Martha Stewart
I have always enjoyed living in smaller homes and finding clever ways to use every inch. When I lived in a tiny English cottage, optimizing space became a fun challenge — a puzzle to solve. Every item needed a place, and creating thoughtful storage solutions made the house work well for our family.
How can you make the most of your small house?
1. Turn finding space into a game.
In a small home, storage becomes a creative exercise. We repurposed areas: my husband’s closet was a linen cabinet in the hall, canned goods fit neatly on plastic shelves in the basement, baking dishes lived on wire shelving on an enclosed back porch, and beds sat on risers to create under-bed storage. Treating space planning like a game helps you see possibilities and enjoy the process.
Small spaces can feel cozy and intentional. Rather than seeing limitations, consider them opportunities to simplify and curate what you own. Working within constraints forces you to prioritize and be resourceful, which often leads to smarter, more functional solutions.
2. Give rooms more than one purpose.
Combining functions makes the most of limited square footage. A library and dining room in one is charming and practical: dine, entertain, and store books or use the space as a home office. Multipurpose rooms reduce the need for separate areas and keep your home flexible.
Bookshelves in a bedroom can look lovely, though some might worry about dust. If a bedroom is the best place for your library, it can work well; otherwise, consider placing books in a shared room where they can be enjoyed more often.
Southern Living
3. Choose built-ins over excess furniture.
Free-standing furniture can dominate a small room. Built-in pieces or furniture that fits like built-ins maximize usable space. Banquettes are a great example: a built-in bench and table save floor space compared to separate chairs and allow for a cozy eat-in kitchen even in a compact area.
Consider other built-in options for storage and seating, or opt for streamlined furniture that reduces visual clutter. Eliminating unnecessary pieces opens the room and improves flow.
4. Be creative with what you have.
Think outside the box. A convertible dining table that reveals a pool table underneath is an inventive way to add functionality without dedicating an entire room to games. While custom pieces can be expensive, they demonstrate how one item can serve many purposes and replace the need for extra rooms.
In our own small house, the dining room doubled as a playroom during my son’s early years. Prioritizing what we used most — like a play area — over a formal dining space made daily life easier. Being willing to reassign rooms for seasonal or life-stage needs keeps a home adaptable.
If you’re trying to get more from a small house, look for ways to double a room’s usefulness. We don’t always need more square footage; we need to use it more cleverly.
Do you consider your home small, medium, or large?
Country Homes & Interiors Feb 2005 via House to Home. Custom-made pool table by Sir William Bentley Billiards.
Related posts:
A Small Kitchen Makeover
A Cute Teeny Tiny House {via Jewel Box Home}
Making a Small House Feel More Open