's Andersonville Loft: This Chicago home is full of cool, quirky details, like the Fornasetti Plates that make faces at the viewer.

Emily and Nate's Cozy Cocoon: More bathroom humor from a Boston couple living in a 700 square foot home.

Amy's Vintage Modern Nest: We love the little pig hanging out in Amy's entryway. She has a bunch of funny knick knacks from Chinatown and discount shops, strategically placed around her home.

Leigh's Rockridge Dollhouse: This Oakland home is less than 450 square feet, but it's got a lot of attitude.

Kim and Scott's Happy Yellow Brick Home: This Chicago home is warm, funny, and you've gotta love the Wild Thing hanging out on the bed.

APAK's Creative Cottage: Every part of this artists' cottage feels handmade and full of humor. We especially love the artwork.

Samantha and Jeremy's Fun House: This Oakland couple decorated their kitchen with He-Man memorabilia and a giant ice cream cone!

Photos: Elizabeth Setterfield, Johanna Lenander, Desire to Inspire, Janel Laban, Kyle Freeman, Brad Wenner and Leigh Poindexter, Kim and Scott Vargo, Molly Anderson, Monika Gromek

Comments (7)

I'm sure some would find it more annoying than humorous, but I love my pantheon that includes small statuette museum replica deities from many cultures, some Christian saints, R2D2, etc.

Used to have a rubber ducky on the bathtub.

There is a coiled dragon under the lavatory vanity in the few inches of clearance there.

Those are the masks from Breakfast at Tiffany's, right?

That guy is foxy! I love humor (it's good for your feng shui).

Okay I loved it. The masks freak me out a bit, but I loved it.

Yeah!! humor makes live alive. It is the most essential ingredient of our life. Moreover it prolongs our life span and makes us healthy at the same time. That is why it is necessary to have a laughing corner in every home.alpine white teeth

Oh, I do love a home that doesn't take itself too seriously! If the owners ever visit Sydney, with that love of Fornasetti, they should take a visit to this restaurant... http://www.restaurantassiette.com.au/. They might find the design to be to their taste (eep! That's way too close to a bad pun!).

The first one is disturbing. A little too Donnie Darko for me.