We all want a big spacious house with en-suite bedrooms, dreamy living rooms, and straight out of a magazine balcony. But such a home means parting ways with millions of dollars, which, unfortunately, not everyone can afford. So, until you can finally afford to splurge on that fairy-tale home, a small one will do.

With a few tips and tricks, small living spaces can be just as dreamy and feel just as luxurious as big spacious homes. In this post, we explore how you can make a small living space work for you and your family.

How to Make the Most of Small Living Spaces

When space is an issue, decorating your home can feel quite challenging. That’s because you focus more on practicality than aesthetics.

But that doesn’t have to be the case. You can make your small living space livable without sacrificing pretty.

1. Conceal! Conceal! Conceal!

Your living space is already small. But if everything is visible, it goes from being small to cluttered and claustrophobic.

Instead of displaying everything you own, maximize every opportunity to get things out of plain sight.

For instance, replace your regular coffee table with a stylish trunk. It’ll not only provide the surface you need to place your stuff in the living room, but also it will hold items that would have otherwise been in the way, such as your gaming collection. Besides, it’s a great conversation starter.

You can also convert a fancy trunk into your bedside table. Opt for furniture with built-in storage, use lidded boxes for your child’s toys, install a mirror with a secret cabinet for lotions and beauty products. You also want to be creative with hiding things in plain sight so your small living space remains neat and organized.

2. Use Multifunctional Furniture

Furniture with built-in storage is all the rage nowadays, but multifunctional furniture is also an excellent way to make a small living space practical for your loved ones.

For instance, if you work from home, get a lift-top coffee table that can convert from a coffee table to a work desk within seconds. You can also get a foldable dining set, which converts into wall shelves whenever it’s not in use.

Another excellent option is a sofa bed – it converts into a bed and serves as a comfortable couch during the day. Sofa beds aren’t just functional, but they also complement your décor since they come in nearly all shapes and sizes.

These multifunctional pieces allow you to have all the furniture you need without filling every inch of your tiny space.

3. Think Vertically 

Most people arrange their spaces based on the floor plan. But you need to think vertically if you are to make your small living space work.

Your small space has lots of vertical space that could make a significant difference in the overall look and feel of your home if maximized.

For instance, if you have kids, install a few hooks on the back of their bedroom door, and hang colorful tote bags where they can store their toys after playtime. For that space over your bathroom door, create a small hanging shelf for everyday extras like guest towels.

Use ceiling space by installing racks where you can stash seasonal items, such as Christmas decorations. That space between the fridge, cooker, or dishwasher and the wall could make the perfect space for cooking tools and compact rolling shelves.

Make use of floating shelves in the kitchen for your condiments and in your bedroom for your makeup.  Your kitchen cabinets might be small, but you can make them bigger, well-organized, and visually pleasing by getting stacking drawers.

The secret to maximizing your vertical space is the right organizers.

4. Create Visual Space 

You can make your small living space bigger without spending hundreds of dollars on a home expansion project. One way to do so is through proper lighting. Darkness tends to make spaces feel cramped, so find ways to bring in more natural light such as white double-layered sheers and gauzy curtains.

Also, hang your curtain rods high to make ceilings appear taller, and go for rods wider than the window to make your windows look bigger.

Paint your ceiling to draw eyes up, use bright-colored paints, and install mirrors every way to create the illusion of space.

Smarter Spaces in Tiny Spaces

Your tiny space can be practical without skimping on aesthetics, and the tricks highlighted above are enough proof this is possible. If you can maximize every available nook, you can create a unique small living space for your family.

Browse our gallery for inspiration and discover the Oberer difference.