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8 Space-Saving Furniture Ideas for a Small Home

Updated: Mar 29


Whether you’ve rented out a small flat or bought a two-bedroom house for your 6-member family, making the most out of the limited space available to fit in your possessions and furniture without cramping your home is a real struggle. While it’s true that restricted square footage poses various challenges, you can always get around them with smart ideas, such as a doing major renovation like a home extension, or starting small by incorporating multi-functional furniture pieces.  In this article, we’ll discuss the most creative multipurpose furniture pieces that will not only add aesthetic appeal but will also enhance the functionality of your home without taking up too much space — continue scrolling to inspire your space-saving home design ideas!

Whether you’ve rented out a small flat or bought a two-bedroom house, making the most out of the limited space available to fit in your furniture without cramping your home is a real struggle. While it’s true that restricted square footage poses various challenges, you can always get around them with smart ideas, such as a doing major renovation like a home extension, or starting small by incorporating multi-functional furniture pieces.


In this article, we’ll discuss the most creative space-saving furniture ideas that will add aesthetic appeal and enhance the functionality of your home without taking up too much space — continue scrolling to inspire your space-saving home design idea.


Space-Saving Furniture Ideas: Staircase with Built-In Shelving


Built-in shelving in the spandrel of a staircase is a common idea found in many homes, but what if your home doesn’t even have enough space for a full-fledged staircase? Here’s where a ladder staircase serves as a life-saver. Apart from providing a connecting passageway, it can even offer an incredible storage solution. All you have to do is measure the area between the steps, look for appropriate-sized wicker baskets, and tuck them in. Voilà — each step will become a pull-out drawer, providing an organised place to store your essentials!

Built-in shelving in the spandrel of a staircase is a common idea found in many homes, but what if your home doesn’t even have enough space for a full-fledged staircase? Here’s where a ladder staircase serves as a life-saver. Apart from providing a connecting passageway, it can even offer an incredible storage solution. All you have to do is measure the area between the steps, look for appropriate-sized wicker baskets, and tuck them in. Voilà — each step will become a pull-out drawer, providing an organised place to store your essentials!


Murphy Bed with Integrated Table


For homes that are too small to fit a bed, a dining table, and a workstation, it is best to invest in something — such as a Murphy bed with a table — that offers triple duty for all three purposes. You can fold up the bed to create an inviting area to have lunch with friends, give it a few changes to produce a workstation for yourself, and open it up at night to set up a comfortable sleeping spot.

For homes that are too small to fit a bed, a dining table, and a workstation, it is best to invest in something — such as a Murphy bed with a table — that offers triple duty for all three purposes. You can fold up the bed to create an inviting area to have lunch with friends, give it a few changes to produce a workstation for yourself, and open it up at night to set up a comfortable sleeping spot.

Credit: Inova Bed


For homes that are too small to fit a bed, a dining table, and a workstation, it is best to invest in something — such as a Murphy bed with a table — that offers triple duty for all three purposes. You can fold up the bed to create an inviting area to have lunch with friends, give it a few changes to produce a workstation for yourself, and open it up at night to set up a comfortable sleeping spot.


A Floor Lamp with an Attached Table


Task lighting (offered by floor lamps) and aesthetics (created by decorative pieces) are both indispensable parts of a beautiful and practical living room. However, not everyone has space for a lamp to set the mood and a side table to present accent pieces. A good solution to this is to purchase something with both built-in lighting and a tabletop to effortlessly enhance the ambience of a small lounge.

Credit: 17 Stories


Task lighting (offered by floor lamps) and aesthetics (created by decorative pieces) are both indispensable parts of a beautiful and practical living room. However, not everyone has space for a lamp to set the mood and a side table to present accent pieces. A good solution to this is to purchase something with both built-in lighting and a tabletop to effortlessly enhance the ambience of a small lounge.


Storage Ottoman with Built-In Trays


Ottomans do increase storage space, but they’re a pain when you’re running out of square footage. Think of looking for an article that can also double up as a flat tabletop to place drinks and coasters, so you can enjoy an ottoman with additional functions and facilities!

Ottomans do increase storage space, but they’re a pain when you’re running out of square footage. Think of looking for an article that can also double up as a flat tabletop to place drinks and coasters, so you can enjoy an ottoman with additional functions and facilities!


Loft Beds with Workspaces


Beds and desks are big furniture pieces that occupy significant floor space. So why not choose something that combines both functions into one piece? For people who don’t mind climbing a little farther to curl into bed at night, a loft bed paired with a workspace is the perfect solution. Along with creating a cosy nook to work, a loft bed will also free up space for other furniture pieces.

Credit: Home Edit


Beds and desks are big furniture pieces that occupy significant floor space. So why not choose something that combines both functions into one piece? For people who don’t mind climbing a little farther to curl into bed at night, a loft bed paired with a workspace is the perfect solution. Along with creating a cosy nook to work, a loft bed will also free up space for other furniture pieces.


A Sleeper Sofa with Built-In Storage


A living room sofa to snuggle up on and watch movies with family, a bed to make things comfortable for overnight guests, and a storage spot to toss in extra throws and cushions — you’ll get to enjoy all three by opting for a sleeper sofa!

A living room sofa to snuggle up on and watch movies with family, a bed to make things comfortable for overnight guests, and a storage spot to toss in extra throws and cushions — you’ll get to enjoy all three by opting for a sleeper sofa!

A living room sofa to snuggle up on and watch movies with family, a bed to make things comfortable for overnight guests, and a storage spot to toss in extra throws and cushions — you’ll get to enjoy all three by opting for a sleeper sofa!


Lift-Top Coffee Tables


Switch from lounging to working in no time with a lift-top coffee table. These multi-functional furniture pieces are designed to be heightened to the perfect work height and lowered to a coffee table when not in use. What’s more, they’ve got hidden cabinets where you can store files, laptops, documents, etc., that you’ll need while working.

Credit: Home Edit


Switch from lounging to working in no time with a lift-top coffee table. These multi-functional furniture pieces are designed to be heightened to the perfect work height and lowered to a coffee table when not in use. What’s more, they’ve got hidden cabinets where you can store files, laptops, documents, etc., that you’ll need while working.


A Table that Doubles as a Mirror


Dining tables are functional pieces that assist in brunching, working, or even just unfolding conversations with family on rainy evenings. But what about the cramped feeling these bulky furniture items may create in a home already short on floorspace? Get your hands on a table that can fold into a mirror when not in use. This cool idea not only saves space but also creates a bright and airy feel, with the strategically-placed mirror being able to transform your small space beautifully!

Credit: Handi Mania


Dining tables are functional pieces that assist in brunching, working, or even just unfolding conversations with family on rainy evenings. But what about the cramped feeling these bulky furniture items may create in a home already short on floorspace? Get your hands on a table that can fold into a mirror when not in use. This cool idea not only saves space but also creates a bright and airy feel, with the strategically placed mirror being able to transform your small space beautifully!


Our Final Thoughts


A home is meant to be a place where you can kick back, relax, and recharge yourself, regardless of its size. Therefore, decorating a small home deserves the same attention given to a fancy mansion — and the best point to start from is to carefully and smartly plan and decide the type of furniture you’ll be adding.


Looking for more space-saving furniture ideas? Book one of our Interior Design Gurus for a 30-minute video call. Transforming your home into a space you love shouldn't be a daunting task. With HiiGuru you can save time, avoid costly mistakes and bring your goals to life with experts by your side.

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