Living in a small space —  with just a couple hundred square feet to work with — doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style for functionality. But it does mean you should be willing to think outside the box.

Designing a smaller apartment or house comes with a fair number of challenges. More often than not, you have to figure out smart storage solutions, configure your layout to prevent things from looking too cramped, and still find a way to infuse your personality into the space. It’s a tall order! Luckily, there are countless design pros who have lived in small spaces themselves, and know the tricks of the trade to make the most of it.

Here are Havenly interior designers’ best small space tips for maximizing the space you’re in — especially when you have minimal square footage to spare. 

1. Make the most of vertical space

Don’t have a ton of room on your floor? Use your walls instead! Invest in shelving and mounted bookcases as a creative way to store things like books, records, and baskets, recommends Havenly designer Brady Burke. Installing hooks inside closets and behind doors can also give you plenty of extra hanging space. Not to mention, thinking vertically can also make your space appear larger than it is, advises Havenly’s Shelby Girard: “Draw the eye upwards with built-ins, dramatic curtains, a tall gallery wall or a statement chandelier.”

2. Invest in multi-use furniture

Everything — well, almost everything — can be used for storage if you plan your space right. Closed consoles can conceal clutter, storage ottomans and benches can tuck away linens, and nightstands with drawers can hide cords and miscellaneous items. Multi-use furniture that offers sneaky storage can be a game-changer in a small space, says Burke. “I lived in a 970 square-foot space for years. We had a storage bed with four drawers in the base and a storage chaise on our sectional that held blankets and extra bedding,” he explains. “And in our breakfast nook, we had a built-in bench with storage, instead of chairs, which acted as our linen closet.”

3. Keep things light

Furniture that feels “heavy” can make a space feel a bit crowded — instead, consider opting for slimmer silhouettes, like armless dining chairs, sleek pedestal tables, and pared back accent chairs. Glass shelving units and side tables can also help you to maintain an airy look. 

4. Make storage stylish

When you don’t have a lot of built-in storage to work with — limited kitchen cabinets or closet space — put your items on display, suggests Girard. Move your plates and glassware into storage cabinets with glass fronts, and put your favorite wardrobe items on a standalone clothing rack or shelf. Just be sure to keep things neat and tidy!

5. Pare back

It’s true what they say: Less is more. “Instead of having a lot of little furniture in your space, invest in a few key, larger elements to ground a room,” says Havenly managing editor Heather Goerzen. “It will create the appeal of more visual calm.” The key is to make sure the elements in your room make sense scale-wise, echoes Havenly lead designer Kelsey Fischer — nothing makes an already-small space feel smaller than a too-large coffee table. (Following these measuring rules of thumb can help!)

6. Think outside the box

When you only have so much space, sometimes you have to get creative. Storage furniture, as previously mentioned, can be a life-saver in small homes, but it’s not the only way to get the most out of your piece. “I’ve used tall bookcases next to a sleeper sofa to act as both storage and nightstands,” says Havenly designer Kasee Smith. “I’ve also used an ottoman as a footrest, storage, and coffee table.” Think of it as maximizing what the furniture in your space can do.

7. Stay organized

Ultimately, when you live in a small space, it’s easier for messes to pile up — and that means they’re more likely to have a bigger impact on the overall feel of your home. This may sound cliché, but a place for everything and everything in its place,” says Havenly designer Toussaint Derby. “When I lived in a studio apartment, it was important to have an organized closet, furniture with space underneath it for storage, a bed that sat fairly high off the ground, and a dresser with legs to put shoes underneath.” When all of your belongings have a “home” keeping tidy feels like a more approachable task. 

Looking for a way to overcome your unique home dilemmas? Work one-on-one with our expert interior designers for just $129 per room. Get started today with our style quiz.