6 flexible furnishings for a small house

Chloe Hines Chloe Hines
Katakana Desk, Dare Studio Dare Studio
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Small homes are most definitely not a tragedy and when it comes to decorating and furnishing them, things can go way easier than you think! When one typically thinks of versatile and multifunctional furniture that can be folded and hidden away from eye-view, one thinks of overly-small and cramped studio apartments.  However, no matter how small or large your home is, having furniture that can be easily moved and removed can be an advantage, always!

Below we are introducing several furniture options to you that will make smaller living easier, and create an open-concept living space even in the tiniest of spaces. From larger furniture companies like Ikea that mass-produce for both small and large living spaces, to creative local designers willing to customize anything for your needs, we hope you're aware that your possibilities are endless!

Folding bed

Folding beds are no longer in their sad state of folding up into a wall and being hard and bare. Mobile and versatile beds have hit the market with a comeback!  For a smaller home, think about beds that can double as sleeper-sofas for guests, or a couch for yourself.

This example provides a comfortable bed, with great, minimal design and it also acts as a fabulous lounge chair when not in use.  For extremely small homes and apartments, you can still consider fold-up beds that will retract into wall and closet space—however, if your bed can double as a seating arrangement, this is the better way to go. Multifunctional furniture can mean buy less furniture at the end of the day, making your interior more affordable, while retaining a great sense of style.

Folding shelf

Diseños para ahorrar espacio, TRIZZ TRIZZ Modern living room Solid Wood Multicolored Shelves

Want something you can DIY? Think about folding shelving systems.  Of course, these are relatively easy to find in-stores and from local designers, but they can be way more affordable (even cheap!) when you try it yourself.  The best part? All you will need is wood, connecting joints and screws.  Hire a friend or go to a local hardware store to have the pieces shaved or trimmed down to the correct sizes to make your project a total success!

The shelving system seen here is wonderful in that it offers ample storage, great design, and great textures with both the wooden and painted parts.  It can also easily be changed and moved for when you're cleaning, or simply needing a change to your interior.

Larger, more permanent shelving systems can also work in smaller homes! Check out this great example!

Folding desk

Desks are becoming more and more necessary, even if you're limited on space.  With a considerable amount of people now working from home, or working on personal websites, blogs and hobbies from home, a good work space should be a serious consideration.

If you choose the right desk, which could have removable parts, tons of tiny or large storage compartments and great design—your life will be a lot easier!  The desk pictured here is beautiful in both its simplicity and Scandinavian design.  It also comes in multiple colour options.  Choose a desk similar to this one—with plenty of storage, pull-out drawers and possibly choose one with a folding leg system so it can lay flat and be placed under a bed, sofa or closet!

Folding chair

What a makeover folding chairs have experienced! No longer are folding chairs made of cheap plastics, metals and cloth, nor do they only need to be placed outside during family gatherings.  Designers have long recognized the advantages and benefits of folding chair systems—it allows you to double, if not triple, your guest and seating capacity, with little room sacrificed! 

Now, the designs are brilliant! As seen here, you can get a beautiful, wooden minimalist chair that also folds!  Because of the minimal nature of folding chairs, even with a beautiful design they tend to be more affordable.  Of course, comfort could be slightly lost with fold-up chairs, but as they're offering seating in transient situations—that's ok!

Not a huge fan of foldable chairs? Think about chairs that have easily detachable legs, so when you need more room, or need more seating, you can grab a screwdriver and remove the legs and make them stackable! Here is one example!

Folding kitchen counter

If you've ever suffered through small student or apartment living, then you know all about folding and removable furniture. One item that can provide a ton more space, as well as be easy to disguise, is a folding kitchen counter. Having trouble finding one? That's ok, think about a folding bar table like the one seen on the right-hand side of the picture.

With enough sturdiness to hold enough food and drinks for two, as well as a fruit platter—options like this are perfect for smaller spaces and when you're finished with them, just switch the latch and fold them flight against the wall.  The trick here is to make the foldable table the exact same colour as the wall (as this designer did) so when it folds down it's almost invisible to the eye!

If your kitchen space is a relatively normal size and you'd like to add a basic dining room table, think about options that hook to the wall so you can easily remove them when you're having large parties.  Check out this great table!

Folding mirror

Used for both utilitarian functions and for decor, mirrors have been a central design feature in homes, for literally centuries!  Often times when mirrors are laying out in smaller homes it can decrease the amount of space—particularly in bedrooms on vanities and dressers.  No problem! Choose a three-hinged vanity mirror that you can easily fold-up and put away when finished—creating double the amount of dresser-top space!

Want a larger mirror or one that is full-body size? No problem! Three-hinged mirrors also come in all lengths and are great as a way to cover those pesky corner spaces! Again, when you're finished getting ready for work, just fold them away and lean them against the wall or place them in the nearest closet! Then you're set!

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