Interior design tricks for small spaces
32 Small House Interior Design Ideas
1
Incorpoate Reflective Materials
Rustic White PhotographyOpt for white lacquered walls and glossy tiles, as designer Brian Patrick Flynn did here. The high-shine materials are reflective and will generate the same maximizing effect that a mirror will, bouncing light and making for a generally airer space.
SHOP TILES Zellige Tiles, $2
2
Opt for Pocket Doors
House BeautifulPocket doors with glass windows allow for shared light to flow throughout the space while also creating separation. And even better, they slide right into the wall when not being used, taking up much less space than swinging doors.
SHOP DOORS IKEA Sliding Doors, $180
3
Add a Gallery Wall
TREVOR PARKER PHOTOGRAPHYThough it may sound counterintuitive, covering a wall floor-to-ceiling can make a small space feel larger. In Rudy Saunders's apartment, an assortment of framed works (plus an overscaled watch clock!) draw the eye up, making the 375-square-foot studio feel more expansive.
SHOP GALLERY WALL KIT Frame Sets, from $166
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4
Be Resourceful
Trevor TondroWhen space is limited and you don't want to shop for new, bulky furniture, use a chair as a side table and install wall sconces to save surface space. A cheerful color, like this pale turquoise hue, is also a good idea to set a happy mood in a tiny room.
SHOP SCONCES Arc Mid-Century Sconce, $79
5
Think Vertically
Nick GlemenakisBy hanging subway tile vertically—rather than the more common horizontal hang—designer Eneia White makes this modestly sized bathroom feel both taller and more streamlined. A tight palette of black, white, and blush prevent it from feeling cluttered.
SHOP TILE Subway Tile, $2.79
6
Hide the Utilities
Frank TribbleFor the restaurant at The Cornell Inn, Toledo Geller used drapery to cleverly conceal pipes and HVAC, creating an elegant canopy while avoiding visual chaos.
SHOP DRAPERY Navy Blackout Curtains, $31
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7
Hang a Swing!
Nicholas SargentSince it doesn't take up any literal floor space, a swinging seat gives the appearance of a much more open room. For proof, look at the daybed Tiffany Brooks hung in this room at the Kips Bay Palm Beach showhouse.
SHOP SWINGS Hanging Daybed, $953
8
Shrink Your Dining Table
Tessa NeustadtSmall round tables aren't just for breakfast nooks. Ditch the giant dining table and give yourself some extra space by opting for a small, round dining table instead, like Emily Henderson did here.
SHOP TABLES Marble Dining Table, $999
9
Use a Day Bed
Toledo GellerAdd a day bed and watch your bedroom double in size. If you don't have a designated guest room, this could also come in handy in your living room.
SHOP BEDS Monarch Hill Daybed, $672
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10
Maximize Shelving
Lesley UnruhIn this Manhattan apartment, Cece Barfield Thompson corralled the owner's books and accessories into one room, where built-in shelves—complete with gallery lights—make the items look deliberate. The best part? This library doubles as a dining room in the small apartment.
SHOP GALLERY LIGHTS Picture Light, $399
11
Express Yourself Everywhere
Anthony DunningYes, even on the fridge—no, especially—your fridge and other bulky appliances.
Since there's limited space for extras and less room to pile in all your favorite items, you'll need to beautify everything. Here, Anthony Dunning turned a regular old refrigerator into a design opportunity by dressing it up in removable wallpaper.
SHOP REMOVEABLE WALLPAPER Peel and Stick Paper, $150
12
Mount Your TV
Hecker GuthrieA media console is the biggest space waster in a small living room. Mount your TV on the wall or above a fireplace and you'll regain necessary floor space.
SHOP WALL MOUNTS TV Wall Mount, $30
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13
Hide Your TV
KARYN R. MILLETOr, even better, hide it! Whether inside of a credenza or disguised as artwork, this design trick is perfect for anyone whose living room is always their family room, dining room, and/or more.
