Small Space Decorating

The small-space dwellers in these six studio apartments are happily living a maximalist decor style despite their home's small square footage.

Modernist company KitHAUS recently debuted a new line of prefab homes.

Part of my motivation behind doing the Style Cure this year was to reclaim our main living space. It has been a whirlwind of a year for us and we pack a lot of living into not a lot of square footage. Unfinished projects, leftovers from our wedding and all of the (amazing) gifts from our guests left us with an apartment that felt like it was always almost there, but not quite.

I don’t know about you, but when I think of a shared kids’ bedroom, my mind immediately goes to two twin beds side by side, or maybe bunk beds. (Or if you’re as unlucky as my sister and I were, a shared full bed. We often daydreamed about building a wall right down the middle of the bed!) If you let yourself start to think outside of the box, there are so many creative solutions to a shared kids’ situation. Here are a few of my favorites from our archives: Short on space?

Whether you’re sharing a studio or seriously small one-bedroom with a partner or making a tiny two bedroom work with a roommate, sharing a small space presents a whole set of stresses beyond just sharing a space. Here’s how to live a little more harmoniously with someone else in an extra small home. 1. Make a furniture plan What we mean to say is, don’t just meld two households full of stuff into one tiny space and just hope that it’ll work.

So, you’ve decided your kids are going to share a room which means you have two beds (or a bed + crib) to fit into the room. The size and shape of the room may guide or dictate where you place the beds, but it’s worth taking a look at some different bed layouts to see if they spark inspiration for you. Probably the most traditional layout, this formation has a nice visual symmetry and conveys a sense of each child’s claim to the space being equal.

You know how, when you have a new interest, it’s suddenly all you can see? Just as a newly-expecting couple might see babies everywhere they look, so it is with me and bikes. I’ve recently decided to buy one, and find myself checking out others’ wheels 24/7 these days.

Three or more kids in one room is no easy feat, but these parents rose to the task with panache. If you, too, have space constraints, or just desire a little extra bonding time for your children, get inspired by these real life rooms for three. Have you tried having more than two children share a room? How did it work, and would you recommend it? TOP ROW: 1. The Figgle Family’s Cozy First Home 2. Something for Everyone in Parker, Monty, and Elliott’s Room 3.

When it comes to design, sometimes you just have to go bold, and small spaces are perfect for giving your imagination free rein. Constraint breeds creativity, and corners, ceilings, closets, nooks, and crannies can all be converted easily into luxurious, dream-like spaces with a bit of verve and paper. Top Row: 1. Patterned hallway in Anna Spiro paper from Adore Home Blog. 2. Wallpapered ceiling in reading area from Caldwell Flake via House of Turquoise. 3.

Just because you can’t actually make a room bigger, doesn’t mean you can’t trick the eye into making it appear and feel bigger. One of the most effective ways to do this is to draw the eye upward toward the ceiling making the walls seem higher and giving the room an air of expansiveness. Here are eight real-room examples—not all of them are small—but you can apply the ideas to your own small room. Embellish the ceiling.

Our recent roundup of twin beds elicited many comments from readers convinced that twins don’t make much sense because kids might outgrow them. But what about shared rooms and space constraints? My twins share a room and are perilously close to climbing out of their cribs, so we are looking at big kid beds. For our home and needs, it makes sense to buy twin beds that can be converted to bunk beds in a few years. In the course of shopping around we have learned a few things.

We love small spaces. We love them for their lower energy and heating bills and because they force us to edit, organize, and reduce our accumulation of stuff. But most of all, we love them because there seems to be no end to what you can do with them given some creative planning! Here are 25 of the top small space living posts we wrote this year.

It’s no secret that we at Apartment Therapy love color, even (er, make that especially) in small spaces. While the rest of the internet might still be spewing the “paint it white to make it seem larger” line, we know that a bold shade can bring energy and a sense of expansion to a modest room. Have a small bedroom and want some paint ideas beyond white and gray? We’ve got you—and your walls—covered.

The space above a refrigerator is often overlooked and underused. It’s not particularly accessible for oft-used items, but it’s a shame to have the space go to waste, especially in a small kitchen. I looked at a selection of real homes to see how people were using this space. Some of these examples involve clever built-ins, but many will work for renters, too. Simple shelves were installed on the wall above the fridge to hold a few cookbooks and some barware.

