Stylish Little Spaces

Fitting all the necessary items for comfortable living into a tiny place is not easy. But with the right attitude, it can be an enjoyable challenge.

First thing to do is assess your needs. Are you a weekend parent who needs a sleeping area for kids? Does your body absolutely, positively have to lift weights at least three times a week? Is entertaining a big part of your life?

Writing down what this new locale must accommodate is the best way to start. Once the priorities are established, the plan has a destination. Now all we need are the details.

Let's try a living room on for size. First, pare down the furnishings and accessories to the necessities. This will free up visual space, thus enhancing the actual space. Solid, strong furniture shapes help solidify the area and establish a clutter-free look. If the room is L-shaped, chose an L-shaped sectional so as to complement the architecture and create a flow of space.

Built-ins take up less space than stand-alone furniture. Have furniture built to house the television, CD player, books and important accessories.

If the living room is adjacent to the dining area, two of the chairs from the dining set might be used as occasional chairs in the living room. The chairs now have two uses while requiring only half the space.

In the dining room, a table is what defines the space. That and a few chairs are all that is needed. The table can be put up against a wall. If it's big enough for six chairs, put one at each end, two facing the wall and the other two in the designated living area. If only four chairs make the set, then put one at each end, with the other two still on loan in the living room. A fabulous picture on the wall over the table will make this room look great.

A bed "floating" on a platform creates the illusion of space. The nightstands on each side might be low, to complement the line of the bed, but if space permits make them long. Instead of a standard 24 to 28 inches wide, opt for nightstands 36 or even 48 inches wide. To get them low and wide, they might need to be custom-made. Unless television is a must, that is all the furniture needed in the room. Use closet systems in the closets to maximize storage space there. The extra-wide nightstands provide extra storage, too.

With a little creativity and the right attitude, a small abode should be fun to decorate and even more fun to live in.

(Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, is president of Rosemary Sadez Friedmann Inc. in Naples, Fla.)