Our Best Small Space Decorating Tricks You Should Steal

Walking into Amie Corley's stunning office, you'd never guess that it was formerly an abandoned caretaker's apartment located in the carriage house alongside her 1907 home. The St. Louis interior designer recently realized her longtime dream of transforming the old and empty attic into a home for her growing business, but the space posed a whole puzzle of challenges—including low windows, limited plumbing, and pitched ceilings dipping to 7 feet. She transformed part of the space into a kitchenette that holds plenty of secrets.

Hide Appliances
Corley employed a favorite tiny-kitchen trick by covering the 30-inch refrigerator, 18-inch dishwasher, and microwave with matching cabinet panels. "There's no stainless steel to distract the eye," she says.

Bet on One Bold Color
Embracing the comfort, Corley went all in with her favorite hue, Farrow & Ball Stone Blue (No. 86), painting the walls, trim, cabinets, banquette, and ceiling. "Covering everything in one color actually keeps a small space feeling more open because your eye doesn't get cut off anywhere," she says.

Add Wall Lights
Sconces can be used in place of recessed lights or pendants (when those aren't options). Nestle them anywhere to brighten up enclosed spaces. "They give the same feeling as adding a lamp, but you don't need room for a table to go underneath," Corley says.

Stack Up Drawers and Shelves
The banquette's skinny drawers are ideal for tile samples; Corley bought even more space by skipping rails (those slivers of cabinet that sit between drawers). In the kitchen, a floating shelf offers airy storage without the closed-off look of cabinets.

Whether you're embracing extra space in your attic or basement, low ceilings and awkward window heights can be a challenge. Designer Amie Corley created an inviting sitting area in her office for clients and friends alike.

Match the Sofa to the Walls
In the sitting area where Corley meets with clients, a Lee Industries sofa coordinates with the walls. It's upholstered in a Pierre Frey velvet of a similar blue. "Blending big pieces like a sofa into the wall color creates an almost negative space, letting your eyes rest and enabling you to add contrast or pattern elsewhere," she says.

Keep the Furniture Sleek
"I chose small-scale pieces so as not to bulk up the space too much—a sofa with tight-track arms, slipper chairs, and brass dining chairs that are smaller than most," she says. And don't even bother with spindly coffee tables. In multipurpose rooms like this, a sturdy table will often be converted into an extra work surface or an impromptu spot to sit.

St. Louis designer Amie Corley needed her desk area to be a white backdrop for design work. She made it both attractive and functional with smart cabinetry, floating shelves, clutter-taming baskets, and jolts of yellow.

Hide Office Necessities
What you don't notice in this busy workspace: office equipment. The tall, skinny cabinet next to the desk houses a printer, Wi-Fi router, and other unsightly electronics.

Decorate with Usefull Supplies
To keep the office feeling more cozy than corporate, Corley lined her shelves with baskets stuffed with fabric samples. "The magical thing about them is that they fully disguise their contents and can also make a room look pulled together and expensive, much more so than other types of storage bins." A corkboard wraps the wall above the desk to play up the natural texture of the storage baskets.

Add a Little Polish
Because a standard rolling chair would have looked too ho-hum, the designer instead selected a cushy chartreuse chenille seat and complemented it with a matching lampshade on the brass sconce above. Lastly, the brass Waterworks hardware on the cabinets mirrors the warmth of the bright chair and adds a dressy sheen to the room.

Add a statement-making banquette to a corner of your living room that might otherwise be occupied by a random piece of accent furniture. A window seat needn't be more than 16 inches deep, says interior designer Andrew Howard, who decorated this living room just outside Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This is a wonderful place for party guests or family members to relax and converse—and also a spot to sneak in a few layers of color, pattern, and texture. "There's nothing I hate more than a brown wood chest in the corner of the room; this banquette softens up everything and also creates an intimate seating area," he adds. One key to successfully pulling off this decorating scheme: Mix and match patterns to keep it cozy, not overly formal. On pillows in such a compact space, Howard prefers to keep the prints relatively small and similar in scale to each other. Here, the green Zen Garden fabric by Ferrick Mason contrasts with the blue motif on the L-shaped bench, which is upholstered in Pavilion in Bay by LuRu Home.

