Furniture for small spaces is the answer to a spacious

Furniture for small spaces is the answer to a spacious feel in small quarters

Over the last several decades, home sizes have been shrinking, in part due to the rising cost of building materials and smaller lots. Newer homes, unless custom built, sport smaller rooms, including bedrooms, living areas, kitchens and baths. The average square footage for a dwelling has shrunk, such that a 3rd bedroom might be just 10 feet square. This means you've got to take advantage of space-saving designs and furniture arrangements in order to avoid feeling really cramped.

Fortunately, furniture designers and space saving home accessory shops have adjusted their lines to meet this new demand. If you're moving into a smaller home, we've got some ideas on maximizing the feel and function of the space you've got. In addition to color schemes and window treatments, using specially designed furniture for small spaces is one of the most effective design allies for your floor plans.

Painting the walls in light pastel shades creates an illusion of a larger space. Levelors, Roman shades and sheer curtains also are good choices in window treatments. Dark colors make any space seem smaller. In small spaces, you want to let in as much natural light as possible. The same color principles apply to carpeting. If you've moved into an apartment with dark carpeting, consider area rugs of a lighter color to help open up the space.

When choosing furniture for small spaces, heavy, bulky furniture designs, such as a large sofa in the living room, quickly eats up your available floor space. If you must have the overstuffed sofa look to satisfy your personal comfort and taste, look for corner sofas which make good use of typically wasted space. Contemporary furniture, such as Scandinavian and some Mission-style furniture, tends to have a slimmer profile and smaller footprint. A Queen Anne dining room table, or coffee table takes up more floor space, but also detracts from a spacious feel. Choosing furniture for small spaces comes down to a matter of scale.

In the dining room, a drop-leaf table can be a good answer to a small space. These tables are easily set up to accommodate a family meal, yet when the leaves are dropped, the table may be just two feet wide. This is a great solution for single people, or a couple who don't often entertain. It takes just a minute to pull up one leaf and set the table. When you've finished eating and cleared the table, you drop the leaf, leaving your candlesticks, vase of flowers or the fruit bowl in place, for a tidy, attractive and spacious look when not in use.

A futon is a great piece of furniture for small spaces. You can use the futon as a comfortable, small footprint chair. When you have an overnight guest, just unfold it for a cozy bed.

Many newer homes have open floor plans, with the kitchen, dining area and living room open to each other. Given the right floor plan, a wrought iron baker's rack can serve as a room divider between the kitchen and living room, while providing extra kitchen storage space for larger gadgets such as the microwave on the table portion, with cookbooks and attractive serving pieces occupying the shelves. You can hang a wreath on the back side of the baker's rack, decorating it with ribbons and dried flowers, according to the season. The wrought iron posts allow light to come through to the other living space, again avoiding a closed-in feel to either room.

Corner desks and bean bag chairs are a couple of other good pieces of furniture for small spaces. Browse online, in furniture shops and decorating magazines for ideas. Measure your rooms and use home design software to plan your design before you buy. It's truly amazing to find how many beautiful solutions there are to the small space problem!