Small Space
August 5, 2014
Photo Gallery: Small Space Solutions
Get stylish and practical design ideas.
Use thin or see-through furniture.
In a small room, a lucite or glass coffee table can create the illusion of space. Chairs or side tables with thin legs, such as the ones shown here, take up less real estate than thick, bulky furniture.
Make a whole wall of storage.
If you’re tight on space, use tall, narrow cabinets for your closet. With shoes and clothing neatly packed inside, all you’ll see is a clean wall of doors, making the space feel a lot less cluttered.
Use vertical space to draw the eye up.
In a small room with a high ceiling, don’t be afraid to use the space you have! A thin, tall bookcase adds colour and guides the eye upwards, emphasizing the height of the room.
Use a bench that can be a storage area, too.
In small spaces, double-duty furniture, such as this bench-shelf, is a must. The hollow bottom can be used for storing baskets or books, while the top is a colourful, cushioned space used for extra seating.
Built-ins define this space and add vertical interest.
Artwork, shelves and full-length drapes draw the eye upward, making this space appear larger. Interior designer Mazen El-Abdallah, of Mazen Studio, designed his 900-square foot rowhouse to feel like a chic New York townhouse.
See video tours of El-Abdallah’s main floor, second floor and attic.
Create extra sleeping quarters in a bachelor apartment.
Intelligent space savers, like this hideaway trundle bed, are key when square footage is sparse. This roll-out is a charming original feature built into an armoire unit in the main room. When closed, the bed tucks under counters in the kitchen and walk-in closet. See this apartment’s floor plan and living room.
Find more great ideas for small spaces in our Small Space Solutions gallery and in this blog post by Suzanne Dimma.
Maximize height to corral clutter.
Numbered baskets across the top of the upper cabinets provides much-needed storage, warmth and texture to the basic white kitchen, while a hanging pot rack acts as a functional ‘chandelier.’ A butcher-block topped island doubles counterspace, and when two stools are added, creates a casual breakfast spot. A vintage chest, acquired from a university science lab, holds linens, flatware and baking utensils, freeing kitchen cabinets for larger items.
See more of this space in our Online TV home tour.
Find more great ideas for small spaces in our Small Space Solutions gallery.
Double your bedroom storage with style.
A pale wall colour and pretty floral wallpaper in springtime hues makes this space look larger. Bedside tables with drawers offer extra storage, while woven baskets with fabric liners and lids stored under the bed keep out-of-season clothing dust-free, but still accessible.
See more before and after shots of this room, and get more great ideas for small spaces in our Small Space Solutions gallery.
See more photos of Michael’s former apartment and a tour in our gallery and video. Plus, see tours of his new house, too!
Kaili Zevenbergen’s tiny Vancouver studio features dramatic colours against a mostly white backdrop.
This 500-square-foot studio is punctuated by bold hues evoking a subtle Morroccan vibe. Kaili chose this large roll-arm sofa as the key furniture piece for the main living space. The weighty look of the sofa is balanced by smaller scale furniture like the leggy coffee table. A gold tray provides a hit of glam and offers a display surface for a pretty vignette.
View more photos of this home in our September 2009 issue. Plus, see more incredible spaces from 2009 in our photo gallery.
A skylight and feature wall visually expands a bedroom nook in a tiny downtown Toronto coach house.
Designer and stylist Arielle Glober skipped a bulky headboard in favour of bold citrus-green lacquered screens set against a muted paper wall. Although the dormer is just big enough for a queen-sized bed, the wallpaper, glass lamp and country-style lace-edged bedding deliver major impact.
Get more small space solutions in our photo gallery.
Crisp windows without mouldings, clean lines and a light palette keep this 828-square-foot condo open.
With a bleached-hardwood floor and an architectural mantel and fireplace, this living room has a mix of modern furniture and vintage finds, like the candleholder above the fireplace. Leggy furniture emphasizes the airy feel.
