50 Smart Design Ideas for Small Spaces

From clever storage solutions to simple room dividers, learn how to make the most of your small-space situation with these 50 creative design ideas.

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February 03, 2022

By: Kamron Sanders and Kayla Kitts

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Smart Design for Small Spaces

Small spaces can pose a big problem. That is, if you don't follow these 50 genius design tips. But with a little creative thinking, some space-saving hacks and top-tier visual trickery, you can reverse the curse of the small space and turn yours into the home of your dreams.

See More Ideas: 30 Ways to Maximize Space in a Small Kitchen

From: Zoe Feldman Design

Lower Your Furniture, Not Your Standards

Whether your ceilings are short or sky-high, decorating your living room with lower furniture pieces will make it feel more spacious. For a more dramatic impact, add in some high shelves or tall plants to exaggerate the distance in-between. Find more ways to visually expand your living room, below.

See More Photos: Small Living Room Design Ideas That Will Maximize Your Tiny Space

From: Barbara Vail

Give a Kitchen Extra Storage With a Storage Rail

Is your small kitchen short on cabinet space? Put your backsplash to good use with a storage rail. Use hooks and accessories to hang cookware, oven mitts and whatever else you can think of. Get cooking on your own DIY storage solution, below.

From: Kate Marker Interiors

Build a Cozy Loft

If your home has excess vertical space, it's the perfect candidate for a loft. Follow this example and place a cozy sleeping area above with an adorable dining nook below. Get started on your own loft with our helpful how-to, below.

From: Urbanology Designs

Leave Space Under the Sink

You can make a small bathroom feel larger by choosing a sink with open space underneath. This could be a floating sink, a petite pedestal sink or something similar to this beautiful marble and gold option. Learn more about space-saving pedestal sinks, below.

learn more: Pedestal Sinks

From: Zoe Feldman Design

Or, Boost Your Bathroom's Storage

If you like the look of a vanity in your bathroom, make sure you choose one with plenty of functional storage capabilities. Find out how to easily turn a cabinet into a bathroom vanity with storage, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: DIY Bathroom Vanity: How to Build a Vanity From a Cabinet

From: Kimberlee Gorsline

Use Accessories as Decor

You've got great taste, so why hide the accessories you've worked so hard to collect? Use hats, jewelry and even your bicycle as decorative pieces throughout your small space. This solves your storage problems and gives your home that curated-to-a-T look. See more design ideas perfect for studio apartments, below.

See More Photos: 30 Design Ideas for Your Studio Apartment

Give Purpose to Every Nook

Older houses and apartments often boast quirky architectural features. With just a little bit of creativity, these nooks and crannies can easily become one of your favorite spots. Turn yours into a cozy reading nook, a tiny office or add some shelves for storage. Check out some of our favorite reading nook design ideas, below.

See More Photos: 20 Cozy Reading Nooks

From: Jeff Troyer Associates

Take Gallery Walls All the Way Up

Gallery walls are a great addition to any home, but we've got a way to make them even better suited for your small space. Give your room some height by stretching your gallery walls all the way up to the ceiling, drawing the eye upwards. Style your way to gallery wall greatness with our top tips and tricks, below.

From: Anthology Interiors

Add Storage in Unexpected Places

Look for under-utilized spots and turn them into storage. In most cases, adding shelves near the ceiling or over a doorframe doesn't affect the room's form at all, but it does boost the room's functionality. Stretch your storage with nine more creative storage tips, below.

See More Photos: 9 Ways to Stretch Your Storage

From: Sara Hillery Interior Design

Take Cabinets to the Ceiling

You know that awkward space between your upper cabinets and the ceiling? Get rid of it. Not only will taking your cabinets all the way to the ceiling give you way more storage, it will also make your space feel much taller than before. Check out our favorite kitchens that are small in stature but big on style, below.

See More Photos: 75+ Small Kitchen Ideas With Big Style

From: Maestri Studio

Make Spaces Multifunctional

If at all possible, make every room in your small space multifunctional. This moody office features a twin-size Murphy bed integrated into the built-ins, allowing the space to transform into a guest bedroom when needed. Design your perfect multifunctional space with the video, below.

Watch the Video: Designing a Multifunctional Space

Build a Modular Storage Bench

Make smart use of a small corner by building a dining bench with tons of storage to boot. This example uses simple, inexpensive materials like plywood and pine boards and is designed to be modular, making it a useful seating option for whatever comes your way. Build your own storage banquette with our helpful how-to, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Build a Banquette Seat With Built-in Storage

From: Bri Moysa

Be On the Lookout for Clear Furniture

Clear furniture is a miracle worker for small rooms everywhere. Keep your eyes peeled for acrylic, glass and lucite furniture pieces because, you know, they can be a little hard to find. We've rounded up 10 of our favorites, below.

