The Secrets to Maximizing a Small Living Room

Decorating a small space can be tricky. In her upcoming book, Small Space Style: Because You Don’t Need to Live Large to Live Beautifully (Weldon Owen), to be released on November 13, author and interior design maven Whitney Leigh Morris reveals the beauty in living in less than 400 square feet of space with her husband, son, and two beagles.

Below is an excerpt from the book, highlighting a few practical pointers on how to make the most of a small living room:

The living room is a main focal point-if not the focal point-of any home. But for tiny apartments and houses, it’s frequently one of only two or three rooms, so it has to perform multiple functions within modest square footage. The chameleon-like nature of the small-space living room is one of my favorite parts of living with less. It’s incredible what we can all do in limited space when we realize that we don’t need more stuff or more room. We just need a touch of creativity.

A deliberate selection of furniture and accessories is key to making a small-scale home livable. In the Cottage, there’s simply no room for any piece that has only one purpose! Try these double-duty furnishings and concealed storage ideas, and you’ll maximize floor space and eliminate clutter.