Design options for the space-challenged

If you live in a a studio apartment, a dinky one-bedroom, a tiny guesthouse, or a prison cell, your number one challenge is always space: space to cook, space to sleep, space for storage… sometimes just space to breathe. Check out these design ideas that can help you squeeze every last bit of space possible from cramped living quarters.

Drop-top furniture. Double-purposing for storage is clutch – whether it’s the traditional storage bench or ottoman, a reverse Murphy bed with storage space beneath, or this funky DIY storage couch, you can’t go wrong by placing an emphasis on efficiency.

Loft bed. It’s kinda like a bunk bed for adults. If you don’t mind not having a ‘rise & shine’ stretch when you wake up, you can turn your bed into a dramatic design feature, tuck it over a closet, or simply get the most home performance from the least space, like this clever modernist design.

Desk + sofa combo. Back up your living room sofa with a desk for your home office. You now have a comfy & functional work area; when you’re entertaining, you can presto-chango the desk into a buffet area by simply removing the chair (and your computer).

Kitchen pegboards. No cupboards? No problem. Pegboard storage for pots, pans, and utensils makes the best use of limited space, and conveniently keeps everything handy while you cook. Add some colorful paint (inspired by none other than Julia Child and demonstrated here) to keep your kitchen from looking like a garage workbench.

Bike shelf. Bike hooks are functional, but why not double-down with a bike shelf that can handle your ride and some knick-knacks? Well, one ‘why not’ might be the price ($300), but if you have the cash and like unique home items, this is the way to go.