See More Photos: 10 Chic Acrylic Furniture Buys for Every Room

From: Zoe Feldman Design

Tear Down a Wall

Your home's size may have you feeling a little claustrophobic, so maybe it's time you took out a wall or two. In this small apartment, the space between the kitchen and living room was opened up with a half-wall, tying the two spaces together to create one big room with defined areas. Learn more about safely removing walls, below.

learn more: Demolition: Removing Walls

From: Lauren Rubin Architecture

Or, Put a Wall Up

For a solid room divider, consider a partition wall. In this condo, the designers (and owners) divided the kids' spaces with a fun chalkboard partition wall that offers them privacy but still allows natural light to freely flow over the top. Take your kids' shared bedrooms up a notch with our favorite designs, below.

See More Photos: Shared Kids' Room Design Ideas

From: Bri Moysa

Say Yes to Storage Furniture

Want to know a secret way to add a second dresser to your home without taking up any extra square footage? Swap out your bed for a storage bed. When shopping for furniture for your small space, always look for pieces with hidden storage. For more storage furniture finds, follow the link, below.

learn more: Furniture That Doubles as Storage for Every Room in Your House

From: Christen Ales

Use a Bookshelf as a Room Divider

If your small space suffers from open-plan ambiguity, define individual rooms (and add storage) with a bookshelf room divider. Add even more definition to your space with clever room divider ideas, below.

See More Photos: 40 Clever Room Divider Ideas

From: Anthology Interiors

Or, Hang Up a Curtain Divider

Need a quick-and-easy solution for adding privacy and defining areas in your home's small spaces? The answer is simple: Hang up a curtain. Take your plain curtains from blah to bespoke with our simple how-to, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: Blah to Bespoke: How to Stencil Drapery Panels for a Designer Look for Less

From: Terracotta Design Build

Invest in Large, Statement Furniture Pieces

Your lack of square footage may have you feeling limited to smaller furniture pieces, but don't be afraid to go big. Invest in large statement pieces like a deep sectional with lots of seating rather than multiple small seating options. You won't lose any seating, and you'll gain a more cohesive aesthetic. Learn how to choose the best living room furniture, below.

learn more: Choosing Living Room Furniture

From: Digs Design Company

Buy a Giant Mirror

An oversized mirror is the quintessential way to expand your space's visual square footage and give the natural light a reflective boost. The bigger the better with this small space hack. Find out how to (safely!) hang a heavy oversized mirror, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: The Easiest Way to Hang a Heavy Mirror

Fall in Love With Leggy Furniture

This may surprise you, but making your small space feel bigger is as simple as buying furniture with a little more leg. That's right! Leggy furniture allows light to move around more and reveals more of the floor, tricking the eye into seeing the space as bigger than it is. See more of our favorite small living room design ideas, below.

See More Photos: Small Living Room Design Ideas That Will Maximize Your Tiny Space

From: White Arrow

Don't Forget the Spot Under the Stairs

Transform the less-than-useable spot underneath the stairs into a magical reading nook, a perfect pooch palace or even just a storage closet. We've got 12 great ideas for the spot under your stairs, below.

See More Photos: 12 Creative Ways to Use the Space Under Your Stairs

From: Maestri Studio

Slide a Bed Beneath Awkward Roof Lines

Awkward roof lines can make for cozy spots to slide in a bed. Think quaint attic bedroom, a super-secret hideout, the perfect napping spot, you know, the stuff dreams are made of. Be inspired by our favorite attic remodels, below.

See More Photos: 26 Amazing Attic Remodels

From: Jonathan Rachman

Choose Your Plants Wisely

Having a space-challenged home doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your houseplants, you just have to choose varieties that work well with your space. Tall, slender plants that spread at the top rather than the bottom take up minimal floor space, while long, vining varieties placed atop a high shelf make a huge visual impact while taking up no floor space at all. Give your plants something to grow about with our tips, below.

learn more: 9 Keys to Success for Caring for Happy Houseplants

Then, Hang Plants From the Ceiling

Another great way to get the most out of your houseplants is to hang them from the ceiling. Whether large, small, long or short, there is one common trait among hanging plants: They take up exactly 0% percent of your floor. Find the 15 perfect spots for hanging plants, below.

See More Photos: 15 Picturesque Homes for Your Hanging Plant Needs

From: Michelle Gage

Make a Big Impact With Large Artwork

Don't be scared of outfitting your small space with large artwork. You may think it will overwhelm the space, but this isn't the case. Instead, large art pieces create a focal point that anchors a room. Find 25 more ways to dress up a blank wall, below.

See More Photos: 25 Ways to Dress Up Blank Walls

From: Right Meets Left Design

Or, Get the Large-Art Look With Wallpaper

While large-format art pieces can be a little pricey, you can easily achieve the same results with less-expensive wallpaper. Use colorful peel-and-stick wallpaper to highlight a nook, and if you get tired of it, simply swap it out for something new. Learn how to make statement wallpapers work in any room, below.

