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I’ve interviewed countless small-space dwellers in the nearly eight years I’ve been an editor at Domino and no one has been as real with me as our April digital cover star, Swedish furniture and product designer Gustaf Westman. Rather than fight the chaos that comes with living in a 322-square-foot space, he leans into it. He usually only cleans when guests come over, and when he runs out of room for storing plates in his kitchen cabinets, he hangs them on the wall like art.
Even though his attitude is totally relaxed, I learned a lot from looking around his teeny studio apartment, like how a bed without a prominent headboard can double as a sofa. Westman isn’t the only creative who has taught me how to live practically and stylishly in tight quarters. Here are 13 more ideas I’ve picked up from all the amazing small spaces I’ve seen.
Get Your Shoes Out of the Way
Kicking off your sneakers by the front door doesn’t just look messy, it can be a tripping hazard in a teeny entryway. I love how Louise Glynn went the extra mile in her 300-square-foot London home by hiding a pull-out drawer underneath her steps where she can stash shoes.
Have a Room Divider at the Ready
While I see room dividers like the one in this Hell’s Kitchen apartment most often used in studios to separate the sleeping and living area (and in this case, cleverly hide the TV), they can even work wonders in homes with too-large living rooms that are begging for a cozy, private reading nook.
Use the Ceiling Height to Your Advantage
The terraced design of this 462 square foot apartment in Singapore is a marvel to behold (the bed, sofa, dining table, coffee table, and storage are fused into one structure), but the takeaway is simple. Lofting your sleeping area doubles your opportunities for storage and seating. I see Crate & Kids’ Grayson oak wood bed as a shoppable version of this genius layout.
Shrink Your Dining Table, But Not Your Chairs
Brett Williams’ NYC apartment is one of my favorite homes to reference when I need inspiration for laying out furniture in my own apartment. Because just when I didn’t think I had room for a dining table, Williams’ space reminds me that any small round table will do, but to actually make it functional for having guests over, pull up a third chair. The curved arms on these vintage bent wood ones allow the seats to be tucked in a little closer.
Combine Two Rooms That Might Seem At Odds
Interior designer and consultant Cate St. Hill wasn’t ready to sacrifice her work space when she found out she was expecting, so she found a way to make an office and a nursery work in a single room by keeping everything neutral. The walls are coated in a soothing shade of beige, the changing table is an IKEA dresser she’ll never tire of, and the white office chair and desk keep everything feeling calm.
When You Crave a Door, Just Add a Curtain
This resourceful solution from Dana Wolter Interiors has been living in my saved folder for a long time. Not only is creating a makeshift closet using ceiling mounted curtain panels way easier than building something permanent, it’s cheaper and rental-friendly.
Invest in a Storage Bed
When our former style editor Julia Stevens told me she was buying IKEA’s Malm Storage bed, I wholeheartedly approved. While the simple frame is nothing to write home about, what you can do on the interior compartment is. Underneath her mattress is a host of table linens, bedding, books, and taper holders neatly tucked away in the brand’s Parkla, Kuggis, and Skubb bins.
Find a Corner and Pack in the Function
One nook of this 172-square-foot apartment boasts all the cooking essentials, including a sink, cooktop, and plenty of counter space thanks to a dining table slash-desk that flips down. By maximizing the mix of open and closed storage up top, homeowner Elie Metni was able to bring in a mini refrigerator and a washing machine.
Dress Up Your Workout Space
In our fall 2022 Work and Play Issue, Candace Marie gave us a look inside her lower Manhattan studio where she managed to squeeze a Peloton bike and weights. To keep the equipment from looking clunky, she laid down a textured rug and hung a simple shelf, mixing ceramics in alongside her dumbbells.
Hide Your Desk Behind Your Headboard
One thing that chic hotels always get right? Seamlessly combining beds and desks. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. Natasha Lyon, creative director at interior design firm Appreciation Project, got the idea to hide a desk behind her client’s headboard from her many trips to boutique hotels in Stockholm.
…Or Hide Your Bed Underneath Your Desk
I’ve seen my fair share of Murphy beds, but this system designed by Marge Architecture really left me in awe. The brief from the homeowner was ambitious: the attic had to accommodate a guest bed, an office, storage, a children’s room, and a large play area. So, they embraced the sloping ceilings, low edges, and open trusses by integrating a sliding bed.
Don’t Let Awkward Ceilings Stop You From Using Luxe Materials
I am a sucker for a tiny home that brings the drama and this Post Company project in Rhinecliff, New York, did not disappoint. Working within the limits of this petite 1860s cottage, the designers shifted the shower placement to the center of the attic bedroom where the ceiling height is the tallest and then clad the whole thing in Calacatta Rosa marble.
Tuck the Kitchen in a Cabinet
Whether it’s in your full-time space, vacation home, or guest house, a kitchenette can sometimes be a necessity but that doesn’t mean you should have to look at dirty dishes in the sink 24/7. This stone cottage on the rocky north coast of Scotland hides the cooking zone behind a folding cabinet door. Although, we’d prefer it open so we could admire the sweet sink skirt.