It's always fun to peruse photos of small-space design projects in search of helpful tips for small-space living. There's a lot we can learn from this 700-square-foot Bernal Heights home from S.F.-based Amoroso Design; the designers have employed a few clever and easy tricks for making a tight space comfortable and functional.
A few small-space solutions at work in this colorful little abode:
• Nesting tables. These are a no-brainer for those of us living in tight spots. Keep them "nested" most of the time, and drag them out when you've got guests.
• Ottomans as bonus seating. A couple of small ottomans serve as comfy bonus seating, but most of the time, tucked up against a wall, they just add a nice balance to the space, serving the same function as a bench or console table.
• White ceilings. They open up the space and lend it a light, airy feel. If you don't like white, a good rule for ceiling paint is to mix your wall paint with white, half and half.
• Storage table. Using a trunk or a chest for a coffee table provides some much-needed storage to help you avoid clutter.
• Bottom-up window shades. In a small space, you need all the light you can get, but privacy is of course important too, since truly private space is at a premium in a small home. Bottom-up shades provide the best of both worlds.
To see more work from Amoroso Design, check out their online portfolio.
(Images: Amoroso Design)
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Comments (21)
I always love tips on small space living, and I especially like the pop colors in this little home. The art is wonderful!
nice tips, although I find from-the-bottom shades totally weird.
http://mylittleapartment.blogspot.com/
I do like the idea of bottom up shades, but that top pic is NOT a "small space" in terms of the sizes many of us have to work with.
I long for floors other than carpet....*sigh*.
Our space is about 880sqft w/ 2 bedrooms, 2 bath. It's feels small at times ...but that might be because I have three wild little boys.
Gorgeous wall colors.
So fresh!
I'm liking everything about this home. I could move into this place with little more than my clothes and be content for quite some time. And that living room rug! *drools*
I dig the circular shape echoed throughout the living room. And I always love a good blue and orange combo--so bright and cheery!
beautiful, clean and classic, with wonderful colors
my little apartment: I have window shades that I suppose can be called "bottom-up" but they also can be pulled down the normal way too. These are great if you have large nearly wall-height windows: allows me to let in light from the bottom and top of my windows but grants me some privacy from nosy neighbors by shading most of the middle.
Nice home. However, am I the only one that finds small ottomans as occasional or bonus seating uncomfortable? I had two cube ottomans. And I found that my guests would rather plant themselves on the floor around the coffee table than sit on the ottomans.
I've since replaced them with two Eames DCMs (inexpensively bought at auction), which have an equally small footfront (approx 18 inches by 18 inches each) and, therefore, take up little space in the corner of my living room when not in use.
We actually installed half shutters in our windows. They don't look as odd as the half shades, and we can adjust them depending on the amount of light.
Dont know if this is an odd/stupid question, but is the carpet on the staircase actual carpet? or a rug? from the photo, it looks like it is a rug (looking at the edge) but i dont understand how you'd get a rug to sit so perfectly! would love to have that kind of look on my staircase!
Not my kinda thing/palette/layout... I find the sofa too big for that wall... rather have a smaller sofa w/ side table... A sectional would have been a good solution...
Not a good solution for that empty wall by the side of the sofa also, seems empty
Pictures layout and sizes don't work there either...
where to get those "bottom-up" shades?
rawja-- I think it's a sisal runner.
I could swear I posted a comment, but I don't see it. Any info on the paint color in the second pic?? Love it! Love all the colors in the home.
thanks, phillylass i think you are correct - but how does the runner stay in place so neatly and tuck in under the overhang of each step so nicely? anyone have any idea?
@my little apartment As someone who lived 10 years in a street level apartment (that had a temporary bus stop in front of the building for a year and a half) I have to say my jury-rigged bottom-up window shade was a god send.
The landlord once suggested removing the window to increase privacy but since this was the only source of real sunlight in the whole place I had a friend rig up a bottom-up window shade from a standard hardware store fabric shade.
Hey... Hey Now Texas...
The blue color in the stairwell is Benjamin Moore #2056-60 blue seafoam. A bit brighter in real life!
aurelais, we got our bottom-up cellular shades at Home Depot. I think they were the Bali brand. They were less than $100 each for the double-celled version and they've held up well for several years now.