16 Smart Ideas for Small Homes From People Who’ve Been There
Constraint breeds creativity. And in no place is this more true than in not-big homes. Give someone 1,000 square feet or less and he or she is bound to come up with clever design decisions that make home life more enjoyable. Here are 16 tricks from space-savvy homeowners to help get your creative juices flowing.
1. Reconsider corners.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Bronwyn Ferguson and Dave Lavelle, 2-year-old daughter Billie, newborn Macy and a Labradoodle
Location: Queenscliff, Sydney
Size: 947 square feet (87.9 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
In a tight space, sharp corners are your enemy. Avoid that awkward sidestep shuffle by going for round dining and coffee tables to create better traffic flow. It’ll make your space feel more open.
Read more about this small home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Bronwyn Ferguson and Dave Lavelle, 2-year-old daughter Billie, newborn Macy and a Labradoodle
Location: Queenscliff, Sydney
Size: 947 square feet (87.9 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
In a tight space, sharp corners are your enemy. Avoid that awkward sidestep shuffle by going for round dining and coffee tables to create better traffic flow. It’ll make your space feel more open.
Read more about this small home
2. Fill the bedroom with a large bed.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Kristen and Michael Parker
Size: 600 square feet (55.7 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Location: Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle
Nothing may make your home feel smaller than cramming into a small bed with your significant other every night. Don’t be afraid to go with a king-sized bed even if it’s going to fill the entire bedroom, as Seattle couple Kristen and Michael Parker have done. Skip the bulky nightstands and other furnishings and have your bedroom be about just a good, spacious night’s sleep. You won’t regret having that extra spot where you can stretch out, watch a movie on your laptop or read a book on a lazy afternoon.
Read more about this small home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Kristen and Michael Parker
Size: 600 square feet (55.7 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Location: Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle
Nothing may make your home feel smaller than cramming into a small bed with your significant other every night. Don’t be afraid to go with a king-sized bed even if it’s going to fill the entire bedroom, as Seattle couple Kristen and Michael Parker have done. Skip the bulky nightstands and other furnishings and have your bedroom be about just a good, spacious night’s sleep. You won’t regret having that extra spot where you can stretch out, watch a movie on your laptop or read a book on a lazy afternoon.
Read more about this small home
3. Use a multipurpose floating cabinet beneath your TV.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Abby Taylor and her cat
Location: Shoreline, Washington
Size: 717 square feet (66.6 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Year built: 2003
Media cabinets usually end up serving one purpose: holding the TV and electronics. In a small home, that’s not very efficient. Instead, consider a floating cabinet beneath a wall-mounted TV, like the setup shown here. The top can serve as display space or a home bar, while the cabinets can store electronics, movies or whatever else you need. Meanwhile, the open floor space below keeps things feeling airy and makes cleaning a breeze.
Cabinetry: Bestå, Ikea
Read more about this small home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Abby Taylor and her cat
Location: Shoreline, Washington
Size: 717 square feet (66.6 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Year built: 2003
Media cabinets usually end up serving one purpose: holding the TV and electronics. In a small home, that’s not very efficient. Instead, consider a floating cabinet beneath a wall-mounted TV, like the setup shown here. The top can serve as display space or a home bar, while the cabinets can store electronics, movies or whatever else you need. Meanwhile, the open floor space below keeps things feeling airy and makes cleaning a breeze.
Cabinetry: Bestå, Ikea
Read more about this small home
4. Keep a single comfy chair on hand.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Baylor Chapman of Lila B. Design
Location: Mission District of San Francisco
Size: Studio apartment: 850 square feet (78.9 square meters); deck: 500 square feet (46.4 square meters); one bathroom
If you share your small home with someone, it can be difficult to find private space. Having a single comfy chair on hand can create an intimate space where anyone can kick back and relax with a book or cup of coffee. Setting it in a corner or off to the side lets anyone else know that when you’re in this spot, it’s all about you-time.
Read more about this small home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Baylor Chapman of Lila B. Design
Location: Mission District of San Francisco
Size: Studio apartment: 850 square feet (78.9 square meters); deck: 500 square feet (46.4 square meters); one bathroom
If you share your small home with someone, it can be difficult to find private space. Having a single comfy chair on hand can create an intimate space where anyone can kick back and relax with a book or cup of coffee. Setting it in a corner or off to the side lets anyone else know that when you’re in this spot, it’s all about you-time.
Read more about this small home
5. Consider wall-mounted lights.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Lamont and Cori Magee, their cat and their Shih Tzu-poodle mix
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 750 square feet (69.6 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
In a cramped bedroom, every square inch of surface space counts. Instead of filling slim nightstand tops with bulky lamps, consider adding wall-mounted lights instead to free up that space for books, phones and more.
Nightstands: Malm, Ikea; sconces: TripleSevenHome
See more of this small home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Lamont and Cori Magee, their cat and their Shih Tzu-poodle mix
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 750 square feet (69.6 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
In a cramped bedroom, every square inch of surface space counts. Instead of filling slim nightstand tops with bulky lamps, consider adding wall-mounted lights instead to free up that space for books, phones and more.