SHOP MEDIA CABINETS TV Stand, $300
14
Do Double Duty
TREVOR TONDROPieces that can serve multiple purposes are key: Find a table that can function as a desk and dining table, get a deep sofa that can double as a guest bed, or buy cubes that serve as a coffee table and bonus seats when guests are over.
SHOP SEATING Storage Ottoman, $315
15
Take Advantage of Architectural Quirks
Shade DeggesEvery single inch counts in a small house, so be sure to take full advantage of architectural quirks—this way, they'll actually become your favorite thing about the space. That radiator by your window? Invest in a pretty radiator cover and customize a cushion so you can use it as a window nook to read and relax in. (And you'll be able to forgo the bulky couch that'll take up half the studio!) Pile on the pillows and add a pendant light for tasks, as Jae Joo did here.
SHOP RADIATOR COVERS Radiator Cover, $255
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16
Use Mirrors
Sara TrampIt's the oldest design trick in the book: Mirrors will make your space feel larger, lighter, and airier. And a fun convex one like this adds a lot of personality without taking up a ton of space.
SHOP MIRRORS Mirror Plates, $16
17
Make Every Piece Count
Bjorn WallanderChoose furnishings that offer maximum functionality in minimal square footage. For example, instead of an end bench, opt for a desk with a small side chair. You can use it for work, getting ready, and more.
SHOP DESKS Writing Desk, $68
18
Think About Scale
Corinne Mathern DesignIf your kitchen doesn't have an island and you don't have a living room that's separate from the kitchen, don't give up on making it functional. Opt for a tall wooden table that can provide some extra counter space for cooking and as a two-top dining table. Use this one in a kitchen by Corinne Mathern Studio as your blueprint.
BUY SMALL ISLANDS Counter Table, $125
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19
Keep It Neutral
deVol KitchensCalm, even-toned rooms fool the eye into thinking they're more spacious than they are.
Make sure to add a variety of textures to keep the space from falling flat.
SHOP PILLOWS Velvet Pillow, $6
20
Convert a Closet
David KaihoiDesigner David Kaihoi used some seriously smart storage solutions to make his New York City apartment work harder—including creating this compact laundry "room" in his closet. That way, when he's not doing laundry, he can close the door on these eyesore appliances.
SHOP LAUNDRY MACHINES Washer and Dryer Unit, $1259
Hadley Mendelsohn
Senior Editor
Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts.
Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.
10 Tips for Decorating Small Spaces
Decorating small spaces can feel like an impossible puzzle. You want to fit as much in as possible, but the room mustn't feel cramped. You want it to be filled with personality, but it can't look chaotic and cluttered. But it's possible to have a small space that's as stylish (or perhaps even more so) as their sprawling counterparts. Whether you’re starting out in a studio apartment or choosing to live a more minimalist existence, you don’t need to sacrifice style. We’ve gathered our favorite ideas for decorating small spaces to help you tackle your own petite dwelling.
Keep the Floor Clear
You need space for the essentials, but even the most perfectly decorated small room doesn’t work if you can’t walk in it. Try floating pieces, such as shelves and nightstands, to keep the ground clear of obstacles and create space for extra storage beneath if needed.
Opt for sconces and wall lights rather than floor lamps.
A bedroom—and uncluttered nightstand solution—by designer Clara Jung.Photo: Clara Jung
Go for Folding Pieces
You may need a desk and a dining table, but do you really need them 24-7? Consider installing furnishings that can fold up when not in use. You’ll free up floor space and avoid the stacks of mail and work that inevitably pile up on these surfaces. If you have a one-wall kitchen, folding doors can conceal clutter when not in use.
Focus on Lighting
Small spaces can often end up feeling dark due to small or nonexistent windows. Make up for the lack of natural light by adding plenty of light sources in every room, from the kitchen to the bedroom. Combine striking ceiling fixtures—either a pretty pendant or elegant flush mount, depending on your ceiling height—with sconces or table lamps for a cozy and bright atmosphere.
Designer Ashley Darryl put a modern spin on her friend Jeremy Globerson’s one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan by using clean-lined furnishings and carefully selected accents.
