5 Small-Room Rules to Break

Forget what you've been taught! Top designers throw small-room decorating rules out the window and share how to maximize your space.

By Susan Kleinman
Filed under: Small Space, Decorating

Rule to Break: Very Small Rooms Demand Very Small Furniture

While small furniture leaves more room for walking around in a small space, miniscule couches and chairs are rarely comfortable. So rather than place two pokey little loveseats in this 7x12-foot sitting room, designer Amie Weitzman built large seating banquettes into the blue-tweed-upholstered walls.

"This room is part of a guest suite," explains Weitzman, "So comfort was really the top priority." The sofas are deep enough to sink into and large enough to flop onto, "and building them right into the wall," Weitzman says, "buys you a few extra inches of floor space."

Even if you are using freestanding pieces in a small room, you can go with substantial furniture. "The one thing to make sure of," says Weiztman, "is that if you need to, you can walk around the furniture comfortably."

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