3 Homes That Make Living In Less Than 1,600 Square Feet Look Chic

On a tree-lined street in a historic Houston, Texas, neighborhood sits a sweet little home known as The Bungalove to its owners. Jeanne and Amos Davis bought the 100-year-old house when they relocated from Atlanta, Georgia, a few years ago.

“What it lacks in square feet it makes up for in charm and functionality,” says Jeanne.

The couple turned up the dial on both. They put in eclectic accents, installed shiplap-style paneling in their bedroom and stretched the floor plan throughout. The living area doubles as a dining room—and triples as a library, thanks to a built-in bookcase by the front door.

Their space-crunching moves are even more important these days: When Jeanne and Amos moved in, it was just them and their dog, Pepper. Now they have a 9-month-old, Charlotte, and a baby on the way.

“Texans really like their square footage, so people keep telling us we need a bigger house,” says Jeanne, “but it’s the perfect size for our family.”

“Because this is our only common area, it has to do it all, from playtime to party time,” says Jeanne. The slim coffee table from West Elm moves right into the hallway when more space is needed. Proving that patterns can mix nicely in a compact room, the traditional pink rug (a hand-me-down from Amos’ family) is neutral enough to blend with the prints on the sofa, chair and pillows. To make the bookcase stand out, Jeanne painted it Privilege Green by Sherwin-Williams and wallpapered the back.

On the other end of the living room, Jeanne and Amos set up a caned table and chairs Jeanne snagged on a trip to the antiques fair in Round Top, Texas. “It’s a good-size table, but the glass top keeps it from looking too heavy for the corner,” says Jeanne. Not wanting to waste a free wall, they added tall shelves from CB2 that hold books, magazines and Jeanne’s flea market treasures.