Open Things Up with Window Treatments
This Roman shade (Kashgar Rubia by Lisa Fine) frames the corner area and connects to the other curtains—all hung as high as possible. "Hang drapes close to the moldings to trick the eye into thinking the ceilings are higher," suggests Howard.

Lacy Phillips, an interior designer from Pensacola, wanted this 10- by 10-foot side entry to serve as a hardworking drop zone for her busy family of five— but the window's positioning meant that she couldn't add built-in cabinetry without blocking the natural light. The solution: a unique shoe bench she purchased at Peachtree Antiques & Interiors in Atlanta. It offers storage and rustic charm, while two strips of oversize hooks from Pottery Barn hold everything from bags to jackets above. Roomy baskets stash sports equipment (not pictured). Paneled walls are painted a light tone, which keeps the area from feeling cramped or cluttered. "The ceilings drop in this room, but the vertical paneling makes the space feel taller," Phillips says. The neutral paint color (Benjamin Moore's Puritan Gray) keeps the mood modern and bright and flows seamlessly into an adjacent playroom painted the same hue.

Fend Off Clutter
Colorful pillows from World Market coordinate with the vintage rug and serve a second purpose—to discourage dropping any personal items on the bench. "Small spaces must be well organized: Bags go on hooks, shoes are put in slots, etc.," Phillips says. "We do our best to keep it clean and clear to allow room to sit and to make things look tidy."

When redoing this kitchen for a young family in Dallas, interior designer Amy Berry transformed a previously unused window area into a bright breakfast nook with a sunny disposition. The biggest challenge? While the ceiling and windows are about 10 feet tall, the dining space is only about 8 feet wide. She knew she would focus her design on a round pedestal or trestle table. These allow you to squeeze in a few additional people when needed, since the centered base prevents awkward straddling of table legs. Berry also loves a built-in bench, which can always accommodate one more tiny diner yet, to the eye, reads as just one streamlined piece. "It's important to tally up legs in a small space—between the table and chairs, you don't want to have too many," says Berry, who picked these retro Modway chairs with a simple base to balance out the busier crisscross design of the Redford House table. One area where more is more: throw pillows, which are many designers' favorite way to add a nice touch of pattern and softness (even when there's little room for furnishings). Don't be afraid to pile "em on, as long as you don't overdo it. "You should be able to move around a bit without any of them falling on the floor," Berry says. Meanwhile, go light when it comes to chandeliers. This modern geometric fixture from Mr. Brown is playfully juxtaposed with the round table. It doesn't overpower the tight space, thanks to its lightweight corrugated-cardboard construction and washed-out shade.

Sneak In Smart Storage
"If you have the space to create a corner nook like this, get a carpenter to put the seating on piano hinges and use that hidden storage for appliances that aren't needed often, along with your party items like serving platters and bowls," recommends New Orleans professional organizer Tami Hills.

If you have beloved large furniture but are short on square footage, use your big pieces in creative ways. For example, store dry goods in a china cabinet to create a pantry in the open.

No storage space in your bath? Use a solution on wheels (like this chrome beauty) to store towels and trinkets in style.

Shoes littering your space? Try this small space solution: Create a shelving system in your closet beneath the hanging garments for your shoes, bags, and folded sweaters. You can even tuck a small, clean-lined bookshelf into the bottom of the closet to take advantage of vertical space—shelves always do the trick!

Small spaces rarely have room for a big bookshelf, but if your books aren’t corralled together, they can look messy. Avoid this problem by stacking books vertically in one corner of the room—plus, you’ll add a bit of shelf space in the process.

Tiny kitchens need seating space too. Grab a clean-lined stool to offer additional seating, but make it work double duty: Set a tray on top, fill it with your favorite liquors, and make the stool into an unobtrusive corner bar cart.