Rustic baskets above the shelves and a mod ’60s light fixture emphasize the height of this kitchen.
H&H style editor Michael Penney removed the upper kitchen cabinet doors and stapled grasscloth wallpaper to the back, creating chic and expansive-looking open shelves. A wallpaper feature wall also draws the eye up and out to the window view.
Get more small space solutions in our photo gallery. Also, see more photos of Michael’s former apartment and a tour in our gallery and video. Plus, see tours of his new house, too!
Designer and stylist Sabrina Linn installed prefab shelving to maximize the height of her compact condo closet.
DIY shelves look like custom built-ins. Removing the door and running carpet throughout the bedroom and the en suite closet visually connects and enlarges the two areas. A chinoiserie-print curtain hides the stacking washer and dryer.
Get more small space solutions in our photo gallery. Plus, watch an Online TV tour of this loft and browse photo galleries of the interior and patio transformation.
Double-duty furnishings create an instantly elegant eating area.
In a small space, every piece counts. Here, a low-slung bench becomes a built-in banquette when pushed against the wall in front of two Barbara Barry side tables. A free-standing screen allows the homeowner to fake a separate dining room.
Get more small space solutions in our photo gallery.
A multipurpose island helps makes the most of an open-concept, 878-square-foot loft.
This island houses a 43-inch plasma TV, electronics, drawers and a wine fridge. The sleek mixture of cedar, tile, stainless steel and leather ties the kitchen into the equally urban and masculine living area.
Mirror-covered closet doors give a bright, open feel to the living and dining room in this 525-square-foot studio.
Clever mirrored cabinetry visually expands the space, reflects light and provides a spot to hide clothing and books. “I wanted to simplify my life, and though this space is small, I don’t feel restricted at all,” says Roy Caro, co-owner of the home furnishing store, Celadon Collection.
Get more small space solutions in our photo gallery.
In this 520-square-foot condo, glass walls delineate the living area and bedroom while allowing light to infiltrate the entire space.
A streamlined sofa, sheer drapes, white washed brick walls and glossy flooring combine to create a sleek and modern loft space.
A backless daybed maintains this condo’s view to the terrace.
The coffee table can be used as bench seating for extra guests, while cabinets keep this 850-square-foot condo neat. A sisal rug, vibrant orange cushions, a wicker chair and abundant greenery give this bright living room a relaxing vacation-home vibe.
Get more small space solutions in our photo gallery.
Glossy cabinetry, a huge mirror and a glass-topped dining table enhance the sense of space in this 625-square-foot condo.
Designer Peter Wilds and his partner, Noam Gagnon, tore down the wall between the kitchen and living room. It meant giving up what little closed-off space they had, but being able to take in the Vancouver skyline while they cook makes it a valuable trade-off.
Get more small space solutions in our photo gallery.
Create a small dining space with big impact.
Groups of two to 12 can be comfortably entertained in this apartment, thanks to a dining area tucked neatly away in one corner and anchored by an oversized lampshade. The round table creates better flow in the compact space than a square one. A single drapery panel softens the space and creates the illusion of a bigger window.
Find more great ideas for small spaces in our Small Space Solutions gallery.
Mix DIY pieces with investment furniture for a crisply edited space.
A durable, budget-friendly alternative to hardwood, slate-look ceramic tiles create visual flow throughout this house. The living room’s modern aesthetic is offset by a classic 40-year-old Heriz wool rug. The homeowner had the rug’s border trimmed for a contemporary look.
See the rest of this 525-square-foot space in our Online TV home tour, plus find more great ideas for small spaces in our Small Space Solutions gallery.
An all-white paint palette — even on the sloping ceilings — maximizes the feeling of space in April Tidey’s 490-square-foot Savary Island cabin in British Columbia.
Green Eames chairs — a junk shop score — surround a Saarinen table, grounding the whitewashed kitchen. Simple louvered blinds are in keeping with the beachy feel.