If you’ve been tasked with the job of buying furniture for a small living space, you may be tempted to give up before you’ve even begun. While small apartment spaces aren’t the easiest to decorate, there are a few tricks you can adopt to make the room work for your purposes. Read on to find out what type of furniture is best for a micro-size living space.
7 tips for furnishing a small living space
You might be wondering if it’s best to choose several smaller pieces or go for a few larger pieces. We say the latter. Too much small furniture can make a small room look cluttered, but a few larger pieces of furniture can reduce the clutter and actually make the room feel bigger. In general, when choosing tables, sofas, and chairs for small living rooms, go for unfussy, clean styles with slender exposed legs to create a sense of airiness and elevation.
1. Free up space with a convertible sofa
If your small living space is a studio apartment, your bedroom, living and dining areas will all be contained in one room. Rather than buying a full-sized futon, consider a convertible futon sofa – a dual-purpose piece for sitting during the day and sleeping at night. This frees up valuable space usually monopolized by a separate bed and sofa, especially if you’re looking to maximize space in your studio apartment.
2. Ottomans add flexibility
A coffee table serves a functional purpose to hold drinks, books or knick-knacks but is a static piece. An ottoman is more flexible as it can be moved around and can also add functionality, interest, and comfort to a small living space. They can be used for storage, hold a serving tray for drinks, or putting your feet up to watch TV. When not in use they can be stored away in a corner or under a side table. Ottomans can even be storage containers themselves, like these ones.
3. Consider space saver tables
You don’t want to clutter a small living space with lots of unnecessary pieces. But it’s also good to have extra table space for guests. A set of stacked or nesting tables can save on floor space when tidied away but can be brought out and placed where needed to hold drinks or snacks.
4. Make your furniture floating
To create more floor space it’s tempting to push all the furniture up against the wall. But floating furniture away from the wall, in the middle of the room, gives the illusion of more space and makes a small room look more inviting. Anchor furniture with a large rug or mat to help create visual boundaries.
5. Add height with suspended shelves
Suspended shelves are a great way to add storage and height to small living spaces and make small spaces feel bigger. Rather than a bulky bookcase or clunky dresser, they draw the eye up and introduce a much-needed place to display collectibles, books or artworks.
6. Use mirrors and opaque furniture
If a small living room is short on windows, the addition of wall mirrors or mirrored end tables can boost light and add depth. Opaque furniture is also a good choice for small living spaces as it doesn’t obstruct the eye and increases the illusion of space.
7. Make the most of corners
Furniture comes in a wide arrange of shapes and sizes these days. If you have an unconventionally shaped living space or weird angles, the good news is there’s probably a piece of furniture to fit! By getting creative with corners you can maximize the space in your living room. There are lots of things you can do to utilize an awkward space, such as adding a reading nook, corner shelves, a floor lamp, a cafe table, or a tall skinny pot plant.
So what’s the best furniture for small living spaces overall?
The best furniture for small living spaces is that which lets a room breathe but serves a functional purpose. For example, a stacked nest of opaque side tables don’t add bulk and are handy if you need extra surface space. An ottoman with the capacity to store blankets and magazines can be moved as needed in front of the sofa or to a corner to free up more floor space.
Where is the best place to buy furniture for a small apartment?
There are many options to choose from for retailers who focus on furniture solutions for small living spaces. Here are a few of our recommendations:
- IKEA – What’s great about IKEA is that they have almost everything. This retailer also has a strong focus on customizable storage solutions. From space saver shelves to bins and storage cubes, IKEA has many multi-functional furniture options.
- West Elm – While on the pricier side, West Elm has many great furniture options for small apartments. Specifically, their selection of couches are offered in smaller apartment sizes. You can also customize the fabric of each piece.
- Pottery Barn – Pottery Barn offers a complete collection of furniture designated for small living spaces. Their small space solutions include furniture needs for every room and need for apartment dwellers.
Think carefully about the purpose of each piece for your small living space and it can easily feel more spacious. Want to look for a bigger place instead? Check out thousands of apartments for rent on Zumper and find the larger space you want.
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