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Choose Wisely for a Spacious Feel
When furnishing and decorating a home, scale is an important consideration. A large room can feel small and crowded when stuffed with out-of-proportion pieces, but scale may be even more important when square footage is at a premium. To help a small room seem more spacious, wise furniture choices are key. If you’re decorating in tight quarters, focus on multifunctional furnishings with slim lines, small footprints, hidden storage, and other space-friendly features—in other words, pieces like the ones that follow.
1. Flip-Top Side Table
Considering its slim size, this side table from 17 Stories offers a surprising amount of storage. The top flips open to reveal ample space to stash remote controls, books, and other trinkets, plus built-in USB ports and outlets (something many rooms lack) for charging your gadgets. Its narrow dimensions let it fit comfortably next to your couch or armchair without jutting out and disrupting the flow of the room.
Get the 17 Stories End Table With Storage at Wayfair for $98.99.
2. Corner Desk
This compact desk from 17 Stories fits into the corner of a room, minimizing the amount of space it takes up and offering a suitable solution for those without a dedicated office space. You’ll have a dedicated spot to set up your computer, an external mouse, a notebook, and a few other essentials without taking up too much precious wall space. With six different finish choices, you can even find an option that will match the rest of the furniture in the space. Or consider choosing white (or a shade that coordinates with the color of the walls) to make the room look even bigger.
Get the 17 Stories Miniature 41” Desk at Wayfair, priced at $105.99
3. Skinny Seating
A skinny, industrial-style table is just the solution for a kitchen or dining room that doesn’t have the room for a full dining set. It’s also great as a secondary eating space for quick breakfasts or overflow guests. Consider purchasing matching low stools, sold separately, that can be pushed under the table when they are not in use.
Get the 17 Stories Mayton Dining Table at Wayfair for $142.99.
4. Storage Ottoman
Storage ottomans reign supreme when it comes to multifunctional furniture. Not only does this Threshold ottoman provide a place to rest your feet, but it’s also useful for storing blankets and hiding clutter. It’s available in a range of colors, and its light weight—just over 26 pounds—makes it easy to push to the side if you need extra floor space.
Get the Threshold Essex Double Storage Ottoman at Target for $85.
5. Large Mirror
Interior designers often recommend hanging a large mirror in a small room to make the space seem larger. This mirror from Wade Logan reflects light around the room, which will brighten the area and make it feel less cramped. There are several size options, ranging from 59 inches high to 77.5 inches high to match the specific needs of your room. Choose from a black, white, or brushed nickel frame.
Get the Wade Logan Azeen Wood Rectangular Mirror at Wayfair, priced from $213.99
6. Floating Shelves
When you’re searching for more space in your house, look up—and this often means making better use of the walls. For instance, these farmhouse-style floating shelves from Etsy seller Rustic Roots Co. provide practical storage without looking clunky or taking up valuable floor space. Hang them in the dining room, kitchen, bathroom, entryway, or anywhere else where you need to stylishly display your belongings.
Get the Rustic Roots Co. Deep Farmhouse Floating Shelf at Etsy, priced from $50.40.
7. Rolling Bar Cart
Think a bar cart is an extraneous, space-hogging accessory? Think again. This small circular cart from Wayfair has a towel bar and two shelves for storing your happy hour necessities. Even better, the shelves double as removal trays, making service simple and fast. Simply stick the cart in a corner, and then roll it out when the clock strikes 5.
Get the 17 Stories Colo Bar Cart at Wayfair for $209.99.
8. Entryway Console Table
The entryway of your house receives constant foot traffic, and there never seems to be enough space for everything you need as you head in and out the door each day. Over time, even a spacious entry can wind up strewn with shoes, coats, and bags. Let this console table from Yaheetech help you tame the chaos and create more space. You’ll be able to set some of your gear on top, hide some in the drawers, and stow shoes, gloves, and scarves neatly in baskets below, making your formerly clogged hallway tidy and efficient.
Get the Yaheetech Console Table with Drawer on Amazon, priced from $69.99
9. Sheer Curtains
Light, especially natural light, is vital for making a room feel airy and open. Swap heavy drapes for a breezy window covering made of sheer fabric that will let sunshine fill the room. To make the space feel even bigger, hang the curtain rod slightly above the window to create the illusion of taller ceilings.
Get the No. 918 Bethany Slub Textured Tie Top Curtain Panel at Target, priced from $9.99.
10. Low Accent Chair
Innovative furniture pieces can help you make the most of the limited space in a room. The design of this stylish accent chair from Wade Logan allows the ottoman to slide under the seat. Pull it out when you want to kick up your feet after a long day, and then tuck it away to consider floor space. The faux-fur upholstered chair comes in four different colors to coordinate with the rest of your home’s decor.
11. Clear End Tables
By seeming to disappear into the surroundings, see-through furniture can make a room feel larger. These clear acrylic end tables blend into a room with zero intrusiveness, providing a little storage without adding to the clutter. With modern flair and waterfall edges, these elegant, U-shaped tables come two to a set; the slightly smaller table nests neatly under the larger table when not in use for even greater space savings.
Get the Etta Avenue Alexzander 2-Piece Sled Nesting Tables at Wayfair for $256.99 .
12. Shallow Sofa
Couches deep enough to serve as a taxiway have no place in a small space. Instead, look for a sofa with a shallow seat depth. Consider one with exposed legs, like this stylish offering, because being able to see the space under the couch adds to a room’s sense of openness. Handy storage pockets on the armrests hold reading material and remotes, which cuts down on clutter.
13. Leggy Dining Set
If you want to make a small kitchen or dining room feel larger, opt for tables and chairs with long, thin legs. Models such as the George Oliver Dining Table Set will give the space a more open feel. Unlike clunky furniture pieces that take up more of the floor space, a dining set with thinner legs will allow for more flow through the space and may even create the illusion that the tables and chairs are floating.
Get the George Oliver 5 Pieces Kitchen Dining Table Set on Wayfair, priced from $219.99
14. Loft Bed
Cramming lots of furniture into a small bedroom will make the space feel tight. Keep your space functional without making it feel so cramped with a loft bed. Loft beds elevate the bed, leaving space underneath for shelves, a dresser, or a desk. The Cato Kids Bed even features a built-in desk to further streamline your room layout.
Get the Mack & Milo Cato Kids Bed on Wayfair, priced from $379.99
15. Glass Coffee Table
As mentioned earlier, clear furniture can trick the eye into thinking a room is larger than it is. Coffee tables traditionally go towards the center of the room and can take up a lot of space. Choosing a glass one—like the Etta Avenue Emmitt Nesting Coffee Table—can go a long way towards lessening the impact and helping the room feel more spacious. As a bonus, this option comes with two glass coffee tables. Conserve space by nesting them together, or separating them when you need to lay out appetizers or want more space to organize materials.
Get the Etta Avenue Emmitt Nesting Coffee Table on Wayfair, priced from $152.99
16. Wall-Mounted Night Stand
If you want your bedroom to appear larger than it is, consider investing in a new floating nightstand (or set of nightstands). Unlike traditional nightstands that cover the floor, wall-mounted options—like the Nathan James Jackson Floating Nightstand—give the illusion of more space because the area under the stand remains open.
Get the Nathan James Jackson Modern Floating Nightstand on Amazon for $68.78