Let’s go on a design journey that will transform your cramped little rooms small into spaces that radiate openness and sophistication.

Get ready to break away from the constraints of your square footage and unleash the full potential of your cute, small rooms!

Today I’m sharing ten solid tips that will revolutionize your small rooms. I’m talking tips that you won’t see anywhere else because they’re specific to small and awkward rooms!

These tips are compiled directly from my answers to real design dilemmas. (Yep, from DMs from you! Thanks for reaching out and I’m thrilled to help!)

Let’s banish bulky furniture and embrace the beauty of hints of minimalism – (Don’t worry, I won’t tell you to get rid of all your stuff...)

And, for everything I call out as a reason your room feels cramped and crowded, I’ll give you the way(s) to fix them!

Are you ready to maximize functionality, eliminate clutter, and to create a space that defies its size?

Let's get into some secrets of space optimization and embark on a design journey that redefines how you experience your small room.

1. Eliminate or avoid overstuffed furniture:

Rolled arm sofas and bulky pieces can visually dominate a small room, making it feel even smaller.

All that extra frame material just takes up space and doesn’t add any functionality to your room. In fact, if you’re already scooting around big, bulky pieces just to make it through the room, you know what I’m talking about.

Go for sleeker and slimmer furniture styles, like modern or Scandinavian designs, which are inherently and intentionally designed for efficiency. They create a more open and airier feel.

The truth is, slim furniture very often has the same amount, or more, interior seating space. So, don’t discount a piece just because it has skinny arms or a tight back. Comfort can come in smaller furniture frames.

2. Don’t use an ottoman for every chair:

While ottomans can provide extra comfort, having one for every chair in a small room can clutter the space. Talk about climbing over things, what a hassle!

Instead, consider using a single ottoman or an ottoman topped coffee table with a removeable tray to maximize functionality without sacrificing space.

Better still, choose a stylish, slim recliner to facilitate your longing desires. There are tons of great looking recliners – that don’t look like recliners- on the market.

Consider a swivel recliner to create a dual function solution: TV watching and conversation.

3. Say bah bye to oversize beds:

Sleigh beds or other large bed frames can overpower a small bedroom. For instance, a sleigh headboard can’t be pushed flush against the wall, it will always stick out. Add a sleigh footboard and you’ll double the distance from the wall.

Think about that… If your bedroom room is 9’x 10’, you could potentially eat up 2 or more feet of room depth from the sleigh bed alone!

Instead, choose a smaller bed frame, like a platform or storage bed, to free up visual space and create a more open-feeling room.

4. 86 big armoires or massive TV wall units:

These bulky furniture pieces can make a small room feel cramped and claustrophobic.

One of the main things I often talk about here is choosing furniture pieces that have lots of openness because they make a big difference in the spacious feeling in a small room.

When you can see the wall behind shelves or when the sides of shelving are open and not enclosed, it makes the room feel larger.

And, if you want to add in “bigger” storage and display pieces, go for slim and streamlined solutions like wall-mounted shelves or floating cabinets to maximize storage while maintaining an open feel.

5. Big desks, no bueno for small rooms:

Corner desk units or oversized executive-style desks can take up valuable floor space in a small room.

Look, I get how the world has changed and how many of us work from home exclusively.

But what worked in the corporate world – big desks with cabinets for days, sometimes won’t fit in a small spare bedroom home office, especially if that room also needs to be a guest bedroom or multi-functional room.

Instead, consider compact alternatives like wall-mounted desks, ladder desks, or even repurposing a console table as a workspace to optimize space.

6. Do you really need that Baker's rack in the kitchen?

In a small kitchen, excess storage furniture like baker's racks or overflow storage can create a cluttered and cramped look.

Yes, it’s important to have storage for all your gear. I’m by no means a baker or chef, but I know that I’ve accumulated lots of gadgets and utensils that do nothing more than gather dust and take up valuable real estate.

So, if you feel the same as me, and you have extra racks full of stuff that never gets touched, it might be time to edit.

Focus on essential storage solutions and consider using vertical space with wall-mounted shelves or hooks for better organization.

Ask yourself, if I haven’t ever used it, do I really need it? (I have a professional level food chopper/ processer that has every attachment you can imagine… Have I EVER used it? Nope. Do I yearn to learn how to use it? Nope. Am I planning a purge of my superfluous kitchen gadgetry? You betcha!)

7. How about that hand-me-down furniture you don't have room for…

While sentimentality may tempt you to keep hand-me-down furniture, if it doesn't fit in your small room, it can make the space feel overcrowded.

This is a very touchy subject and I often get challenged by saying it’s okay to let other people’s stuff go.

