Designers Say Open Floor Plans Are Officially Dead — and This Tiny Room Is Taking Over

My husband and I recently moved to a new apartment in Los Angeles that came with a few quirks — like the random multi-purpose room that’s about the size of a walk-in-closet. The space felt so small and restrictive that we had no clue what to use it for at first. 

In recent years, at the height of open floor plan popularity, a tiny room like this might have posed a problem. But my designer friends say that’s no longer the case; they’re closing the book on light, bright, and airy, and embracing the merits of smaller enclosed spaces. I’m calling mine the “micro-den.”

As I said, at first we didn’t know what to do with such a tiny room; but after a few months we realized that we were actually using the space way more than expected. My husband works from home a few days a week, so he naturally began using the micro-den as a mini home office. And every evening I started using it to meditate as well. 

Who’d have thought that this room — which once felt restrictive and like a waste of space — actually held a world of possibilities within its four tiny walls! It’s become a designated cozy space to unwind for us, and designers say they’re seeing these types of spaces pop up everywhere again. 

“Micro-dens are rising in popularity as remote and hybrid work reshape our daily life, offering versatile nooks for a home office, home gym, or child’s playroom,” Estates Agent Alicia Rivett told me. “These small, intentional spaces prove that thoughtful design can make a home feel more functional, flexible, and livable!”

So, what caused such a dramatic shift? Not only are more homeowners opting to embrace their “dated” enclosed floorplans, but designers and architects are also now specifically carving out these tiny spaces. Apartment Therapy already reported on the rising “covecore” trend last year. 

These tiny, tucked-away spaces also offer a perfect opportunity to experiment with bolder design choices. These compact rooms are great places to experiment with color (jewel tones, in particular, are well-suited to small spaces) and texture. Darker, moodier design choices definitely make these tiny spaces feel like cozy cocoons, and help you shut out the outside world for a while.

“A micro-den creates a sense of pause, whether it’s for reading, listening to music, or simply disconnecting, in a way that large open rooms rarely do,” says Interior Architect and Founder of @studio.anva, Alyssa Anselmo. “These spaces feel protective and intentional, like the home is giving you permission to slow down and reset!”

As the outside world continues to be unpredictable, I suspect that micro-dens will only become more and more popular. So if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere with a tiny little room, maybe put down the sledgehammer for now; I don’t think this trend is going anywhere anytime soon.