Nightstands: Malm, Ikea; sconces: TripleSevenHome
See more of this small home
6. Stick to a color scheme for open shelves.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Andrew Holden and Perry Lowe
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Size: 1,000 square feet (92.9 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
In small kitchens, open shelving is sometimes inevitable. To make some sense of the madness, try sticking with only a few colors for any dishes on them. This will help cut down on some of the visual chaos. Here, the homeowners stuck to a pretty strict scheme of white, black, glass, copper and wood.
Read more about this small home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Andrew Holden and Perry Lowe
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Size: 1,000 square feet (92.9 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
In small kitchens, open shelving is sometimes inevitable. To make some sense of the madness, try sticking with only a few colors for any dishes on them. This will help cut down on some of the visual chaos. Here, the homeowners stuck to a pretty strict scheme of white, black, glass, copper and wood.
Read more about this small home
7. Get a clear acrylic desk.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Kristian Hansenand Megan Harmon
Location: North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 350 square feet (32.5 square meters)
One go-to designer trick in small spaces is to incorporate barely-there or see-through pieces. A clear acrylic desk, like the one shown here, is a great option to create display space or workspace without too much visual noise.
Peekaboo acrylic console table: CB2; 1940s Eames low occasional chair: by Evans forHerman Miller
Read more about this small home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Kristian Hansenand Megan Harmon
Location: North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 350 square feet (32.5 square meters)
One go-to designer trick in small spaces is to incorporate barely-there or see-through pieces. A clear acrylic desk, like the one shown here, is a great option to create display space or workspace without too much visual noise.
Peekaboo acrylic console table: CB2; 1940s Eames low occasional chair: by Evans forHerman Miller
Read more about this small home
8. Add a table for two.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Vicki Morton and her boyfriend
Location: Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: 615 square feet (57.1 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Sure, a large dining set for six might not make sense for your space and lifestyle, but a small table for two can have a big payoff. It won’t take up a ton of room, so you can tuck one in a tight corner or just off your kitchen. Being able to have a sit-down meal with your significant other or friend rather than sitting on the floor at your coffee table will make your home feel so much grander. It can also double as a work area, reading nook or table for a morning coffee ritual.
Saarinen round dining table: Design Within Reach; French Kitchen marble fruit bowl: Crate & Barrel
Read more about this small home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Vicki Morton and her boyfriend
Location: Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: 615 square feet (57.1 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Sure, a large dining set for six might not make sense for your space and lifestyle, but a small table for two can have a big payoff. It won’t take up a ton of room, so you can tuck one in a tight corner or just off your kitchen. Being able to have a sit-down meal with your significant other or friend rather than sitting on the floor at your coffee table will make your home feel so much grander. It can also double as a work area, reading nook or table for a morning coffee ritual.
Saarinen round dining table: Design Within Reach; French Kitchen marble fruit bowl: Crate & Barrel
Read more about this small home
9. Get a hanging rack for pots.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Joey Krietemeyer and Antoni Porowski
Location: Clinton Hill-Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: 600 square feet (55.7 square meters)
Small homes usually mean small kitchens. And that in turn means kitchen cabinets stuffed with food and utensils. A great way to free up vital cabinet space is to pull those bulky pans out of storage and hang them on a rack. It will put them within arm’s reach and even add a bit of shine to your space.
Ram’s head: The Evolution Store; frame for vintage flag: Ikea
Read more about this small home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Joey Krietemeyer and Antoni Porowski
Location: Clinton Hill-Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: 600 square feet (55.7 square meters)
Small homes usually mean small kitchens. And that in turn means kitchen cabinets stuffed with food and utensils. A great way to free up vital cabinet space is to pull those bulky pans out of storage and hang them on a rack. It will put them within arm’s reach and even add a bit of shine to your space.
Ram’s head: The Evolution Store; frame for vintage flag: Ikea
Read more about this small home
10. Hold out for furniture that has meaning.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Mitchell Pride
Location: Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle
Size: 450 square feet (41.8 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
This can be true for any home, but it’s extra important in a small space, where the things you have are always in your line of sight from almost anywhere you are. Plus, in small spaces, you tend to interact with your furnishings more, as the pieces you own often do double duty — your dining table is your office desk, for instance.
For the midcentury Danish teak dining chairs shown here, Mitchell Pride borrowed money from his parents and paid them back over time to get just what he wanted.
Dining chairs in previous photo: midcentury Danish teak (similar here)
Read more about this home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Mitchell Pride
Location: Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle
Size: 450 square feet (41.8 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
This can be true for any home, but it’s extra important in a small space, where the things you have are always in your line of sight from almost anywhere you are. Plus, in small spaces, you tend to interact with your furnishings more, as the pieces you own often do double duty — your dining table is your office desk, for instance.
For the midcentury Danish teak dining chairs shown here, Mitchell Pride borrowed money from his parents and paid them back over time to get just what he wanted.
