Decorating with Furniture for Small Spaces: Tips + Examples

Designing and decorating small spaces is no small feat, even for expert interior designers. They maximize the space to ensure all the furniture you need will be placed functionally and aesthetically. But you don’t need prior experience to decorate a small space. And with the tips we listed below, you’ll know how to place furniture for small spaces properly. But before that, know which furniture you might need and where to buy them.

Examples of Furniture for Small Spaces

• Folding table
• Murphy wall bed
• Double-decker bed (for families or small living quarters with two or more people)
• Height-adjusting tables
• Rolling carts, organizers, or tables
• Ottoman
• Storage beds
• Wall-mounted desk

Where to Buy Furniture for Small Spaces

• West Elm
• IKEA
• Pottery Barn
• Resource Furniture
• Apartment 2B
• Target
• Crate and Barrel

1. Assess and Visualize the Space

The first and most important step in decorating a small space is to assess it. 

You need to visualize the space with the furniture you want to place in your room or space. Additionally, you have to be practical about your furniture. For example, if you’re moving from one dwelling to another, keep the ones that matter or the least bulky ones and work from there. After assessing the space, you should measure the room or area to which you’ll add the furniture. 

2. Use the Edges

When decorating with furniture for small spaces, the edges are your friend. You want to maximize every square foot of your room or space. And edges will close off the perimeter, opening space for other items, such as small storage boxes or decorative pieces.

3. Maximize the Walls

Your furniture is already occupying most of your floor space. Don’t overcrowd the floor space with too many items. Instead of using storage boxes to fill it with books or putting potted plants on the floor, use wall-mounted shelves.

Similarly, vases and other decors would be ideal on those shelves. Plus, you can save space by hanging a mirror instead of a floor one. Additionally, with a mirror, your space can appear larger and lighter. Finally, you can consider hanging your plants on the ceiling too.

4. Choose Smaller and Slimmer Pieces

You have limited floor space, and bulky pieces will use up the space you need to walk in or add more storage boxes or organizers. The best alternative to decorating a compact space is selecting smaller or slimmer pieces. For example, you can opt for slimmer cube storage.

Your nightstands can also be compact, giving you more room for storage and other decorative floor pieces.

5. Segment The Room with Dividers

If you have a small apartment or room, one challenge is making it larger. This is ideal for those who love having guests and want to host small gatherings in their living space. Transform your humble abode by making it look bigger with dividers.

For example, if you live in a studio apartment, a divider will be great for segmenting other areas in your room, such as your bedroom, living room, and dining area. You can use a folding divider for this purpose. 

Another divider to use is curtains. You can use these dividers to separate your bed from other areas of your apartment. 

Finally, bookshelves can also serve as great dividers. You can fill the space with plants or books to create a private nook in your pad or sleeping quarters.

6. Layer Furniture

Furniture layering also works for small spaces. But this works best if you have smaller pieces accompanying the bigger ones. For example, if you have a small desk, you can place a stool or small chair under it. This example is also applicable if you have a coffee table and you can slide in a pouf underneath it.

7. Go for a Minimalist Aesthetic

If you are starting over in a new apartment or don’t have a lot of furniture when moving to a smaller home, why not consider going minimalist? You can use the multi-purpose furniture, such as a futon that doubles as a storage. Additionally, a minimalist aesthetic uses neutral colors. You can pair your furniture based on the neutral palette you’ll use. Finally, you can limit decor on the walls or ceiling to achieve a minimalist look.

Final Thoughts

Choosing furniture for small spaces can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be, especially if you’re not experienced in interior design. It may require you to be practical with the furniture pieces to keep in your dwelling. Alternatively, you have to maximize all the square footage in your area to make room for everything. With these in mind, you can enjoy staying in your living quarters without worrying about furniture crowding your space.