Three Ways to Save Space with Multifunctional Furniture

When it comes to small living quarters, creating space within your interior design is a must. From ottomans that open and offer storage space within, to couches made to double as a guest bed and beyond, the furniture that you choose for your home or apartment is key in maximizing the minimal space you have at your disposal.

Rather than allowing clutter to pile up and make a small room feel even smaller, you can choose space-saving elements that not only hide clutter and handy essentials, but also still offer the sleek and trendy feel you want in your home.

Design by MICHELLE BERWICK  Photography by LARRY ARNAL

Of course, such space saving furniture is not always easy to find, or easy to recognize. It can be overwhelming to try and figure out the places in your home or apartment that can be optimized for better storage, which is why we’ve created a quick guide to some of the easier ways to create a bigger feel in smaller spaces.

1. Multi-Purpose Seating

Design by MELISSA DAVIS  Photography by MIKE EDWARDS

It is entirely possible to find furniture that matches your design style while still offering the functional space-saving you desire. In fact, many simple furniture choices can offer multiple purposes and save you the space of having to account for the different needs now being met by that one piece.

Take your living room couch as an example. In a small space, it can be hard to find room for overnight guests or out of town visitors. Rather than choosing just a couch, look for a couch that can lay flat or pull out and double as a guest/day bed. When visitors are around, they have a comfortable place to stay, and when you don’t have guests, you don’t have to waste valuable space on an un-used bed. You can also find a couch that offers storage underneath the cushions, for things like extra blankets or linens, which can also take up a considerable amount of space.

It's important to note that adding multipurpose seating pieces to your home does not have to be challenging, or expensive. A simple side table can double as a stool when hosting larger crowds, and a regular coffee table can become a desk with the addition of a computer stand. You can even use your side-table-stool as a desk chair for your coffee-table-desk. When it comes time to pick out furniture, the best thing you can do is be creative in your thinking about all the ways it can be of use.

2. Space Saving Tables

Design by LINDA MAZUR  Photography by LARRY ARNAL

From your living room coffee table to your foldable dining table to the wall desk in your home office, tables are an excellent way to save space and create additional storage. Space saving solutions can be both complex or incredibly simple, depending on what you’re specifically looking for from your furniture.

If you’re looking for a simple way to create more living room storage, consider using a chest in place of a traditional coffee table. Not only does the natural wood of the chest add some vintage charm to your room, it also offers a great place to store extra blankets, electronics, or whatever else you like to have on hand in your living room.

Design by TRISHA ISABEY  Photography by TREVOR COOPER

If you’re looking for more space than storage, and you don’t mind something a little more complex, consider creating a floating desk. Much like floating shelves, a floating desk does not attach to the floor, and instead comes straight out of the wall. When not in use, you can either fold it back into the wall, or use as a shelf for storage. And if complex isn’t what you’re looking for, you can always create more space by using a thin hallway table as a desk, being sure to tuck the chair(s) underneath to save room when it’s not in use. 

3. Get Creative in Your Unique Space

Design by MICHELLE BERWICK  Photography by LARRY ARNAL

Every home design can be customized to meet the unique needs of the people who live there. Part of personalizing your home, which means maximizing storage space. Rather than offer a one-size-fits-all protocol to potential space saving solutions, our recommendation is to incorporate multifunctional furniture and multipurpose pieces in a way that best serves you.

If you have a small entry way that’s become cluttered with jackets, shoes and beyond, it may be in your best interest to look into a multi-use piece that offers storage space, like drawers, hooks and a place for shoes, but also has seating for people to put on and take off footwear.

Design by BIG SKY HOME INTERIORS  Photography by JUSTINE JANE PHOTOGRAPHY

If you have frequent guests or are often the host of neighborhood slumber parties, sleeping arrangements may be more of what you need. In a small space, choosing bunk beds can mean two beds for the space of one. And if those bunk beds have a trundle, that’s even more sleeping spots that can then be rolled back underneath when not needed.

Whatever your storage or space needs, multifunctional furniture is a great solution to limited living spaces. Think about what you want, what you need and what’s best for your home, and don’t be afraid to get creative. If you need any help, the flooring and design experts at Carpet One Floor & Home are always here to assist you.