If your home is a little on the small side, you shouldn't have to make sacrifices when it comes to your floor plan. Armed with a little creative thinking, you might just be surprised by what you can achieve. From shapeshifting furniture to slimline appliances and nifty storage hacks, here's how to make your layout work harder for you and transform a tight corner into a terrific living space. Click or scroll on for more...

Room dividers are a great way to maximise the functional space in your home. While traditional solutions might include screens or bookcases, why not subvert convention and use a headboard or a footboard to zone off your sleeping spot from the rest of the room? This MALM design creates a visual boundary without compromising light flow.

When counter space is in short supply, it doesn't make sense to clutter up your kitchen with a large drying rack. Instead, opt for a vertical unit that fits over your sink – not only is it the most logical spot for drainage, but it frees up plenty of valuable preparation space. This nifty design features hooks for larger utensils, as well as baskets for sharp knives.

Making space for a new arrival is no small task, especially if your bedroom has to double up as a nursery. Whether your scheme has a dado rail installed already or not, a makeshift rail of pegs is a great way to add architectural interest and helpful hanging storage. Ideal for holding clothes, it keeps everything accessible at a moment's notice.

It's all too easy to forget about the fifth wall: the ceiling. For bedrooms short on space, this nifty solution conceals a ceiling storage rack behind a retractable fabric canopy that can be pulled back when access is needed. It's a smart way to put that redundant height to good use

While many of us have swapped the office for home sweet home, not everyone has the square footage for a separate workspace. But if you think creatively, you can squeeze a productive home office into an existing living area. Corner desks are a great way to utilise that empty space at the back of the lounge or that redundant nook in your bedroom.

If you want to make the most of every inch of floor space your bedroom has to offer, consider elevating your bed. A platform frame opens up valuable storage capacity below – these handy cubby holes are the perfect size for pull-out baskets, perfect for holding everything from clothes to electronics and mementos.

For ultimate flexibility, choose a modular sofa made up of individual pieces that can easily be moved around to suit the needs of the room, thus eliminating any wasted space. They're also brilliant as room dividers, separating the living and kitchen areas in an open-plan home.

Gone are the days of uncomfortable sofa beds, so you can rest easy choosing one as your everyday settee. Not only will it serve a daily function, but it’ll also come in handy when you have guests to stay. Choose a compact version if space is very limited and check it can be fully extended. Look out for designs that have room inside for bedding.

No lap tray makes up for the absence of a dining table, even if it’s got your favourite pet dog’s face on it! Instead, choose clever convertible furniture like this double-duty coffee table that easily lifts up to the right height for eating. Plus, it’s got a nifty storage spot inside.

Working from home is becoming more popular, but you don't need an all-singing, all-dancing office. With space to keep some paperwork, a notebook and a few pens, a nifty pull-down unit like this can tick all the boxes in a small home. Hang a fold-up chair nearby and you’ve got yourself just about the smallest home office around! 

Wherever possible, opt for floating wall units, especially in small spaces such as bathrooms. It’ll give you the illusion of more space as the floor area will appear larger. A wall-hung cabinet with a ceramic basin fitted on top allows for ample storage but doesn’t feel cramped as you can see the floor below. 

Rather than committing to permanent fittings, it’s best to use freestanding units that you can move around. Stackable crates are ideal as you can shuffle them about and reconfigure them as desired. Trolleys on casters are perfect too as they can be wheeled around the room and tucked away when not in use.

If garden space is limited, affix crates or planters to the outside wall so you can grow flowers, herbs or even veggies. It’s a simple way to hide ugly bricks or a fence and also brings colour and life to an otherwise dull space. This works just about anywhere and looks especially cool on balconies.

Create a feature wall with storage by using hanging boxes that you can fit into any formation you like. It will give you space to store books and display accessories, while also acting as a focal point. Rooms appear bigger when the scheme is neutral, so going bold for your storage display will really make it pop.

Ottomans are a great go-to for anyone that is short on space and seating. Working as a bench, footstool or even a coffee table, this classic piece conceals invaluable storage. Brilliant for hiding away bedding, cushions, children's toys and more.