Do you live in a small space? Do people sometimes confuse your bedroom for a closet? Can you reach your kitchen sink from your couch? If you’re looking for ways to make your space more livable without spending a ton, you’ve come to the right place. Here are three classic ways to make living little work for you: 1. Lighting Small is one thing, but small and dark is quite another. Almost nothing has the power to transform the a room like good lighting.

Maybe you’re making room for a new baby’s nursery or that cave of collectibles you’ve always wanted. Or maybe you just like living small. No matter what your motivation is for maximizing your space, the best way to do it is by combining two functions into one room. Here are five classic double-duty room combos we see all the time, proving that when it comes to a thoughtful layout, you can kill two birds with one stone. 1.

Name: Lex, Lynn and LucyLocation: Financial District — Manhattan, New YorkSize: About 800 square feet including terraceYears lived in: 4.5 years — ownWhen Lex and Lynn moved into their one bedroom apartment in lower Manhattan, the view of the New York skyline took center stage. Their style was minimalistic — graphic black and white were favored over color for a look of grown up chic. But enter their daughter Lucy, and everything shifted.

Because it's all about getting creative.

Breaking the rules isn't just fun when it comes to design, it can actually pay off in the final product.

The oft-overlooked space could be a stunning place to rest your head.

The 10th Annual Small Cool contest has entered the free-for-all voting stage – every single one of our 189 entries are live and accepting thumbs up votes. Here’s a look at 10 fun-to-see homes from the past week to get you started but be sure to check out all the wonderful homes on our “All Entries” page to help send ALL of your favorites on to the next round!

Here we are, rounding the corner just before the home stretch. We’ve shared over 130 small cool homes with you so far and still have a few more days of new entries to come. Here are 10 entries that caught the eye of voters this past week; check them (and ALL of the competitors who are looking for votes) out and enjoy the supersized dose of small space inspiration and ideas.

Twelve years after our very first Small Cool contest and readers are still impressing us with sumptuous style, creative solutions and sage wisdom for living life to the fullest in a small home. Every year we are wowed with the display of small coolness and we are excited to host all this small space inspiration. Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest by sharing your home with our community, by commenting and voting for your favorites. And now, to congratulate our winners!

We’ve seen 25 homes so far in our 11th Annual (!) Small Cool contest and it’s already a memorable year. These homes all have square footage under 1000 square feet but miles of style to spare. Today, we’ve got a look back at some standouts from Week One, along with a link to ALL the entries so far. Dive in, peek inside these stylish small, cool homes and give all your favorites a vote to help them move on to the next round. (And if you haven’t entered yet, do that too!).

White paint isn't always the answer!

Max out your cook space with these savvy storage items.

Studio apartments are efficient, cost-effective options for living in the city of your dreams, whether it’s New York or L.A., but they don’t exactly offer much privacy. However, you can still create a soothing sanctuary that feels separate from the rest of your open-floor plan home without bringing in a contractor or spending a lot of money.

It looks way more spacious than its 80 square feet.

Name: Faith Blakeney Location: The Treehouse – Los Angeles, California Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: 2 years I spent a warm Sunday hanging out with Faith at her bohemian treehouse. She is one stylish lady (and, yes, she is the sister of Justina Blakeney). When Faith moved from New York a few years back, she looked at place after place on Craigslist only to get frustrated because she had her heart set on lving in Venice.

Name: LauraLocation: Brooklyn Heights, BrooklynSize: 600 square feet studioYears lived in: 7 In addition to maturing tastes, Laura had a practical impetus for taking steps to upgrade. She was about to start working from home and she wanted to feel good about spending a lot of time within the same four walls. The addition of a refined and beautiful small home office in the corner of her studio was the beginning of great things.

Seven smart ways to turn one space into two.

Whether you have a tiny two-bedroom loft on the outskirts of town or a teeny studio apartment in the heart of your city (or something in between, even!), chances are you’ve got a piece of furniture in front of your sofa known as the coffee table. Great for putting your feet up, eating dinner on, or displaying books and trinkets, the coffee table can also have a downside: It’s a bulky object taking up precious space. But that’s why you want to choose one that will work for you.

