When you live in a small space, finding clever ways to store your stuff is paramount, and the instinct is often to prioritize functionality over aesthetic (looking at you, plastic, over-the-door shoe rack). But optimizing your space doesn’t have to come at the expense of your personal style. The key is finding those pieces that double as smart storage and decor. Consider a set of sleek nesting tables or a TV cabinet that also serves as a bookshelf and vinyl rack; it’s the small details of each individual piece that add up to a home that feels both personal and practical. And when you’re able to select items that really embody your individual taste, you’re all the more likely to feel truly at home in your space.
To that point, we partnered with American Signature Furniture (the purveyors of Designer Looks — low-cost, high-quality collections) to present five pieces that will help you reimagine your small space’s interior design — with storage and style in mind.
Nesting Tables
If you have room for a coffee table, make double use of the space by purchasing a nesting set — where a smaller table fits underneath a larger one for easy storage (yes — exactly like the Russian tea dolls of your childhood). This sleek marble and glass duo supplies extra surface area when you need it and slides right back to its smaller footprint when you want to conserve space.
An Accent Chair
When a small loveseat is the only real seating option in your living room, someone ends up sitting on the floor every time you play host. Rather than opting for a larger couch that takes over the entire room, go for an accent chair that serves as both an extra seating option and style touchpoint (without taking up too much space). Plus, you can easily move it around as you please. Consider this midcentury-modern-inspired one as the perfect example of how to mix vintage style with contemporary comfort.
A Multipurpose End Table
An end table by your bedside or sofa feels like a no-brainer, but don’t waste that space by getting one without drawers or shelving. A little extra storage can go a long way, and this rustic end table is proof: Try hiding TV remotes, video game controllers, and any other not-so-stylish electronic accessories in both drawers, then stack magazines and books on the shelf down below.
An Accent Cabinet
The best way to do storage is to do it subtly, without making it glaringly obvious that every single item of furniture is hiding various belongings. For aesthetic and storage purposes, try an accent cabinet: They’re built to hold (and, often, display) items, but they can also serve to encapsulate the style of a space. Case in point? This ivory cabinet, with geometric fretwork, molding details, and ornate metal accent door pulls.
A Storage Bed
Will you get a better night’s sleep knowing that your space is at maximum tidiness? Probably. Your bed can help with that: Just find a chic one like this that has storage drawers for excess clothing, out-of-season styles, and the like.
A Sectional Couch
If you have room for a sofa in your small space — and that’s a big “if” — a sectional is the way to go. This one from American Signature provides so much seating with its L-shaped design, you might not even need the aforementioned accent chair.
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