Mom’s giant China hutch. Grandma’s itchy old sofa…

If it doesn’t fit, it’s not legit!

The people in our lives are important, and when they’re gone, we tend to transfer that importance to their things.

What they loved for their homes was important to them. Give yourself that same chance!

Figure out the stuff that’s important to you and outfit your home with things and furniture that speaks to your sense of style.

If you struggle with letting go of sentimental pieces, anything that doesn’t fit with your style or square footage, pass it along to someone who would love and cherish it for all the right reasons. Maybe cousin Becky loves and has the room for mom’s giant China hutch. She loves that style and would cherish it! Aunt Dottie has a huge living room that’s just begging for grandma’s sofa! She’ll be thrilled to take it!

8. Too many bedroom dressers:

Does your small bedroom look like a furniture store display?

You don’t need every piece in a bedroom collection.

Multiple dressers in a small bedroom can create unnecessary clutter.

You’ll know you have too many dressers when two or more lined up on a small wall, or when one dresser blocks the bedroom door from closing, or if you can’t open some drawers because the bed or another dresser is blocking the access.

In other words, it’s time to consolidate.

Optimize your storage with multi-functional furniture pieces like a storage bed or a wardrobe with built-in drawers to eliminate the need for excessive dressers.

Install a closet system to maximize closet storage. Yes, even small closets can be outfitted with highly efficient storage systems.

9. Oversize accent furniture, the small room enemy:

Bulky end tables or fully enclosed cabinets can impede pathways and make a small room feel cramped.

I’ll include overly “fussy” pieces that are heavily carved and completely enclosed down to the floor as well.

I hate to throw grandma under the bus again, but she had many pieces like these in the 60’s and 70’s. (Yes, I’m old…) The point is end tables and accent pieces that are completely enclosed with doors make a room feel smaller than it is.

Just as I mentioned before about the open shelves, when you can see the wall through accent pieces, it immediately makes the space feel more open,

So, Instead, choose slim and open designs for accent furniture like nesting tables or open shelving units to create a sense of openness and flow.

10. Clutter!

Small rooms can easily become overwhelmed with too much furniture or excessive small decor pieces.

Knick knacks, tchotchkes, doodads, they’re cute in small doses – not as the main decorating theme of a smaller space.

Clutter happens on walls, on tabletops, and shelves.

The remedy is to edit your favorite pieces and then to mix it up by combining those favorite things with other décor that has a different shape, scale, color, size.

Vary your lines, vary your décor. Also, focus on a few well-chosen, larger decor pieces or consider minimalistic approaches to keep the room visually balanced and spacious.

Again, that doesn’t mean get rid of all your stuff. It just means edit.

If editing to you means rotating out pieces often, then that’s great. Put some stuff away for now and in a few months bring it out again - rotation. That way you feel like you have new décor all-the-time.

Last, the best and sometimes hardest golden rule of small rooms and clutter is the one in and one out rule. When you get one new piece, and you don’t have room to store the old piece, then the old piece should go. That’s the way to keep the room fresh and uncluttered.

So, there you have it. Use these ten tips when planning out your room makeovers so you can avoid unnecessary regrets and headaches down the road.

The key is in maximizing functionality, using space-saving furniture, and maintaining a clutter-free room.

By carefully picking sleek and slim furniture pieces, you'll open valuable floor space and allow for better flow and movement. Embrace some aspects of minimalism and avoid over-stuffing the room with unnecessary items.

Remember, it's not about the size of the room, but the thoughtful intentions behind its transformation.

Now it’s your turn, tell me about some of the struggles you have with making your small room(s) feel bigger.

Do you have one piece that you know will make a difference if you let it go?

What’s stopping you?

Tell me all about it in the comments below.

Read Next

Join the Fun!

If you enjoyed this post and you want to keep seeing my weekly blog, the best way to do that is to subscribe.

You can subscribe by downloading my 11 Secrets Only Designers Know to Make Your Space Rock. If you’re curious about how decorators and designers make a home look magazine ready, you’ll love taking a gander at these 11 secrets. You’ll learn how to style your room from the floor up and it will work for ANY space you have.

I write about small space design and decorating, sustainable furniture options, positive self care and a variety of do-it-yourself home décor.

I’d love to connect with you!

Michael is Principal designer and blogger at Michael Helwig Interiors in beautiful Buffalo, New York. Since 2011, he’s a space planning expert, offering online interior e-design services for folks living in small homes, or for those with awkward and tricky layouts. He’s a frequent expert contributor to many National media publications and news outlets on topics related to decorating, interior design, diy projects, and more. Michael happily shares his experience to help folks avoid expensive mistakes and decorating disappointments. You can follow him on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook @interiorsmh.