Name: Ross Weiner Location: Greenwich Village, New York, New York Size: 700 Square Feet Years lived in: 1 year; Owned With a love of the arts and a strong sense of style, Ross went about turning a bare studio apartment into a one bedroom home with charm to spare.

It may seem counterintuitive, but it works!

Turns out, your small space can be pretty AND practical.

When you have a small kitchen (I do), creative problem solving stops becoming a resume catchphrase and starts becoming a way of life. Configuring cookware and food and utensils—while trying to keep it all from looking like a mad scientist’s lab—isn’t easy. Here are 10 great posts in one place to offer some tips, tricks and inspiration for all of us fighting the good I-dream-of-kitchen-storage fight. Don’t neglect the space above your cabinets.

A lot of the kitchens we feature on this site are dramatic and beautiful and… well, huge. So today we’ve rounded up a selection of kitchens that are on the smaller side (some on the really small side) to inspire those of you who want a beautiful room for cooking, but don’t have infinite space. Above: this Parisian kitchen could not be any cuter, and is a great reminder that having a small space doesn’t have to mean skimping on style.

Cheap, easy, AND adorable? The holiday trifecta!

Each one of these homes is 400 square feet or under, but they're all well organized and good looking. Find smart storage solutions, double-duty furniture, and other clever ways to make the most of a small home.

Zach Klein is the co-founder of video platform Vimeo, but if you’re reading this here website, he might be more famous for his other project: Cabin Porn. What started in 2009 as a Tumblr quickly morphed into a pre-Instagram vision board for those who dreamt of getting away from it all and experiencing nature firsthand, preferably from a charming little cabin.

The diminutive residence offers 500 square feet of space, but thanks to its signature cathedral ceilings, space-maximizing design elements and bright interior, the home feels much more spacious than its meager measurements suggest.

When Brooke Cook came across a school bus converted into a tiny home on Instagram, she was smitten. Almost immediately, she and her husband started searching for a potential bus they could turn into a tiny house of their own.

Name: Juan Vasquez  Location: Highland Neighborhood; Denver, Colorado Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 9 years; Remodeled garage 1 year agoNine years ago, Denver resident, Juan Vasquez purchased a 1920s bungalow  in the bustling Highland neighborhood of Denver and set out to make it his own. Shortly after, he took on the project of renovating his old two car garage into a restful haven out back.

“Kids! It’s time to fold the toys!” Every parent should be conscious of what you’re bringing into your home for your kids to play with, but if you live in a small home the size of a toy can be a deal breaker. Mostly, I limit the sheer number of toys we have but another strategy I employ is to look for toys that store easily. Does it fold up to a smaller size? Can I tuck it in the closet or on top of our wardrobe? Suddenly a tricycle in a small apartment seems feasible.

Maxwell started Apartment Therapy here in New York. Lots of folks in this city were in need of design solutions tailored for their specific small-home challenges. Here, let’s take a look at some successful small homes from this capital of tiny apartment living:Most of these are from previous Apartment Therapy house tours, which are brimming with small home solutions that lots of us can take inspiration from. The homes’ locations vary from Brooklyn Heights to Chelsea.

Name: Suzi and Tchotchke, a 3-year-old schnoodleLocation: Yukon Studio Lofts, in Columbus’ Short North neighborhoodSize: 557 square feetYears lived in: 3 Suzi West has gone big by going small in her Short North studio condominium, which, in the living room alone, features show-stopping “branchelier,” a 3-foot-wide chandelier of white willow; an oversized zebra-print ottoman and an 8-foot-tall cupboard.

Name: Heather Moore & Paul Edmunds Location: Gardens, Cape Town Size: 860 square feet Years lived in: 9 When the opportunity came to visit the studio and home of textile designer Heather from SkinnyLaminx, we jumped at the opportunity! She shares her home with husband and fellow artist Paul Edmunds. It’s a living mood-board — with pieces of inspiration splashed about in a beautifully creative and aesthetic way.