If you don’t have a utility room, let alone space for a tumble dryer, then opt for a wall-mounted rack instead. A pull-out dryer, with extra hooks and a shelf above, can easily be fitted over the bath or high on a kitchen wall. It will hold enough for a standard load and keep everything out of the way.

If you don’t have the room to keep a table up all the time, but do have some free wall space, then consider a fold-down design. A great way to squeeze in an eating area, this nifty model folds flats against the wall when not in use. Keep fold-up chairs or stackable stools nearby.

If you’re planning a new kitchen, think about building seating into an island or a run of base units. It’s much more space-efficient to have a banquette – with storage inside – opposed to a standard table and chairs. Not starting from scratch? Then think about how you can introduce bench-type seating into your existing layout – a window seat is a suitable place to start.

One to consider when you’re planning a new bathroom or kitchen, as you can build openings and shelving into awkward spaces. But this idea can be used anywhere in the home where there is a nook or cranny to fill. Have custom-made shelves fitted into alcoves and under eaves, or simply assemble and slot in flat-pack units to fit.

What an innovation – not only is this large roof window great for adding lots of natural light, but it opens out to form a balcony that allows you to step into the great outdoors. Fantastic if you live in an attic flat and don’t have access to a garden or even a traditional balcony.

Rather than choosing a conventional straight sofa, go for a corner style. It will make the best use of space in a small room and seat more people. A mini corner version like this is brilliant for studio living or small apartments and some even come with hidden storage inside. Layer with lots of cushions and throws to make it really inviting.

Pay attention to the insides of your cabinets and ensure they’re organised as best as they can be. Dividing cupboards with vertical shelves as opposed to horizontal ones will give you greater space for storing baking pans, saucepans, trays and chopping boards.

You don’t need to forego a good relax in the tub if your bathroom is rather snug. Just choose a scaled-down, freestanding bath, with a shower over the top. A small 1600mm-long model is all you need to enjoy a soap-sudded soak. Plus, it will free up floor space for a small cupboard or stool.

Redundant areas can be found in the most unlikely of places so look around your home for any secret storage spaces that may be going unused. In many households, there's a sizeable void underneath the main staircase. Custom-built drawers and cupboards can be made to fit these dead areas perfectly, giving you heaps more storage.

A quick resolution to open-plan living without adding permanent partitions is to divide large rooms with curtains or screens. Secure a pole across the width of the room, or simply pin or staple fabric to the ceiling. It’s inexpensive and instantly zones areas and creates privacy.

An oversized wooden chopping board is a small kitchen owner’s dream. Lay it over the sink bowl and you’ve instantly created additional workspace for chopping fruits and vegetables. Plus, you’re right near the tap should you need to rinse anything. 

If your bedroom is on the small size then an ottoman really will transform how you use the space. Light to lift, you can store everything you would normally pop in the wardrobe – clothes, shoes, bags, you name it. Hey presto, you've got yourself a wardrobe that you can sleep atop!

It’s certainly a brave look, but using mirrored tiles will dramatically increase the feeling of space in your home. By allowing more light to bounce around the room, the reflective tiles will visibly push back the walls. It's not just for the bathroom or kitchen either – try this in a narrow hallway, dark alcoves or even on a bedroom wall.

Take a look under the carpet – unless the floor is concrete, you will have been blessed with ample storage space. Lift the floorboards and make better use of the voids below. A good carpenter will be able to build you different storage areas with lift-up lids. Just be sure not to lay the carpet back over the top!

Fix narrow shelving, rails and hooks to bare walls to keep utensils, crockery and groceries close to hand. If you choose metal shelves, then you can attach small magnetic pots to their undersides – handy for spices, coffee and tea bags. A two-ring electric hob is a great space-saver as well.

If you live in an apartment, the lack of a spare room needn’t quash guests coming to stay; just be clever with the furniture you choose. Multifunction is key, just like this bed that unfolds from an upholstered ottoman, which by day can be used as a bench, footstool or even a stylish coffee table.

