What, When, Where: Small on Space, Big on Style

By Kaitlin Madden

I’ve been a city dweller since I was seventeen, so I’ve spent my adult life living in small spaces. (The largest apartment I’ve ever had came in just shy of 800 square feet.) Needless to say, I’ve gotten pretty good at living what I call a “well-edited” lifestyle. I have only things I need and those I really, really love, but if something falls squarely under both categories, so much the better.

Currently, my husband and I are preparing for a move to a new apartment, but for the first time, we’ll be moving in as owners, not renters. So, naturally, this calls for a furniture upgrade. We want to fill our new home with things that we absolutely love, but also ones that work in terms of fit and function (did I mention the new place is under 600 square feet?). Luckily, there’s no shortage of fabulous, fun-sized furniture, and modern space-saving solutions out there these days. Here, a few pieces that meet both my “loves” and my “needs.”

Restoration Hardware has an entire collection dedicated to small spaces. Many of their sofas, like the Belgian Wingback style, below, can be ordered in lengths ranging from five feet to ten feet.

Photo courtesy of Restoration Hardware

Since I’ll be using a corner of our living space as a dining area, I need a table and chairs that are small-scale and don’t take up a lot of visual room. This arrangement, from Design Within Reach would go nicely with the modern aesthetic of the condo, a gut renovation with a contemporary feel.

Photo courtesy of Design Within Reach

Because my husband and I also work from home on occasion, we’ll need to carve out a functional office space. I’d tuck this desk from Ligne Roset, with built-in organizers and a streamlined design, in front of our bay window.

Lastly, we plan to maximize every inch of the apartment by installing shelves and storage wherever we can. I like the idea of the floating shelves surrounding this media area.

Photo courtesy of Houzz