Choosing And Using Furniture To Take Advantage Of Limited Space

If you're trying to make the most out of small amounts of space in your home, the most obvious solution might be to use small furniture – or even to use as little furniture as possible. But no one wants to have to heap their clothes on the floor or eat their dinner in their lap. So instead of going without, how can you use furniture to maximize your space?

Use Furniture To Channel Traffic

When it comes to arranging your furniture, it's easy to fall into the trap of trying to create space by pushing furniture up against walls. While this does leave space in the middle, it's certainly not the only option. Rather than thinking about open areas, think about channels for traffic. When people can move easily, it makes a space seem more open. And if you do this by moving furniture closer together, you may end up with a more intimate dining or sitting area as well.

If the best space to channel traffic through your living room is through the center, then it really might be best to have your furniture up against the walls to open up the center. But since the doors in rooms are around the edges, it often makes sense to channel traffic there. By pushing furniture to the center of a room, you can channel traffic around the edges; this is good for rooms with many doors. Alternatively, you can arrange the furniture in a doorless corner – preferably one with a nice window – and then have the traffic channel go along the other walls, leading from door to door.

Look For Multitaskers

The most obvious type of multitasking furniture is furniture with storage built in. Ottomans that open up to have storage compartments, beds with drawers underneath, and end tables with multiple shelves are all common examples. The trick is to look for pieces that don't look too big or bulky. The more open space that can be seen in your storage, the better.

Look for furniture with open shelves or storage areas. Not only will this make it easier to remember where you're storing things, they are less oppressive in small spaces than closed-shelf furniture. And if having open shelves makes your home feel full of clutter, maybe this is a sign that it's time for a donation to the thrift store!

Furniture That Fits Together

While getting furniture from that same thrift store may be cheap, don't overlook how matching furniture can save space by fitting together. A computer or writing desk whose chair pulls in completely saves a lot of space when not in use; dining tables with snugly-fitting chairs have the same effect. Many lines of furniture also have options like stackable shelves, helping you to save floor space by building up instead of outwards. Plus, you'll definitely end up with furniture that looks good together.

For more information, contact Home Furniture Co., Inc. or a similar company.

Share