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Try Hide-and-Seek Furnishings
In this utterly ingenious little homemade camper, morning begins by folding the bed back and popping the table up to create a dining area for breakfast time. It’s idea that can be swiped for small apartments—just look for an inexpensive murphy bed or an adjustable height table that can be stashed away (or used as a coffee table) after meals are done.
Take Advantage of Architectural Elements
Reimagine the space between studs or exposed ceiling beams as storage opportunities. In this completely sweet tiny house, beams become shelves and brackets for wine glasses, paper towels, and more.
Build In a Bit of Bathroom Storage
Tiny houses have even tinier bathrooms, so owners have to get really clever about where to put the necessities. Here, an easy DIY—requiring just a couple of boards and a couple of nails—creates an over-the-toilet shelf that’s a perfect fit for extra shampoo, soap, or a decorative plant.
Related: 17 Tiny Bathrooms We Love
Max Out Space Above Windows and Doors
For even more shelving, look up above the openings in your home. Those precious inches between the top frame of your windows and doors can be the perfect spot for hanging a bracketed shelf and stowing tableware, books, or knick-knacks.
Related: Renovating a Small Kitchen? 10 Questions to Ask Before You Begin
Step It Up
Many tiny houses have stairs leading to a bedroom loft, and these present interesting storage options. Here, a narrow shelf is tucked into the tiny space at the foot of the stairs, but it’s possible you can carve out space beneath the stairs as well.
Be Proud of Your Pots
Zillow Digs home in Towson, MD
A pot rack is a time-honored storage trick for a small kitchen, saving on cabinet space and keeping the cookware within easy, instant reach. Add some hanging containers and you can even rack up flatware, spices, or fresh herbs.
Related: Buy or DIY – 8 Clever Solutions for Storing Pots and Pans
Repurpose Some Multi-Tiered Finds
Keep your eye open for creative ways to reuse old stuff, and you’ll have added storage for very little cost. Try leaning a ladder against an empty wall for hanging towels, or add a crate, with a few hooks screwed in underneath, for a multitasking spot for kitchenware, or just about anything else.
Go For Flexible Furniture
Furniture that can shrink or expand with use is the ultimate practical choice for a small space. Folding chairs can be stashed when not in use, while an old-fashioned secretary is a classic choice for a disappearing desk space that hides the clutter when work-time ends.
Related: Buy or DIY – 8 Instant Seating Ideas for a Full House
Peg Your Culinary Tools
This kitchen trick was good enough for Julia Child! Steal this idea, hang a sheet of pegboard above your stovetop or behind a door, and add a slew of storage for everything from measuring cups to tea towels.
Related: 9 Ways to Get on Board With Pegboard
Look for Nooks
Design by Sullivan Building & Design Group; photography by Kathleen Connelly
That awkward little spaces in the corners and crannies of any room might just be your home’s coolest assets. With simple built-in shelves, inexpensive lighting, and the right furniture, an alcove can be transformed into the coziest reading or sleeping nook ever.
Related: 10 Nice Nooks – They’re Not Just for Breakfast Anymore
Paint It to Match
A monochromatic color scheme is a sneaky way to trick the eye and make a room look and feels larger. Choose furnishings that blend with the walls, and, when adding shelving, brush on a coat of paint that matches the walls for a seamless, built-in look.
Get Reflective
Zillow Digs home in Eagle, ID
Whether in the halls of Versailles or your grandma’s dining room, a well-placed mirror is the easiest way to add light and a feeling of openness to any space. Try suspending a pair in a tight bedroom, as shown here, or cover the whole wall of a teensy bathroom with a collection of small framed looking glasses.
Light It Right
Zillow Digs home in Brooklyn, NY
Floor space at a premium? Hang your light fixtures on the wall instead of using standing or table lamps. Sconces or reading lights provide lots of atmosphere and style, and can be hard-wired right into the walls or simply plugged into an outlet.
Make Multi-Tasking Rooms
Zillow Digs home in Minneapolis, MN
In a small home, every inch of space needs to work as hard as possible. With no spot for a laundry room, this homeowner tucked a pair of stacked machines into the klutzy corner of a bathroom.
Invest in a Compact Kitchen
Want to find extra room in your cramped house? Ditch the dedicated kitchen and install an all-in-one unit instead. This amazing British model features a two-burner induction stovetop, a sink, a microwave, and a mini fridge.
Related: The Tiniest Kitchen Appliances You Never Knew Existed
Try Translucence
Zillow Digs home in New York, NY
Translucent furnishings and finishes allow light to bounce around and create a sense of openness and depth. Frosted-panel cabinet doors
, glass canisters, and plexiglass furnishings are all clever and practical choices for small-space living.
Use Your Headroom
Zillow Digs home in New York, NY
Let furniture climb the walls to make the most of your vertical space. Use high loft beds and floor-to-ceiling shelving to pack in functionality while leaving floor areas clear. A ladder, painted to match the furniture, will keep it all within reach.
Go Mini
If you order out just as much as you cook in, why give over acres of space to a space-hogging kitchen range? Take a cue from this minimalist kitchen
, and swap that four-burner beast for a streamlined, up-to-date hotplate and a small convection oven or microwave.