Decorating & Design
Top 10: Best Furniture For Small Spaces
Updated on May 19, 2016
Assistant design editor Jen Masseau shares her top small space furniture picks.
There’s no reason a small space should have to be short on style. Rather than shopping for “condo-sized” versions of traditional pieces, focus on finding furnishings with statement-making design details and multi-use features that will maximize their utility in a smaller space. Click through for some of my favorite furniture pieces for apartments and condos.
Learn how to furnish your condo to maximize space on H&H TV.
The words “apartment sofa” usually instill visions of overstuffed loveseats, but not so with this version by Jonathan Adler. The Goldfinger Apartment sofa, clad in navy velvet atop a polished brass frame, evokes bold Hollywood glamor.
This minimalist dining chair would be right at home in a Scandi-modern Stockholm apartment. The Scoop dining chair’s curved blonde ash seat and angular black legs deliver strong graphic style with an airy feel that won’t clutter a small space.
Where floor space is limited, consider furnishings that float. CB2’s Slice Mirror Wall Mounted Storage Shelf features a darkened mirror surface and a hinged front panel that flips down to reveal an interior cubby. Mount it bedside as a free-floating night stand, or pair up a couple side by side in a dining area to use as a compact bar nook.
Sometimes, even in a small space, bigger is actually better. Filling an entire living room wall with a modular unit like the Modern Media Set from West Elm creates an instant living room focal point, and serves as an all-in-one media stand, bookshelf, storage and display area.
The Mesa Round Dinette Table by German design team 45 Kilo may be small in stature, but its bold looks more than make up for its size; The matte black marble top and powder coated iron base in rich Kelly green make a luxe, modern statement.
Eliminate the need for nightstands with a bedframe that has them attached. Dwell Studio’s Tristan Panel Bed, fashioned from solid black walnut hardwood, has a slatted headboard and soft rounded corners for a look that’s a blend of modern and feminine.
A small kitchen usually benefits from the addition of three things: more storage, more prep space, and a hint of whimsy. The Sheridan Mint Kitchen cart brings all three. This petite workhorse is set on castors for maneuverability and is topped with heavy rubberwood butcher block. Plus, the dusty mint paint job feels both fresh and homey.
Host frequent overnight guests but don’t have a spare bedroom? Ikea’s Holmsund Sofa Bed comes in an of-the-moment pink quartz-inspired colorway, and includes storage for sheets and blankets in the base.
Elte’s Venn Pull Up Table is the perfect side table for a small living room— the tiered surfaces allow for a neat and tidy way to display items on each level, and the translucent glass and pewter construction keeps things visually light.
For storage cabinets, think vertical. Rather than a typical low, wide sideboard, try a taller unit with a smaller footprint. The Arkelstorp Sideboard from Ikea has an old-world look in solid painted wood, and hides four shelves and an interior drawer for organized storage. The height is still low enough to easily display items on top, too.