Make the Most of Small Spaces

Get Items Off the Floor

CDs are stored in the Container Store’s Sky Blue library CD boxes (unfortunately, this item is no longer available). The Container Store’s Pandan box stores photos ($40, containerstore.com).

Create Reflections

A  walnut-framed mirror hangs above the dresser to reflect light from the window, making the 9-by-10-foot room feel more spacious. “Mirrors are a tried-and-true way to open up space,” says Susan Zises Green, a New York designer. “They almost always help a small room.” Also, any room with a low ceiling seems loftier if you hang pictures up high. “The most important thing is to draw the eye up and not down,” says Matthew Dennison, coauthor of At Home With Color ($27.50, amazon.com).

Find Multitaskers

One reliable way to get the most out of your square footage is to consolidate belongings by selecting furniture that contains storage space. Here, a pair of bookseller tables act as shelving for books and containers.