Dining chairs in previous photo: midcentury Danish teak (similar here)
Read more about this home
11. Embrace minimalism.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Hillary Taymour and her blue merle Pomeranian
Location: Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: 700 square feet (65 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
It’s kind of a no-brainer, but if you’re looking to make the most of your space, having less stuff to fill it should be your first step. Ask yourself if you really need that TV and media cabinet, or two bulky nightstands, or a large dining table. Embracing minimalism and thinking about how your home can extend into the city around you — the library, coffee shops, parks, and so on — might help you reconsider the things you think you need.
Read more about this small home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Hillary Taymour and her blue merle Pomeranian
Location: Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: 700 square feet (65 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
It’s kind of a no-brainer, but if you’re looking to make the most of your space, having less stuff to fill it should be your first step. Ask yourself if you really need that TV and media cabinet, or two bulky nightstands, or a large dining table. Embracing minimalism and thinking about how your home can extend into the city around you — the library, coffee shops, parks, and so on — might help you reconsider the things you think you need.
Read more about this small home
12. Add more countertop space.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Sara and Joel Gasparotto
Location: Los Angeles
Size: About 850 square feet (78.9 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Don’t settle for the countertops you’re given. Look for carts, tables and cabinets that can offer more surface and storage space. Here, two thin wooden tables get the job done.
See more of this small home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Sara and Joel Gasparotto
Location: Los Angeles
Size: About 850 square feet (78.9 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Don’t settle for the countertops you’re given. Look for carts, tables and cabinets that can offer more surface and storage space. Here, two thin wooden tables get the job done.
See more of this small home
13. Provide flexible seating.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: David and Stacie Flinner
Location: Alamo Square neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 950 square feet (88.2 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
If you don’t entertain that often — most of the time it’s just you, or you and your significant other or friend, lounging around on the sofa — you might wonder why you have so much bulky furniture. Instead, considerChinese garden stools, benches and other flexible seating options that can be tucked away when not in use or can serve double duty as tables. That way you’ll have the extra seats on hand for when you do have people over, but won’t feel like your space is overcrowded with furniture when you’re just flying solo.
Read more about this small home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: David and Stacie Flinner
Location: Alamo Square neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 950 square feet (88.2 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
If you don’t entertain that often — most of the time it’s just you, or you and your significant other or friend, lounging around on the sofa — you might wonder why you have so much bulky furniture. Instead, considerChinese garden stools, benches and other flexible seating options that can be tucked away when not in use or can serve double duty as tables. That way you’ll have the extra seats on hand for when you do have people over, but won’t feel like your space is overcrowded with furniture when you’re just flying solo.
Read more about this small home
14. Splurge on a statement feature.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Eddie Lee and his dog
Location: Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan
Size: 1,000 square feet (92.9 square meters); two bedrooms, one bathroom
Oftentimes in small spaces, the decorating budget gets spread out evenly among the design decisions. To kick things up, consider splurging on a statement feature, such as covering a fireplace wall in a stunning accent tile, as was done in this New York City living room.
Tile: New California glazed brick in cobalt, Clé
See more of this small home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Eddie Lee and his dog
Location: Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan
Size: 1,000 square feet (92.9 square meters); two bedrooms, one bathroom
Oftentimes in small spaces, the decorating budget gets spread out evenly among the design decisions. To kick things up, consider splurging on a statement feature, such as covering a fireplace wall in a stunning accent tile, as was done in this New York City living room.
Tile: New California glazed brick in cobalt, Clé
See more of this small home
15. Create an entryway.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Annie Mistak
Location: Brooklyn Heights, New York
Size: 500 square feet (46.4 square meters)
Just because you have a small home, don’t ignore the features of bigger homes. It’s important, for example, to create an entryway even if your space doesn’t exactly have one. Here, a slim shelf, a mirror and an urn deliver a big-home feature.
Mirror: Ribbon, Safavieh via Gilt; urn: Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons
Read more about this small home
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Annie Mistak
Location: Brooklyn Heights, New York
Size: 500 square feet (46.4 square meters)
Just because you have a small home, don’t ignore the features of bigger homes. It’s important, for example, to create an entryway even if your space doesn’t exactly have one. Here, a slim shelf, a mirror and an urn deliver a big-home feature.
Mirror: Ribbon, Safavieh via Gilt; urn: Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons
Read more about this small home
16. Get a fun shower curtain.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Erin Madore and Josh Wilcox and their two cats
Location: Dorchester neighborhood of Boston
Size: 850 square feet (78.9 square meters); two bedrooms, one bathroom
There’s not much you can do with a small bathroom. Adding too much art or decor to the walls or shelves can make the walls feel like they’re closing in on you. But if you’ve got a shower and bathtub combo, your shower curtain holds plenty of opportunity. Go with a bright, fun design to bring energy to your small space. Keep it pulled closed to add a graphic element and hide your shower messes from you and your guests.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Erin Madore and Josh Wilcox and their two cats
Location: Dorchester neighborhood of Boston
Size: 850 square feet (78.9 square meters); two bedrooms, one bathroom
There’s not much you can do with a small bathroom. Adding too much art or decor to the walls or shelves can make the walls feel like they’re closing in on you. But if you’ve got a shower and bathtub combo, your shower curtain holds plenty of opportunity. Go with a bright, fun design to bring energy to your small space. Keep it pulled closed to add a graphic element and hide your shower messes from you and your guests.