See More Photos: Make Statement Wallpapers Work in Any Room

From: Maestri Studio

Never Waste Natural Light

Repeat after us: "We will not block off natural light!" We get it, sometimes privacy trumps this motto, but whenever possible, let natural light shine into your small space. Sheer curtains are a great way to get the best of both worlds. Fill your home with natural light with our tips, below.

Hang Curtains Near the Ceiling

While you're at it, make sure you hang your curtains as close to the ceiling as possible. This will give the illusion that your ceilings are much higher than they are and make your tiny space feel huge. Learn how to create a template that makes hanging curtains a breeze, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Hang a Curtain Rod

From: Caitlin Murray

Save Space With Sliding Doors

Sliding doors and pocket doors are a priceless addition to tight spaces. They're there when you need them and completely out of sight when you don't — plus, they don't hinder your furniture layout in any way. Slide into small space style with our helpful how-to, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Build and Install a Sliding Door

From: Breeze Giannasio

Believe in the Magic of Tulip Tables

The perfect table for any small space is the tulip table. And that goes for dining tables, side tables, nightstands and any other kind of table you can think of. Because of their unique shape, tulip tables offer loads of practicality with a minimal visual and literal footprint. Learn the history of this midmod all-star style, below.

Go for Glass Doors Whenever Possible

Where possible, swap out your standard wood or steel doors with glass doors to encourage light to move around your small space. This tip applies to both interior and exterior doors.

From: Lindley Arthur Interiors

Consider Wall-Mounted Light Fixtures

We love a good floor lamp or classic table lamp, but smart small-space design is all about creative alternatives. Enter the wall sconce. By taking your lighting to the walls, you eliminate space hogs on floors and tables. Give your walls a glow with our tips, below.

learn more: Bedroom Wall Lights

From: Casagrande Studio

Then, Hang Up Your TV as Well

You know what else belongs on the walls? Televisions. Long gone are the days of clunky TVs that are essentially another piece of furniture. Learn how to mount your TV above your fireplace, below.

See More Photos: Installing a TV Above the Fireplace

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Turn a Closet Into a Hidden Laundry Room

Get your laundry out of sight by converting a closet into a laundry room. If your closet isn't deep enough to fully house the machines, consider hiding them with a curtain rather than a traditional door. Get a move on your laundry with our tutorial, below.

See More Photos: Short on Space? Turn a Closet Into a Laundry Room

From: Terracotta Design Build

Or, Turn a Closet Into Your Home Office

Another clever way to repurpose an unused closet is by making it your new home office. Because it's small, you can afford to style it to the nines. Plus, once 5 o'clock on Friday comes, simply shut the door until Monday morning. Find more creative ways to use your small closet, below.

See More Photos: 10 Creative Ways to Use a Small Closet

Go Bold in the Bathroom

Go bold in your small bathroom. Put up your favorite colorful wallpaper, invest in finishes that excite you and skip items you don't absolutely love. If you're hesitant to go bold in the rest of your space or your budget won't currently allow it, this is the perfect place to start. Check out more big ideas for small bathrooms, below.

From: Zoe Feldman Design

Then, Install Some Glass Shelves

Install a stack of glass shelves in your bathroom to increase the storage capacity without hiding your beautiful wallpaper, as seen here. Small glass canisters and woven baskets make storing bathroom essentials prettier than ever.

From: Design 4 Corners

Put Glass Around Stairs

Unfortunately, stairs pose a significant safety risk that has to be countered with either a banister or wall enclosing the staircase, making the space feel dark and closed off. However, wrapping your stairways with glass will serve that same purpose while maintaining an open-air feel. Dream up your perfect staircase with some of the designs we love, below.

See More Photos: 60 Simply Stunning Staircase Designs

From: Zoe Feldman Design

Add Built-In Storage Over the Bed

Add an immense amount of storage to a small bedroom by installing built-ins that surround the bed. This example can easily be replicated by attaching multiple cubby storage systems together and securely anchoring them to the wall. We've got great ways to save money on built-in storage, below.

See More Photos: Cost-Saving Built-In Storage Ideas

From: Laura U Design Collective

Forgo Traditional Nightstands

Sub petite floating nightstands for cumbersome traditional ones. They'll take up less space, give your bedroom a sleek, modern look and offer plenty of usable space underneath for baskets, a shoe shelf or nothing at all. Learn more ways to effectively design your small bedroom, below.

See More Photos: How to Design a Small Bedroom

From: Kimberlee Gorsline

Or, Use a Desk as a Nightstand

Multipurpose furniture pieces are a must in small space design. Instead of a nightstand that serves a singular purpose, swap it out for a small desk and say hello to the shortest morning commute ever. Get creative with our nightstand alternatives, below.

