Design Tips & Product Picks for Small Space Living

When designing a home around the limitations of small space living, it's actually much easier than you might think to create beautiful interior designs that are stylish, practical, and actually feel bigger than they are. It's all about making smart choices with color--white walls, with white trim and a white ceiling, make the small spaces seem taller visually--and being methodical when you choose furnishings when you're working with a small floor space and a lower amount of square footage. When shopping for furniture for a small space, keep the following dimensions in mind for individual pieces of furniture. There's nothing worse than making a purchase and then finding out it's too big when you bring it home (we all remember what happened to Ross on "Friends" when he tried to "pivot" his too-big couch up the stairs of his building). Living in a small space or a small apartment doesn't have to hold you back when it comes to design, as long as you shop for the dimensions of your home.

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The Kathy Kuo Home Small Space Shopping Guide

Nightstands: 21"W or less

Sofas: 80"W or less

Coffee Tables: 30" D/50"W or less

Dressers: 50"W or less

Consoles: 42"W or less and 12"D or less

Dining Tables: 42"D or less and 70"W or less

Desks: 50"W or less

Side End Tables: 20"W and less

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Photo via Kathy Kuo Home

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Small Space Living: In the Living Room

When design the living room of your dreams for a small space, accent chairs for extra seating can go a long way when it comes to adding visual variety and personality. Keep in mind, an eye catching accent chair usually has to be around 28” W and less than 35” depth. One option is to go for a chair without arms to get the extra width in seating space.  Another tip for maximizing space in your small living room, nesting tables can be a great way to save space. They are also very versatile, as are storage coffee tables and tables with nesting ottomans. You can clump nested tables together as a side table on one spot when not in use, and use the pieces individually for drinks or devices if you don’t have enough room for a full coffee table. A living room designed with smart and space-saving picks is sure to both look and feel great. Additionally, mini chairs can save so much space--especially when paired with a loveseat instead of a sofa. You can create a living room that makes the space feel “full” with multiple seating options when you think small in strategic ways. Finally, when it comes to the biggest piece in your small living room--the sofa or sectional--the right sectional can actually make a small living room feel larger, especially when accented with a large piece of wall art. 

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Photography Credit: Left: Kathy Kuo Home; Right: Homey Oh My

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Photo via Harlowe James

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Small Space Living: In the Bedroom

When designing for your bedroom in your small living space, try to consider furniture pieces that are multi-use. Think: Benches with hidden storage, beds with storage underneath, and nightstands with built-in lights and charging ports. Any time you can get several functions out of one item, you free up additional space for other pieces.  When it comes to how to decorate a small bedroom, start by thinking outside of the box. Instead of framing your bed with two full-sized nightstands with table lamps on top, you can go for smaller side tables and install slim-profile pendant lights to serve as bedside lighting. Plus, you can also make use of reflective surfaces such as mirrors to make room look or feel larger, opt for a light color scheme (like gray, taupe, or millennial pink) that makes the room feel more spacious, and curate your finishing touches so that you end up with a few bigger accessories, rather than many small ones, which can feel cluttered.

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Photography Credit: Left: Kathy Kuo Home x Olivia Rink; Right: Grit & Polish

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Photo via Clem Around the Corner

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