Skip to content

Top Navigation

Real Simple Logo Real Simple Logo
  • Food
  • Home
  • Life
  • Health
  • Money
  • Style and Beauty
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • News
  • Shop

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • My Account
  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Free Organizing App this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Real Simple

Real Simple Logo Real Simple Logo
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 12 Good Books to Read in Winter

      As the days get chillier and snow starts falling, curl up with one of these good books to read in winter. Read More Next
    • 10 Virtual Games to Play When You Can't Be Together

      Close the distance with fun games you can play from the comfort of separate homes. Read More Next
    • A Guide for How to Measure Your Ring Size at Home

      There are three common ways you canĀ measureĀ your ring size right at home so you can finally get your ring measurement right, for good. Read More Next
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food

    13 Air Fryer Recipes That Are *Almost* Too Good to Be True

    • Recipes
    • Real Simple Cooking School
    • Cooking Tips & Techniques
    • Shopping and Storing
    • Kitchen Tools and Products
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home

    Easy Homemade Carpet Cleaners to Tackle Every Stain

    Made with products you probably have on hand
    • Organizing
    • Cleaning
    • Decorating
    • Gardening
    • Home Improvement
    • Quick Fix
    • Real Simple Home
  • Life

    Life

    See All Life

    10 Creative Ways to Have Fun in the Snow

    Bundle up and head outside (or stay toasty inside)—either way, everyone in the family will love these snow day ideas.
    • Family
    • Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Wedding Planning
    • Travel Ideas
    • Adulting
    • Get It Done
    • Waste Less, Live Better
  • Health

    Health

    See All Health

    30 Healthiest Foods to Eat Every Day

    • Preventive Health
    • Mental Health
    • Health Coach
    • Crisis Coping
    • Fitness & Exercise
    • Sleep
    • Healthy Eating
  • Money

    Money

    See All Money

    The Ultimate Guide to Tipping Etiquette in Every Situation, From Restaurants to Hair Salons

    How much should you tip your hairdresser? What about your food-delivery person? Here's when to tip, when to skip, and how much to tipĀ in any situation (even the confusing ones).
    • Saving Money
    • Money Made Simple
    • Spending
    • Money Etiquette
  • Style and Beauty

    Style and Beauty

    See All Style and Beauty

    9 Hair Color Trends Experts Predict for 2021

    • Clothing
    • Skincare
    • Shoes
    • Hair
    • Clothing Care
    • Makeup
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining

    PowerPoint Parties Are the Socially Distant Party Trend You Have to Try: Here’s How to Host One

    Presenting a new way to party together—virtually.
    • All Holidays
    • Entertaining
    • Christmas
    • Home for the Holidays
    • Gifts
    • Hanukkah
    • Come Together
    • Thanksgiving
    • Easter
    • Father’s Day
    • Mother’s Day
    • Halloween
  • News
  • Shop

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • My Account
  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Free Organizing App this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Real Simple
  2. Home Organizing
  3. Decorating
  4. Decorating Tips & Techniques
  5. Make the Most of Small Spaces

Make the Most of Small Spaces

By Michael Cannell
Updated September 10, 2014
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Credit: Mark Lund
Make any room seem larger with new colors and smart furniture and storage solutions.
Start Slideshow

1 of 4

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Go From Dark to Light

Credit: Mark Lund

Make a cramped living room feel more spacious by lightening the walls (pictured, Benjamin Moore Lemon Drops). The color's brightness is accentuated by darkening the adjacent entryway (Benjamin Moore Bronze Tone).

1 of 4

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 4

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Let the Light In

Credit: Mark Lund

When curtain rods extend beyond the window frames, it allows in more light and draws the eye outward. “Windows are the eyes of the room,” says Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, the author of Apartment Therapy (Bantam, $15, amazon.com. “When you cover them up, you make your place smaller.”


Center the Room

“People in small spaces often try to get the room they want by moving stuff to the edges,” says Gillingham-Ryan. “But it kills warmth.” To enliven the space, he suggested a sociable triangle consisting of a Chris Madden classic sofa, a Room & Board Flynn club chair, and a slipper chair moved from the bedroom. The neutral-colored Ikea Inez rug helps unify the room. Pier 1 Imports Lijang hexagonal trunks are combined to form a coffee table (unfortunately, these items are no longer available).

2 of 4

3 of 4

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Get Items Off the Floor

Credit: Mark Lund

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.

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.

3 of 4

Advertisement

4 of 4

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Put Function First

Credit: Mark Lund

Create space based on your personal habits. If you never eat in the kitchen, for example, remove the table to make way for more clutter-busting, useful items, like a Pier 1 Imports under-cabinet glass rack ($12, pier1.com), and an Ikea Vurm wine rack ($10, ikea.com).

Create a Triangle of Efficiency

Make sure you can move unencumbered among the three key work areas: sink, stove, and refrigerator. An efficient work area is made by installing an Ikea Värde base cabinet ($399, ikea.com) with drawers and a countertop that is 30 inches deep, 10 inches deeper than average.

4 of 4

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Michael Cannell

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 4 Go From Dark to Light
2 of 4 Let the Light In
3 of 4 Get Items Off the Floor
4 of 4 Put Function First

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Login

Shop | Real Simple Logo

  • Round Area Rugs
  • Plant Stands
  • Candleholders
  • Picture Frames
  • Throw Pillows
  • Wall Art
  • Table Lamps
  • Mirrors
  • Terrariums
  • Curtains
  • Shop More Next

Real Simple may receive compensation when you click through and purchase from links contained on this website.

Real Simple Logo

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Media Kit
  • Content Licensing
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
All products and services featured are selected by our editors. Real Simple may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Real Simple is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.realsimple.com

View image

Make the Most of Small Spaces
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.