5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Small Space

If you live in a big, bustling city, it's likely you live or have lived in a small space. And trust me, I know just how difficult that can be. My one-room apartment serves as a bedroom, office, living room and kitchen. It doesn't do so as seamlessly as I would like, but it works well enough for me to not want to move to the suburbs for a bigger place immediately.

Living in a small space often means that it has to have many functions and one room has to serve many purposes, as my little city apartment does. How do you make it all work without forgoing design? If you want to make the most of your small space, check out the tips below.

1. Hidden Storage and Multifunctional Furniture

If you live or work in a small space, every piece of furniture should have more than one purpose. An ottoman that doubles as a coffee table and serves as storage space, a coffee table that turns into a desk, a sofa that turns into a bed – since one room may have to serve many purposes, your furniture will have to do the same.

2. Use Rugs to Create the Illusion of Rooms

As mentioned above, some rooms (or your entire apartment) may have many functions, such as a living room, office and dining room. A great way to differentiate the different areas and uses is with the use of rugs. Give each area its own rug and distinct design to give the illusion of more space and multiple rooms.

3. Opt for Lucite Furniture

Lucite furniture is a great option for small spaces, as it doesn't take up any visual room (because it's clear), but still serves its designated purpose. Items like your desk and office chair, coffee and console tables or shelving are great options for lucite furniture.

4. Think Vertically

When you live or work in a small apartment, you have make use of all the space you have. Sometimes, that means thinking upwards. Create wall shelves and storage units that go right up to the ceiling in order to fit all your belongings into the small space, without losing any square footage.

5. Function First

When you live in a small space, function has to come before design. It's nice to have a dining table, but how many dinners have you actually eaten there? It might serve you better to use that space as a home office or additional workspace for your kitchen (if you love cooking). It's nice to have a huge flatscreen TV, but how many hours do you spend watching TV and movies? Opt for something small and make better use of the space with additional storage.