Name: Viivi Arela Location: Helsinki, Finland Size: 230 sq ft room in a 805 sq ft apartment Years lived in: 1 year; Rented Living and working in a shared rental apartment hasn’t hindered Viivi’s creativity in personalizing her space. Pastel hues, simple silhouettes and inspiring color-coordinated vignettes lend to a peaceful and personal urban atmosphere, without (potentially landlord-upsetting) permanent modifications.

Name: Saana Sipilä & Olli Sallinen Location: Pohjola, Turku, Finland Size: 516 square feet Years lived in: 5 years; Rented Finnish textile designers Saana and Olli have made their home in a tiny yellow wooden house in Turku, Finland. Built in the 1890s, the space shows signs of age, but the couple’s thoughtful styling and furnishings compliment its well-worn appearance so well that one wouldn’t really want it any other way.

We’re dreaming up how four classic characters—Ramona, Nancy Drew, Eloise, and Junie B. Jones— would design their spaces today.

Austin is known for its live music scene, funky boutique hotels and nearby Hill Country, and one of its newest places to stay, The Wayback Cafe and Cottages, combines the charm of all three. Located on three Live Oak-dotted acres in the exclusive West Lake Hills neighborhood, The Wayback boasts eight board-and-batten style cottages, a restaurant led by the flavors of Central Texas and a handful of communal areas including a pool, fire pit and cabana.

Bunk beds usually conjure the image of summer camps or crowded kids’ rooms, but not here.

Everyone has a bit of a different take on small space living: it’s all about purging your stuff. No, it’s all about organizing your stuff. Wait, it’s all about storing your stuff! But one thing is for sure: you know an amazing small space when you see it. Small spaces are king on Re-Nest. Yes, we love them for their lower energy and heating bills, and yes, we love them because they force us to edit, organize, and reduce our accumulation of stuff.

Who could’ve predicted that living in a bus would be considered #homegoals? Well, when you get a tour of Buster, a former mining company bus-turned-decked out home, it’s not difficult to envision yourself setting up shop inside of a repurposed vehicle. Another one of Paved to Pines’ projects, Buster is one of those conversions that elicits an instant chorus of “oohs and aahhs,” and “When can I move in?

Even if you can cram 100 people into your tiny apartment for a party, it doesn’t mean you have room for 10 to sit down to dinner together. If you’re lacking seating, here’s a few ways to help your guests find a place to land!1. Folding Chairs: When extra seating is needed, folding chairs always seem to come to the rescue. They can be plain or they can be elaborate in design, but one thing is for sure, we appreciate their ability to tuck out of sight when not in use!

Blessed with only enough room for a twin bed? Trying to make a double work for two while you save up for that California king? Buying a bed that’s properly in proportion to your space (or your budget) means you’re usually left wishing there was a little more room to spread out at night. Not all of these strategies will work for your life, and some of them only give you extra space visually.

Name: Beth, Jeff, Ruby, and Fiona Location: Bixby Knolls, Long Beach, California Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; OwnedSet back off of a quiet street in Bixby Knolls is Beth and Jeff’s lovingly crafted one-story 1920s home, shared with daughters Ruby, 4, and Fiona, 9 months. But it wasn’t always so quaint. When they purchased the home six years ago, it was dilapidated and in desperate need of TLC.

The prefab cabin is on a peaceful, remote spot in New Zealand.

With IKEA’s annual Democratic Design Days happening in Sweden last week, information on all the new collections and collaborations are rolling out quicker than this robot can assemble an IKEA chair. The Scandinavian retailer has good news for folks who are constantly on the move: RÅVAROR, a new line of items that briskly transforms small spaces into smart spaces, and packs up just as easily.

A few months ago, we asked you to share your fave small space design tips and there were some great ideas! We loved your suggestions and enthusiasm and definitely picked up some fab tips for our own small space. After the jump, check out the compiled list and pick up a tip or two.4 Tips For Making a Small Office Feel Big 1) If you have a small space use small pieces that fit the scale of the apartment. Your space will feel bigger.2) Keep it clean!3) Get rid of the clutter.

