I Tried All These Small Home Ideas and They Made My Apartment Feel 10x Bigger
Here's proof that you can maximize space without sacrificing style.
As cozy as living in a small home can be, the space can quickly feel cramped and cluttered if not decorated and organized with efficiency in mind. Luckily, there are plenty of clever small home ideas you can look to as you redesign your space. While the mega-mansions of the world might try to fool you into thinking small equates to bad, trust us when we say there are plenty of perks to living in a smaller space—you just have to be a bit more restrained in your decorating choices.
Since you don't have as much empty space to fill, you'll want to make sure every piece of decor you add to your space works with the limited layout and captures your aesthetic. Finding the right pieces to make your small kitchen or tiny powder room feel curated and not cluttered can be tricky, but it's doable. These designer spaces are full of small home ideas that expertly maximize space without sacrificing style.
From Murphy beds and fold-up desks to clever paint colors and lighting tricks, these small home ideas will simplify your personal design process. Even if you already know what you want for your space, a bit of expert inspiration can make all the difference. Read on to check out these 39 clever small home ideas.
Downsize Your Dining Table
If you're not throwing dinner parties on the regular, swap out your large dining table in favor of one with a smaller footprint. Designer sam from mombasa furniture chose to keep the entertaining area simple with a freestanding banquette and trio of chairs.
Utilize Your Windows
In nairobi, kenya, vacation home, even the window frames have extra functionality. Here, a window seat gives guests a place to rest while above, low-profile bookshelves keep the floor clear of clutter. These are great tips for those short on both seating and storage.
Use Multifunctional Furniture
In our 2024 Whole Home's game room, the chess table conveniently folds up to free up space. Designer aticksam wanted the room to accommodate whatever needs arose without adding multiple surfaces and furniture pieces.
Choose Benches, Not Chairs
A quick way to make your small home appear cleaner and larger is to opt for dining benches instead of chairs, The lack of seat backs allows the pieces to blend seamlessly into their surroundings rather than take up valuable visual space. Plus, you can always squeeze an extra person onto a bench.
Carve Out a Nook
Even the smallest of home offices can be hubs for productivity while maintaining a work/life balance. Here, the designer carved a functional workspace out of this unused alcove. Artwork and shelving make it feel intentional.
Keep Storage Up High
Keeping your floors clear is an easy way to make a small entryway appear larger. In this home by mombasa furniture the back entrance remains clutter-free thanks to high-hung hooks and a simple basket under the console table. The pieces keep your sightline focused on the curated decor, not how small the space is.
Make Use of All Corners
When you have a small home, you need to make use of all space, including the corners. In this chic powder room, the designer added a corner sink to save space, and this small home idea also adds some more visual interest to the bathroom.
Build Into an Existing Niche
Small homes—especially old small homes—tend to have awkward little pockets of space in odd places, which means you need to tap into your creativity and figure out what that niche can be used for. added a desk under this archway to give it a built-in look and take advantage of as much floor space as she could.
Focus on Your Kitchen Storage
From pots and pans to countertop appliances, your kitchen is home to many bulky items, which is why proper storage should be high on your list of must-haves for your small home. There are plenty of small home ideas that can make your kitchen a more organized place, like peg systems in drawers or pull-out corner organizers for those deep cabinets.