How to furnish a small space 🏠

Having a small home is a bit like putting together a 3D jigsaw puzzle in a shoebox: it’s a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be! Whether you live in a studio, a tiny house or a cosy two-bedroom, there are a thousand and one ways tooptimize space without sacrificing style and comfort.

In this article, we give you the best design tips for small spaces, clever space-saving ideas and decorating advice to transform your tiny cocoon into a real cosy nest.

1. Think functional: every centimetre counts!🧭

When space is limited, every piece of furniture has to justify its presence. We say goodbye to purely decorative objects (no, that giant plastic cactus is of no use to you), and adopt a minimalist but intelligent approach.

✅ Choose multifunctional furniture

Two-in-one (or even three-in-one) furniture is your best ally:

A convertible sofa with built-in trunk
A lift-up coffee table with hidden storage
A retractable bed that disappears into a wall (magic!)

✅ Use the walls (and even the ceilings!)

Walls are more than just supports for paintings:

Install high shelves
Hang plants (space-saving + a touch of nature 🌿)
Fix hooks or wall bars in the kitchen or bathroom

2. Color, light and optical illusion: play with perception🎨

Designing a small space is also a question of feeling. Light, colors and materials can give an impression of space… or, on the contrary, overwhelm it.

🎨 Choose light colors

White, cream, pastel and light gray tones visually enlarge the room. Avoid dark tones on the walls, unless you want to live in a cave (no judgement!).

💡 Focus on good lighting

Multiply light sources:

Wall lights
Auxiliary lamps
LED garlands (cosy effect guaranteed)

And above all: let in as much natural light as possible. Avoid thick curtains, prefer curtains.

🪞 Use mirrors

Mirrors give the illusion of depth. Place them opposite a window to reflect the light. Bonus: you’ll still be able to admire yourself without passing too much furniture.

3. Optimize storage areas (without overcrowding)🧱

The secret of a tidy little space is a bit like that of a well-stocked fridge: organization and accessibility.

📦 Adopt clever storage solutions

Under-bed storage boxes
Compartmented drawers in cupboards
Furniture on castors that can be moved as needed

🧹 Duplicate functions

A box bench in the entrance: seating + shoe storage
A headboard with built-in storage
A mezzanine, ceiling height permitting (the urban dream!)

4. DIY and salvage: personalize your little home🛠️

You don’t need a palatial budget to make your space unique! Do It Yourself and recycled materials are your best friends for an interior that reflects your personality.

🪚 Make your own furniture

A few boards, screws and a YouTube tutorial later, you’ve created a custom shelf or fold-down wall desk.

🪑 Give objects a second life

An old suitcase transformed into a vintage bedside table
Wine crates turned into wall shelves
A stepladder painted as a decorative shelf

Not only is it economical, it’s also environmentally friendly and stylish. And that’s a double win.

5. Modularity and flexibility: change ambience in the blink of an eye🔄

In a small space, every centimetre has to be reconfigured according to the time of day.

🛋️ A living room by day, a bedroom by night

Use movable partitions or curtains to separate spaces
Choose a quality sofa bed so you don’t have to sacrifice your sleep
Choose folding or stackable furniture

🧘‍♀️ A disappearing office corner

With telecommuting, having an office has become essential, even in a 20m² space:

A folding wall desk
An extendable console
A shelf that converts into a work surface

🎯 In short: small space, big ideas

A small space can be just as stylish, practical and pleasant to live in as a large loft (if not more so, as less cleaning is required 😉). All it takes is :