Do you roll your eyes at those staged closets in catalogs with their 4 dresses and 2 pairs of shoes? If you don’t have enough closets — or any — you can still create a tidy exposed closet without getting rid of your wardrobe.Matchy, matchy. When your closet is exposed for all to see, the easiest way to create a seamless look is to have matching storage solutions. Shoe boxes, hangers, shelves, etc, should match each other, if not follow one color scheme.

IKEA has always been a go-to retailer for small space dwellers. Now, the inventors of flat pack furniture have revealed their next innovation, and it might just change everything about how we live. At their annual Democratic Design Days event on Tuesday, IKEA announced ROGNAN, an automated furniture system that is basically a Murphy bed on steroids. The unit is basically a movable wall, and can contain a combination of beds, closets, sofas, or desks.

Name: “Bebe Pelanne”Location: Manhattan, NY When we found out we were pregnant the search for a larger one bedroom or upgrade to a two bedroom began. However, if anyone has opened up the NY real estate section lately you will find the rent prices have soared. We decided to stay in our one bedroom, and divide the room. The actual space is 6′ x10.5′, which was surprisingly enough space for a nice nursery.

All a little reader really needs is a book, but a soft place to curl up, a light and maybe even a bit of privacy doesn’t hurt. I love the trend of repurposing kids closets as reading nooks. You can keep the door to make a secret reading hideaway or take the doors off to make small rooms seem bigger. Here are ten examples to inspire you: TOP ROW: 1. Miss G’s Closet Book Nook by Mama.Papa.Buba 2. Closet Nook for a Brother & Sister by Life with Daugs 3.

Recently I came across the image above of small bunk beds in the shared bedroom of 4-year-old twins and realized I’d never seen mini bunks like this. They are the same size as a toddler bed (i.e. the size of a crib mattress) and offer a stop-gap solution for parents looking to eke out another year or two in their current space. First, a word about safety: Although these beds are sized for toddlers—i.e.

Reversible and versatile, the IKEA Kura bed is shaping up to be a firm favorite of Scandi-style and budget-loving parents the world over. Its low profile means its perfect for small spaces and younger kids. But…is it possible you could make the Kura sleep two? Here are examples of some families who have done exactly that.

Sconces are the chameleons of small space lighting — they blend in anywhere, whether a bathroom, hallway, or bedroom. Here are 10 particularly compact and useful designs, from high-end Italian pieces to budget utility lighting. West Elm Their Flat Stock Single Sconce has a mirrored backing that reflects light, and it’s affordably priced at $59. There are double and triple versions as well. If you’re a renter, check out their non-hardwired Industrial Sconce, $79.

Extremely tiny bedrooms—like, not much bigger than the bed small—can be a challenge to decorate and arrange when you want to have a room that functions well and looks good. But Lisa Tilse of the blog We Are Scout made some smart and stylish decisions in her teenage daughter Roxy’s tiny bedroom. From Lisa of We Are Scout: The room is TINY! It measures 6.5 x 8.75 feet—which is just enough space for a double bed to fit across.

A lot of tiny houses look a bit like little dollhouses on wheels—peaked roof, petite double-hung windows, a tiny, almost vestigial porch. While these homes are, admittedly, adorable, it’s always nice to see something a little different. Like the Alpha Tiny House, whose designers embraced a more modern aesthetic—and a seamless connection between indoors and out.

Designers and amateur decorators always say that bedrooms are the spaces that get neglected most. After all, they’re never really on display when you have people over the way your kitchen, dining room and living room are, unless we’re talking overnight guests. But when space is tight, you must become strategic about your sleeping situations. Because you just might be sleeping where you entertain or entertaining where you sleep.

There’s a problem frequently encountered by designers of very small houses, which is that beds are very nice to have while sleeping, but, even when you’re not sleeping, they take up a lot of space. Our caveman ancestors, presumably, solved this problem by having beds that rolled up when not in use: more recently, designers of so-called “tiny houses” have gotten around this by lofting beds up high, with living space below.

Many a renter has dreamt of a dishwasher while sticking their hands into soapy water, scrubbing a stubborn pot. And while there are many benefits of a portable dishwasher, some kitchens just don’t have the space. Earlier this week at CES, Heatworks announced Tetra, a compact, smart and energy efficient dishwasher here to offer some sweet dishwashing relief for the dishwasher-less among us.