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Design Tips For Small Spaces

Posted by Watson's on Jan 28, 2022 12:15:00 PM

While endless space and room would be wonderful, that’s not usually the case, especially if you’re living in an apartment or have a growing family.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a well-designed and functional space. It just means you have to use more multifunctional furniture and understand the purpose of the rooms you have and what you’ll actually use.

Check out these tips we’ve compiled for furnishing small spaces (and making them look bigger).

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Shrink Your Seating

Depending on the size of your small space, opt for a loveseat or two chairs instead of a sofa or sectional. When looking at chairs, consider the width and depth of your chairs. Opt for slimline chairs that take up less space or armless chairs that add a unique design feature.

If you have an odd-shaped room, lots of windows, or low ceilings or a nook, consider bench seating as an alternative that can accommodate these spaces. Ottomans are also a great option for spaces such as these. A bench can also be easily moved for a dining table and into a living room space for extra seating when you have guests over.

Design Tip: Resist the urge to push your furniture against your walls. Leaving space behind your furniture will give the appearance of a wider room.

If you have the space and want more seating, there are many sectionals that are slimline. Just keep your other furniture minimalist to avoid overcrowding the room and making it difficult to easily walk through.

Use Height

Furniture like bookcases or a hutch may seem contradictory for a small space, but they add a lot of storage for the space they take up because of their height. Instead of two sideboards, you can have one hutch and be able to use half the space, but keep the same amount of storage.

You can also consider built-in shelving for more storage and décor space, but if you’re renting and unable to make permanent updates, a bookcase or hutch are great solutions for a dining room, living room, kitchen, and office space.

Use Multifunctional Furniture

While specific pieces of furniture were originally intended for specific rooms (I.e. a sofa for a living room), in small spaces you can really be creative with any piece as long as it serves a purpose. Many pieces of furniture are multifunctional and these are pieces you should be considering.

Ottomans are extremely versatile as they can be seats, footrests, and tables. And since they are smaller, you can use them and move them to any room. Some ottomans also can be used for storage, making them even more versatile for seasonal items like blankets or for keeping games and puzzles.

Sideboards add a unique design aspect while also giving storage and tabletop space. We’ve mentioned bookshelves and hutches already, but they deserve a second mention because they can truly store anything based on the room and the need, from office supplies to dishes to décor, and more.

Did you know we even carry game tables that can convert into a dining table? You can save space and still have fun!

Use Your Wall Space

When you have limited room, you want to minimize how many things actually take up the floorspace. Use your wall space, which will allow you to keep clutter off of tables and floors and will also bring more texture and intrigue to your rooms.

Floating shelves, sconces and other wall or ceiling lighting are great ways to balance function with design and keep your small space free of clutter and excess.

Nesting Furniture

Nesting accent tables are a great addition to any small space as they not only condense to take up one small space, but are also small and can easily be moved out of the way if wanted. Nesting tables typically come as a set of two, but we also offer sets with three tables as well.

If you don’t want nesting tables, using two smaller tables rather than one large coffee table is another way to efficiently furnish without crowding a room.

If you have the space for a larger coffee table, we even carry a nesting coffee table that could be used for dining, games, puzzles, and more.

Keep it Bright

The brighter the room, the bigger it looks. And we’re not necessarily talking about the color of your furniture, but the color of the room and the use of lighting.

Natural light will brighten a room and make it seem larger. If you have lots of windows, avoid covering them up. If you don’t, mirrors are a great décor addition that can help distribute what light you do have and make the room seem larger.

Paint your walls a lighter color and if you want to add fun, focal points, do so with bright colors in your artwork, décor, or even a statement piece of furniture. But keep your walls lighter for your room to appear larger.

Regardless of the size of space you’re furnishing, Watson’s carries the largest selection of furniture with options to customize to fit any space, décor, and budget. Contact one of our design experts today to learn more and create a space that’s comfortable, on-trend, and affordable.


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