“We chose a mixture of vintage and new pieces to help us create the minimal and inviting space we were after,” says Darryl. Sconces by Apparatus and a painting by Hector Frank are displayed above the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams sofa in the living room.Photo: Brett Beyer
Mirrors Are Your Friend
If you’re not blessed with an abundance of natural light, mirrors can help you make the most of what you do have by reflecting it around the room. Mirrors can also help make the space feel bigger, giving the illusion of a few more square feet. Consider lining a wall with a large mirror or creating a gallery wall of different sizes and shapes.
Vintage French mirrors and a Colombian fan enliven the guest bath; the wall tile and sink are both coral stone, and the sink fittings are by Axor.
Choose the Right Rug
A rug is the one item you definitely don’t want to skimp on, size-wise. A tiny rug will make the room feel equally small. Pick a floor covering that’s large enough so most of the furniture will sit on it, or go wall-to-wall.
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In the living room of the Manhattan apartment designer Paris Forino transformed for a luxury real estate broker and his fashion designer husband, vintage leather-and-walnut chairs mingle with a Poltrona Frau marble cocktail table and a hand-knotted silk rug. The painting is by Alex Katz.Photo: Peter Murdock
Don’t Be Afraid to Go Bold
Having a small space doesn’t mean it has to be a white box. You can still go bold with color and embrace the size of your apartment. A darker shade of paint on the walls and ceiling can make the space feel like a jewel box.
Lacquered walls and a custom-made St. Thomas–style sofa upholstered in a Lee Jofa velvet set a glamorous tone in the living area of Todd Alexander Romano's New York City pied-à-terre. A Ward Bennett wicker Sled chair and prints by Robert Goodnough and Josef Albers provide lively counterpoints.Thomas Loof
Keep It Cohesive
There are only so many things to look at in a small space, so make sure they all fit.
Stick to a limited color palette, whether it’s light and airy or dark and dramatic. Looking at items with an editor’s eye will help make sure pieces really belong and keep the space from becoming cluttered.
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Photo: Stoffer Photography Interiors
Find Pieces that Earn Their Place
Make the most of your space by finding furnishings that also boast storage. Opt for a bed with built-in drawers or benches and ottomans with space to hide away extra blankets or sweaters. In a small space, every piece needs to pull its weight: A daybed can serve as both a sofa and a guest bed.
Photo: Melissa Oholendt
Let Pieces Breathe
Nothing screams "I don’t have enough room" quite like furniture pressed up against the wall and tucked so tightly together that it’s practically stacked. Pull furnishings away from the wall if you can and make sure there’s space between pieces. (You may have to get rid of anything that isn’t used on a daily basis, like side tables or accent chairs.
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In the living room, delicate moldings were custom designed to match the apartment’s original ones, while walls painted in Benjamin Moore’s "Decorator's White," a color used throughout the apartment. “We wanted the home to feel light and bright,” says Greenberg, “and let the materiality of the space speak for itself rather than introduce a vivid palette.” Slim accent tables are from a concept store in Copenhagen called By Lassen.Photo: Courtesy of Space Exploration Design
Play With Scale
There’s no need to use pint-size furniture and decor in a small space. The key is choosing a few statement pieces that will really draw the eye. You can use regular-size furniture and large-scale art; you’ll just need to use fewer pieces in the room overall.
Photo: Carmen Chan
8 tricks to help you create the perfect interior in a small apartment - INMYROOM
Small apartment
Furniture-transformer, window sill-tabletop and 6 more tricks that will help you save space and use every centimeter of a small apartment wisely
Living in a small apartment often reminiscent of the game "Tetris" - to place a large number of things in a limited space.
Sometimes it seems that the easiest way is to break down the walls, create one spacious room and get by with a minimal set of furniture. Radical measures aside - sometimes even small tricks can save more space than a global redevelopment.
