Tips on How to Use Furniture in Small Spaces

Most of us have lived in a small space at one time or another. Perhaps we were dorm residents during our college days. Maybe our first apartment was a tiny, one-room efficiency. Or perhaps we just rented a basement bedroom in someone else’s home.

Small spaces present their own unique challenges when it comes to finding furniture. Unlike a larger home, which allows for a variety of furniture, folks who live in smaller apartments and rooms must find a way to maximize their space.

Some specialty home stores specialize in small spaces, and their floor models even include a “mock” efficiency apartment. These stores are a great place to get ideas for furniture that will work in your home.

However, if you just need one or two key pieces, the best solution is to choose an item that does double-duty. Here are some suggestions:

The Futon: Based on Japanese furniture, the futon is a simple mattress that rests on a folding frame. Folded one way, the futon is a basic, serviceable sofa. Folded in another manner, the futon becomes a bed. This is perfect for anyone who lives in a one-room apartment and has room for only a bed or sofa – not both. It’s also a great choice for a sofa even if you have a separate bed, since it provides additional sleeping space for guests.

Chest or trunk: A small steamer trunk or wooden blanket chest makes a great coffee table – plus it doubles as storage space! You can find unique, old versions at many antique or secondhand stores, although they may cost $100 or more. Around back-to-school time many discount department stores sell trunks for college students. If you’d like, cut a piece of thick plastic or have a glass cutter shape you a piece of glass to protect the surface when using it as a table. The inside storage is perfect for extra towels, blankets or out-of-season clothing.

Baker’s rack: These versatile kitchen pieces can solve many of your storage needs. They can be used as an extra spot for canned and boxed foods. You can use them to store dishtowels. Hang potholders from hooks on the baker’s rack, or stow your wine bottles on the bottom shelf. Baker’s racks also make excellent bookcases and CD storage racks. Keep one in your bathroom to store toiletries, spare towels and extra toilet paper. Place one by the washing machine to store your laundry detergent and fabric softener.

Standing bookcases: Cheap versions of tall – or short – bookcases are available from most discount stores. Higher quality wooden bookcases will cost you $100 or more. One benefit to the high quality version – they can double as a room divider. Paint them to match your décor, and then use them to block off a small corner or section of the room. In one-room efficiency apartments, this is a great way to get a little privacy in the bedroom part of the apartment, or corner off an area for a private home office. You get storage and a room divider all in one piece of furniture.

Small spaces have unique challenges when it comes to selecting furniture. But by choosing pieces that do double-duty, you can find a solution to almost any storage problem.