From: Marie Flanigan Interiors

Make It Light, Bright and Airy

If you want to make your small space feel like a breath of fresh air, go with a light, bright and airy aesthetic. White walls, flowy linens and tons of natural light are sure to put a little pep in your step while making your interior feel huge. Learn why designers still love all-white rooms, below.

learn more: Why Designers Still Love White-on-White Rooms

From: Barbara Vail

Or, Embrace the Coziness With Dark Hues

While we love all things light, bright and airy, we're suckers for something a little moodier. Besides, we don't buy the whole dark-colors-make-it-look-smaller thing anyway. Small spaces are the ultimate spots to go moody with deep dark blues and greens to create the ultimate cozy escape. Become an expert in all things moody with our tips, below.

learn more: Dark + Dramatic Colors for Any Room

From: cityhomeCOLLECTIVE

Roll Up a Roll-Away Island

No room for an island in your small kitchen? Look no further than a roll-away island. These handy additions come in a variety of styles that will please everyone from aspiring chefs to interior design divas. Build your own roll-away island, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Build a DIY Kitchen Island on Wheels

Prevent Tunnel Vision in Narrow Rooms

To avoid that tunnel-like vibe that happens in narrow rooms, we've got an easy solution. All you have to do is finish parallel walls in contrasting fashions. Contrast with paint, opt for wallpaper on one side or leave the brick exposed on one side like the example above. Learn how to nail down your wallpaper style, below.

See More Photos: Wallpaper 101: Choosing the Right Style for Your Space

From: Caitlin McCarthy Designs

Choose Shiny Materials to Reflect Light

Brighten up smaller rooms by opting for materials that reflect light. Shiny tiles and glossy paint bounce light around the room rather than absorb it, which in turn makes the space feel bigger and brighter. Check out our favorite subway tile backsplashes with a twist, below.

See More Photos: 30 Twists on a Subway Tile Backsplash

From: Bryan Wark Designs, Inc.

Hang Kitchen Shelves From the Ceiling

To add some much-needed storage to your kitchen without closing off the space, suspend a set of shelves from the ceiling. No upper cabinets? We've got more than 15 ideas for your kitchen, below.

See More Photos: 15+ Design Ideas for Kitchens Without Upper Cabinets

Turn Your Bed Into a Daybed

If you simply don't have the room for a bed and a sofa in your small bedroom or studio apartment, then we've got the solution: Swap out your bed for a daybed. You can also achieve similar results by positioning your bed against a wall and layering throw pillows along the back during the day. Get started on your studio apartment makeover with our design ideas, below.

See More Photos: 30 Design Ideas for Your Studio Apartment

From: Cheryl Kees Clendenon

50 Smart Design Ideas for Small Spaces

Related To:

Shop This Look

Smart Design for Small Spaces

Lower Your Furniture, Not Your Standards

Give a Kitchen Extra Storage With a Storage Rail

Build a Cozy Loft

Leave Space Under the Sink

Or, Boost Your Bathroom's Storage

Use Accessories as Decor

Give Purpose to Every Nook

Take Gallery Walls All the Way Up

Add Storage in Unexpected Places

Take Cabinets to the Ceiling

Make Spaces Multifunctional

Build a Modular Storage Bench

Be On the Lookout for Clear Furniture

Tear Down a Wall

Or, Put a Wall Up

Say Yes to Storage Furniture

Use a Bookshelf as a Room Divider

Or, Hang Up a Curtain Divider

Invest in Large, Statement Furniture Pieces

Buy a Giant Mirror

Fall in Love With Leggy Furniture

Don't Forget the Spot Under the Stairs

Slide a Bed Beneath Awkward Roof Lines

Choose Your Plants Wisely

Then, Hang Plants From the Ceiling

Make a Big Impact With Large Artwork

Or, Get the Large-Art Look With Wallpaper

Never Waste Natural Light

Hang Curtains Near the Ceiling

Save Space With Sliding Doors

Believe in the Magic of Tulip Tables

Go for Glass Doors Whenever Possible

Consider Wall-Mounted Light Fixtures

Then, Hang Up Your TV as Well

Turn a Closet Into a Hidden Laundry Room

Or, Turn a Closet Into Your Home Office

Go Bold in the Bathroom

Then, Install Some Glass Shelves

Put Glass Around Stairs

Add Built-In Storage Over the Bed

Forgo Traditional Nightstands

Or, Use a Desk as a Nightstand

Make It Light, Bright and Airy

Or, Embrace the Coziness With Dark Hues

Roll Up a Roll-Away Island

Prevent Tunnel Vision in Narrow Rooms

Choose Shiny Materials to Reflect Light

Hang Kitchen Shelves From the Ceiling

Turn Your Bed Into a Daybed

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