1. Furniture-transformer
To meet the needs of owners of small apartments, designers go for tricks - they create furniture that performs several functions straightaway. For example, they develop a bench, which, if necessary, can be turn into a fairly large table and a few soft stools. And how convenient in case of arrival of guests from one sofa make multiple seating! This also includes a chair attached bookcases, tables and even built-in lamps. Such multifunctional furniture-transformer is perfect for the smallest room.
2. Smart cabinets
Small apartment is a pity to waste a separate wall to accommodate the closet. Let's think outside the box. You can use the wall on which the window is located - you will receive not only an excellent storage system, but also a cozy reading nook.
You do not want cover the entire surface? Make roomy cabinets under the window - the room will become visually wider. Another way to save space - place the storage system at the head of the bed or sofa - they are definitely not will distract your eyes from more pleasant things.
3. Foldable furniture
Problem a shortage of usable space often arises when planning a kitchen. To free even little space, replace regular chairs with folding chairs or ones that are easy to stacked on top of each other. If two people still can't turn around in the kitchen - go radical and install a folding countertop. In the living room “matryoshka” things will come to the rescue, for example, coffee tables that can be slide under each other.
4. Mirrors
The use of mirrors is a favorite and effective technique for work on the interior of small rooms. With the help of a mirror cloth the entire wall, you can double the area of the room. Use instead a conventional hinged door a sliding mirror sheet - you will save space and visually expand the space.
If this is too bold for you, stop at small mirrors in beautiful frames - it is appropriate to place them opposite the window.
5. Minimalism in everything
To make the space as open as possible, free it from unnecessary items. Avoid bulky sofas and armchairs numerous bedside tables and consoles. Remove massive clothes from the interior wardrobes - replace them with built-in models with more shelves to hide various little things. In the kitchen, try to hide all household appliances inside headset. The same applies to utensils: no matter how stylish and elegant they are ladles and ladles - it is better not to expose them all in plain sight.
6. Mobile furniture
Mobile furniture is a great idea for a small apartment. For kitchens, choose island tables on wheels that can be rearranged to cooking process to a convenient place. Mobile bedside table can be used in different rooms: in the bedroom it will serve as a bedside table, in the living room turns into a convenient stand for books and a cup of coffee.
This approach allows it is easy to change the interior without major repairs and saves money on buying additional furniture.
7. Corner furniture
Use all the corners in the apartment. Let those zones that always seemed inaccessible and superfluous, will be occupied by furniture. For example, corner coffee table, chair with comfortable armrests. Sofas in the shape of the letter "L" - just a godsend for a small living room. Despite their massive appearance, they are very functional - choose models with storage boxes to catch two birds with one stone. When equipped with a small bathroom, pay attention to the corner cabinets and headsets - they will help you use wisely every free centimeter.
8. Window sill
Usually window sill busy at best with houseplants, at worst with all those things who found no other place. Repositioning is easy - just use window sill as a table. In the living room or bedroom, set up a wide wooden tabletop, add a table lamp and a comfortable chair - you're done.
complete workplace. You definitely won't miss out on the extra surface. in the kitchen - a marble or stone window sill will cope with this with dignity function.
10 Interior Designers' Little Tricks to Create a Luxurious Room Style
Throughout the United States, and Russia too, there are houses that are identical to each other. When your own home resembles what is nearby, it is very desirable to have a unique interior that will give the impression of prosperity.
Both we and any visitor to the Design Museum will want their own penates to look like a professionally decorated mansion. But often there is not enough money for everyone to achieve this dream.
Living in a space that looks expensive and does not burden the family budget should be accessible to everyone. Everyone has the right to a beautiful home with an amazing interior.
| 1 | Use molding |
A space without such elements looks too simple.
The lack of an elegant connection between walls and ceiling gives the room an incomplete and cheap look.
Artificial stucco does not require large financial investments. It is easy to apply to the walls, providing a rich look. When choosing pattern options, stop at wide ones: they look more impressive.
| 2 | Pick the right paint |
The most difficult decision at any time is choosing the color of the space. Decline in favor of snow-white or pigment paint in a neutral shade. This will bring the spirit of prosperity into your room.
