As an interior designer, I have found small spaces to be much harder to decorate than larger rooms. Small spaces need to be edited carefully so that only functional furniture is used, while remaining a beautiful aesthetically pleasing space. Over the years, I’ve discovered a number of hardworking pieces that perform a variety of functions.
Hide-A-Table
The Hide-A-Table collection by Jasper Cabinet has long been one of my favorite collections for small spaces. This simple looking chest opens to become a 110-inch dining table. It seats between eight and 12 guests, depending on the size of your chairs. Not only are the table leaves self-storing, you still have room for silverware and table linens.
Where to use:
– Use it as a display cabinet in the living room; it is perfect as an additional table for large holiday dinners.
-Great for small beach houses where space is at a premium. Unfold the table for those occasional indoor meals, then store it away for extra space.
-First apartments or retirement condos. With six leaves, you can keep the table small for everyday meals or easily expand it to accommodate guests.
Ottoman Bed
The ottoman bed by Braxton Culler is the perfect way to turn any room into a guest room. Simply remove the slipcover, slide open the top and unfold the twin-size bed. Upgrade the innerspring mattress to memory foam for even more comfort. The cushioned ottoman top provides head and neck support for your guests, so they can comfortably sit up to read or watch TV.
Where to use:
– Measuring 46x28x17, with the addition of a tray, you can use this as a cocktail ottoman in any living or family room.
– Don’t want to give up your home office? Use this ottoman in combination with two comfy chairs for a conference area with clients or a place to relax and review paperwork.
Cocktail Table with Benches
Braxton Culler’s cocktail table with benches is great for board games or a hand of poker. Made of banana leaf, this cocktail table is most at home in sunrooms or beach/lake house settings.
Where to use:
-Great for entertaining kids. Let them make a mess on the glass surface, then simply wipe it clean.
-Use as a coffee table in sunrooms or vacation homes. The benches are also the ideal height for use as ottomans or extra seating.
Sofa/Cocktail Table
Schnadig Home Collections named this piece the American Kaleidoscope Sofa/Cocktail Table, but it is so much more than just a sofa or coffee table. Use this piece as a sofa table, coffee table, dining table, sideboard or a desk.
When set up as a sofa table it measures 58 inches wide by 19 inches deep by 30.75 inches high. The top folds open to reveal a beautiful fruitwood tabletop. Unfolded, the table measures 58 inches wide by 38 inches deep. Use the unfolded sofa table as a writing/laptop desk or a dining table capable of comfortably seating six. To convert to a coffee table, unscrew the bottom portion of the legs. This lowers the table from 30.75 inches high to 18 inches.
When used as a coffee table it can grow with you. Keep the leaves closed in the small living room of your first apartment. When you move into your first house, simply unfold the tabletop to double the size.
Where to use:
-Set up as a sofa table, you can keep it in the dining room as a display piece. When serving dinner, unfold one of the leaves for extra serving space or completely unfold the table to use as an additional place for guests to dine.
-In a living/family room use the sofa table for display. Fold the leaves down to write notes or work on your laptop while still keeping an eye on the kids/guests/television. (Bonus: The drawers are the perfect spot to stash your paperwork and laptop when hurriedly preparing for visitors.)
Storage Bed
Cambridge Storage Bed by Aspen Home Furnishings
Okay, so maybe this is not as sensational as the other pieces, but a bed with built-in drawers provides a TON of storage. And let’s be honest—who couldn’t use more storage. One caveat: Storage beds tend to feel firmer than traditional beds regardless of what type of mattress you use. This is because there is no room for a box spring on a storage bed (yes, box springs actually do affect the way a mattress feels). On a storage bed, the mattress rests on a bunkie board, which is a solid wood board. When shopping for a storage bed for the master bedroom, be sure to try the bed to make sure you like sleeping on a firmer mattress.
Photos provided by:
http://www.schnadig.com/index.cfm/furniture/catalog.product/sid/2/rid/4/pid/228/start/1/american-kaleidoscope-sofa/cocktail-table.cfm
http://www.braxtonculler.net/style.php?item=652-914XP&cat=accent%20chairs
http://www.braxtonculler.net/style.php?item=2963-055&cat=occasional
http://www.jaspercabinet.com/entertainment-beverage.php
http://www.aspenhome.net/Detail/Index/1150