In a small space, every inch of shelf space is valuable. Add two-tiered shelving to the top of your mantel with a shelf affixed to the wall. It provides a seamless addition of display space.

Define each area of your space—especially if you have a studio apartment. Rugs help to create zones and define each nook, instead of giving the impression of one blurred, multi-functional room.

Find creative ways to use objects that you already have. A gorgeous set of antique champagne buckets? Affix them to the wall and use them for flatware storage, as planters for flowers, or as graphic art. When in doubt, go vertical and take advantage of wall space in small rooms.

Don’t be afraid to go big and bold with pattern in small spaces. Add touches of joy through pattern mixing on beds, framed photos, and vibrant wallpaper. Mix with serene neutrals for a grounding base and joyful accents.

Don’t crowd small spaces, like this open-air porch, with furniture and plants. Use well-chosen, sculptural details, like these planters flanking the porch doors. This addition offers visual interest with vertical power but doesn’t eat up too much floor space. A tiny planter by the front door adds just enough charm for this compact facade.

In a small space with one big focal point, like the stunning tub in this small bath, embrace simplicity. Here, bare, white walls give the illusion of more space, and the addition of one large piece of landscape art maintains the clean-lined, spacious, and elegant vibe of the room—but it also adds color, depth, and interest.

When you need flexible seating in a small space, a banquette can be a great go-to. The chairs can be moved throughout the space, but lots of people—kids, friends, family—can crowd onto a banquette for breakfasts, homework, and game nights.

Clutter is your enemy when you are styling a tabletop. Especially in a foyer, keep things simple with a few well-chosen lamps, frames, and beautiful objects.

In a cozy family room, oversized sofas can be perfect for movie nights, reading hours, and long afternoon naps. If you aren’t concerned with having lots of room to move, fill a small space with comfy, symmetrical seating. Big sofas that mirror each other create an eye-pleasing design that will keep the space feeling clean, not crowded. It will become everyone’s favorite nook.

If you have a small space to fill, look to small-scale versions of your favorite pieces, like the loveseat version of a beautiful sofa, or a side table version of a pretty coffee table. It will fill the space with style, only smaller.

Who has room for all those pots and planters? Combine your favorite floral styles in one compact planter for garden impact that takes up much less space. It’s perfect for a small porch or patio.

For design in small spaces, flowers work wonders. You can always change the colors and styles, but they add lively impact in vases, small planters, and window boxes.

Nothing makes a kitchen feel smaller than a countertop filled with bowls, utensils, and cookbooks—in a word: clutter. Keep spaces bright, airy, and clean by using shelving and in-drawer storage solutions.

In a small area, no corner should go to waste. This nook offers an efficient use of space by adding a refrigerator for drinks, shelving for storing glasses, and a marble-topped counter to corral a small bar and mix up cocktails. It adds party and prep space to a small kitchen.

Take advantage of empty wall space with creative wall art. Fill a vintage basket with flowers, add art, or hang pretty, graphic objects for decor that doesn’t encroach on your square footage.

Who uses the space? There’s limited square footage, so make it work for you, your family, and your pet’s needs by thinking through your daily routines. In this kitchen, a clever, hidden door opens to a cozy bed for a sweet pup. It saves space since there is no need for a kennel.

In a small area, like this tiny guest bath, bold wallpaper and bright accents lend a lively and airy vibe to the enclosed, windowless room.

Even in the smallest rooms, breakfast nooks add real impact. They have service—making everything from breakfast to homework to game nights a little easier. Find a way to carve out the space for a breakfast nook in your tiny home (with just a few chairs or a full banquette), and you’ll never look back.

Have any awkward recessed nooks in your small studio? Crannies with no real purpose? Use that small corner for storage. Try tucking your furniture into the area—if you can find just the right size of desk or dresser, the nook will go from waste of space to ultimate storage solution.

This home was a two-bedroom with a serious need for more living space. The second bedroom was revamped with turquoise walls and a queen-size daybed to create a multi-purpose den that easily can also serve as a guest bedroom.