Pastel walls bring out seasonal color accents. Another simple trick that really adds a touch of luxury to a home is painting the door black.
This will immediately give the space an atmosphere of wealth. Just make sure that the color of the canvas is combined with the rest of the decor and other types of accessories.
| 3 | Pillows are stylish! |
Thick throw has always been a fabulous accessory for your sofa or large armchair.
But in small store pillows there is no originality.
First, they are not quite large enough to be impressive, and too small to be of real use. Secondly, if the goal is luxury, then things that everyone can buy will turn this idea into dust.
So ignore the tiny "dumochka" pillows from local stores. Choose large original pillowcases with stylish ornaments and stuff them tightly with large pillows. Immersed in their soft embrace, you will undoubtedly feel the atmosphere of luxury.
| 4 | Decorate your windows the right way |
Decor options are endless, but some have to be abandoned due to high prices. It is best to purchase the best with what you can afford. Avoid flimsy curtains and those that come without lining.
These are two clear signs of poor quality. Sure, the price can be good, but you want a house that looks elegant and expensive, don't you? Instead of buying them right at the counter at your local store, shop at a fabric specialty store.
There, professionals will help you avoid the hole in your budget, which is quite likely if you shop rashly. Once you've chosen your curtains, hang them as close to the ceiling as possible to create the illusion of abundance. But the curtains hanging right above the window give a rustic look.
| 5 | Choose the right finishes and fixtures |
Most of the houses built have standard finishes and plumbing. As a rule, it is cheap and unsightly in appearance. Builders use it in large volumes, as it is cost-effective.
Only not always happy with the homeowner who wants a more individual design of his apartment. Oddly enough, plumbing parts are not so expensive that they cannot be replaced with more sophisticated ones.
You can change simple taps for something more interesting. Any good plumbing retailer will offer plenty of options in your budget category.
Transforming a kitchen drawer is easy - just replace it with a more unique item.
You can find one at any hardware store, specialty supermarket, or even a flea market. The goal is to choose a thing you like, not to repeat your next-door neighbors
| 6 | Lighting |
Just like finishes, faucets and sinks, finished project lighting is another one of those standard options that lacks personality, character and style.
Throw away nondescript chandeliers and ceiling fans; replace them with unique design pieces. You don't need to go to expensive lighting salons, try to explore flea markets or secondhand stores.
Add original table lamps and floor lamps to every room. Beautiful light sources of any kind will also create a more chic look.
| 7 | Natural wood - your choice |
If your apartment has a carpet spread from wall to wall, soft and warm for feet, the view is not very presentable.
Natural wood provides a classic appeal.
The cost may shock you at first, but compare it to replacing carpet every few years. Hardwood comes in several types, and some are more luxurious than others.
Choose dark parquet tiles that add opulence and blend beautifully with black interior doors. You can place a beautiful rug on top of wood floors to tie design elements together.
| 8 | Exquisite accessories are an essential element |
Gold has always been considered a sign of wealth, but in some cases it can seem rather gaudy. Gilded frames, bright brass balls, massive candelabra for lighting can look unattractive when put together.
This color does not provide a luxurious look. Silver, chrome details and polished nickel are more visually pleasing and provide a truly professional style.
So replace gold things with silver ones. The place of the brass lamp is completely in the garage or at the sale.
Silver décor elements help reflect light better than gold, adding the desired luxury to the room.
| 9 | Furniture - the basis of the interior |
Furniture items usually require a larger investment in interior design. However, the cost of cheap, poorly made items will end up being much higher.
Instead, try buying from thrift stores, where you can find quite presentable items of excellent quality at reasonable prices. This will give you the opportunity to find high-end products without breaking the budget.
| 10 | Household |
As Albert Hadley said: “There is no point in creating something beautiful for those who are sloppy…” He is quite right. The easiest and cheapest way to make your home chic is to keep it spotlessly clean.
Dust and vacuum weekly to avoid clutter and your home to shine.
