Here are 5 Must-Have Furnishings for Small Spaces

a traditional living room that leads into a study room with wooden furniture, rugs on the floor, floor lamps, accent chairs, and a ceiling light — (Image credit: Kasia Fiszer)

Jump to category:

1. A Storage Bed
2. An Extendable or Collapsible Dining Table
3. Wall-Mounted Storage
4. Storage Ottomans
5. Mirrors

Small square footage is a reality for many of us. If you live in a city apartment, chances are you aren’t exactly overrun with floor space. Anything you bring into your home needs to work hard and earn its place – usually by doing more than just looking nice.

As someone who has lived in her fair share of small apartments, I’m very familiar with this concept. After moving in and out of homes with varying degrees of awkward layouts and space challenges, I’ve learned which small-room ideas work, which don’t, and how to find furniture and decor that’s functional for small-space living without sacrificing style. So when friends set out to tackle their new small apartments, I have plenty of advice and experience to share – plus a list of interior designers I know will offer a spot of wisdom.

Lucky for my overwhelmed friend, who just moved into a beautiful but… bijoux small apartment, I’ve pulled together a list of furnishings that are essential for small-space living – pieces that can truly make your home work for you.

1. A Storage Bed

a bedroom with pink floral bedding, an angled ceiling with a window on it, a small side table with a gold lamp, and a bench at the foot of the bed — Pop-up beds or beds with built-in storage are highly practical for small bedrooms because they increase storage without taking up any more space than they need to.

Double-duty pieces are a must-have in a small apartment, and the bed, likely being the biggest piece of furniture in your home, needs to be more than just a place to sleep.

While underbed storage in the form of baskets or roll-out drawers is beneficial, nothing can help maximize your space quite like a bed with storage already integrated into its design. According to interior designer Peggy Haddad, a storage bed is an essential furnishing for small spaces because it solves a major design challenge – 'A stored bed manages real-life clutter without sacrificing style,' the designer explains.

'Open storage is hard to keep up with in real life, while concealed storage helps a space feel calmer and more pulled together,' Peggy continues. A storage bed conveniently conceals things in a simple, seamless manner. It can help you free up closet space, too. Perfect for spare sheets, towels, and even off-season clothing, storage beds make space for must-haves without taking up any more floor space or shelf space than needed.

2. An Extendable or Collapsible Dining Table

a dining room with a round wooden table with chairs around it, blue painted walls and blue cabinetry — If your small space allows, consider getting an extendable dining table – or, a dining table that's size can adapt to your needs. And if an extendable dining table is too big, try a collapsible variation instead – or, a dining table that'll fold away when not in use.

A full-sized dining table is a luxury item in a small apartment, and unless you host guests every night of the week, it's likely a waste of space. Instead, I recommended opting for a dining table that extends or has a drop-down design.

According to interior designer Jennifer Jones, these types of dining tables are perfect for small spaces. 'They allow for entertaining larger groups without taking up valuable square footage when not in use,' she says, which is just how I used the extendable dining table in my first apartment. When I hosted dinner parties, I extended the table to allow for more space, and when it was just me, I returned it to its small size.

If your small dining room or studio apartment is simply too tiny for an extendable dining table, Jennifer recommends collapsible or foldable dining surfaces as a practical alternative. According to Jennifer, a model like this will completely disappear when need be, 'providing a clear space for cooking or traffic flow,' she explains.

3. Wall-Mounted Storage

Brown living room with yellow sofa, green rug, and a shelf with pottery hanging from the wall — If floor space is limited in your small home, wall-mounted shelving will become your best friend.

If you live in a small home or apartment, there's a strong chance that floor space is very limited. So, in order to maximize your space's potential without cluttering the floor, it's important to think vertically.

Wall storage ideas like shelving units and cabinets provide the perfect place for miscellaneous clutter, and since they can be mounted to the wall, you don't have to worry about rearranging your floorplan to fit them into the design scheme. You can even find chic variations of these wall fixtures to match the aesthetic of your space, too. This way, they'll benefit your space in more ways than one.

And if you're decorating your small space on a budget, forgo the wall-mounted cabinet and consider hanging floating shelves, instead. Like the Vesta Shelf from Anthropologie, a floating shelf provides wall storage space just like a cabinet, but for a much more affordable price.

4. Storage Ottomans

Small living room in pink with sectional — Position a storage ottoman in your small living space to hold extra blankets, games, or any other miscellaneous objects.

Although storage ottomans are beneficial for homes of any size, there are a few reasons why they're particularly important for small spaces. 'Storage ottomans double as seating or a place to put your feet up while discreetly housing blankets, games, or kids’ toys,' Peggy Haddad explains. They're a clever hidden storage idea – one that'll organize your space while increasing its comfort.

Not only that, but because storage ottomans are designed in all shapes, sizes, and styles, the right one can enhance the look of your room, too. 'These pieces look just as tailored and elevated as their non-storage counterparts, making them an easy win for small homes or apartments,' Peggy tells me.

You can utilize a storage ottoman in any room of your home, and if you live in a one-room studio apartment like my best friend, opt for a storage ottoman that doubles as a coffee table, like this Round Storage Ottoman with a Reversible Lid from Walmart. For their undeniable practicality and stylish appeal, these furnishings are a small space must-have.

5. Mirrors

a small living room with a fireplace, a red mirror hanging above, a vase of flowers on the mantel, a bookshelf to the left, and a checker printed accent chair — By reflecting light and the room around them, mirrors can make a small space feel bigger.

Mirrors aren't necessarily multi-functional, and they don't provide extra storage. That said, they're just as important to small spaces as every other furnishing on this list. Why? Because of the atmosphere they create.

'Mirrors help bounce light around a room, giving the illusion of a larger space,' Jennifer Jones explains. 'The larger the mirror, the bigger the impact – think floor mirrors leaning against a wall or an oversized mirror anchoring a wall in a smaller room.'

Even if you have the smallest of studio apartments, the space can feel much larger if you decorate with mirrors. Consider positioning a mirror opposite of a window to increase natural light in the room. And if wall space is limited, you can always incorporate mirrored furniture instead. These reflective surfaces have a way of increasing visual depth, making any small space feel much bigger than it really is. Plus, you can always find chic styles that'll benefit the aesthetic of your room, too.

With this list of designer-approved small space furnishings, I'm confident that my best friend will be able to decorate her studio apartment in a way that can maximize the space in style. And if you live in a small space, you'll be able to do the same with these key details in mind.

But beyond mere furnishings, there's another important element to consider for small spaces: color. While most neutrals and some bright shades are colors that can make small spaces look larger, don't shy away from dark paint colors for small spaces. Between space-maximizing furniture and space-enhancing paint colors, even the smallest rooms have the potential to feel like full-sized spaces.

Devin Toolen is a New York-based Style Editor for Homes & Gardens. After achieving her Bachelor’s Degree at Villanova University, Devin moved to Paris, France, to obtain her Master’s Degree at Parsons School of Design. Upon returning to the United States, Devin began working in the media industry with Cosmopolitan Magazine, where she wrote trend-driven fashion stories and assisted on set for many photoshoots, and later Livingetc, where she wrote interior design stories and assisted with the magazine’s social media pages. She has an appreciation for every aspect of personal style – from the clothes we wear to the design of our homes. In her spare time, Devin enjoys embroidery and antique shopping in the city.