Without a utility room, fitting in a washing machine means taking up much-needed space in the kitchen. Instead, plumb one into the bathroom. Better still, go for a washer-dryer. In the UK, you’ll need to comply with regulations – for example, it needs to be at least three metres from the edge of the bath or shower. 

Plants do wonders for your health and wellbeing, so be sure to fill your home with them, especially if you don’t have a garden. Just don’t overpower small rooms with large plants. Instead, opt for smaller succulents, herbs and mini flower varieties that you can dot about on window sills and shelves.

Most often, small rooms mean small windows, which can make them feel even more cramped. To create the illusion of space, call on an expert interior design hack and hang curtains right up to the ceiling so that the windows appear much larger. A darker set drawn back with lighter curtains or voiles used in the middle will enhance the effect even more.

Position your bed in front of a bookcase to create a unique feature headboard. It’s a stylish alternative to bedside tables and a great way to use wall space without compromising on functionality. Keep any items you access often on show and tuck the rest behind the pillows and bed base. 

A single bowl unit with one tap is best when worktop space is tight as it’ll give you more space to cook and prepare meals. The key in a small home is to keep tidy, and a smaller draining board and sink will certainly encourage you to dry up right away. Though, if you can’t bear to go without a separate bowl for rinsing, then you could stretch to a one-and-a half design, but no bigger!

Free up the hallway by hanging your bicycle on the wall or positioning it on a shelf in your main living zone. It’ll make a fun talking point in the room while saving you floor space. Wall mounts are readily available from a range of interiors and cycling retailers, so tripping over wheels and pedals will be a thing of the past.

When it comes to planning your sleeping zone, try to fit in as much as possible. A raised cabin bed with plenty of storage packed beneath it is a great way to make a limited floor plan stretch further. You can even add elevated shelving above to ensure there's a place for everything.

Make space on the worktop by getting rid of the kettle. Go for a stove-top whistling version, or better still install a sleek hot water tap. While it's a little on the pricey side, it's worth the investment as they’re actually more cost-efficient. You’ll only use the amount of water you need, saving time, energy and money.

Living in a compact micro-apartment needn't mean having your sleeping area on show to guests all the time. Instead, choose a sofa with a hidden double bed that pulls down from the wall behind – easy to set up at night and pop away again each morning. 

Whether it’s a basement flat or an attic abode, be sure to open up your space with natural light – a pokey kitchen will instantly feel spacious with a window. Roof lights and flexible light tubes are all other brilliant ways to increase the feeling of space in a small, gloomy room.

Loft conversions and mezzanine floors are a great way to add value and space to your home, but figuring out where to put the staircase is often limiting and can bring big plans to a halt. Instead, go for a compact staircase with alternating treads that take up hardly any room, are safe for all the family and can be customised to fit.

Instantly create the feeling of more space with a mirrored bedside table or chest of drawers. Glass tops, chrome fittings and mirrors will practically double the size of the room. All you need to worry about is keeping everything shining with a regular dusting and polishing – no thumbprints here, please!

Compact units hung on the wall near the dining table are just the thing for storing essentials. Glassware, crockery and cutlery can all be kept close to hand without cluttering the kitchen cabinets – practical and space-saving.

While this isn’t going to work for everyone, it’s perfect for anyone living in a lofty property. If the ceiling is high, then there’s likely room for an additional floor, making invaluable use of otherwise wasted space. Build in a mezzanine to create a new room, or if there’s not enough head height, just use it for storage. And don't forget those compact stairs!

Keep floors free in a small bedroom by affixing a hanging shelf next to the side of the bed. It’s great for storing books and bedside essentials, just be careful with that morning cup of coffee. Save more space by wrapping string lighting around a headboard instead of using a conventional side lamp.

It's very likely that you have a bare wall in your kitchen that you can put to work. A pair of metal rails are easy to fit and ideal for hanging utensils, pots and pans. Not only is it a practical way to save on cupboard space, but it'll ensure commonly used items are always to hand.

Look up at all that wasted space above your head. Compact living is about making every inch of it work harder for you, so utilising your ceiling and walls will literally double your storage. Get going and install bookshelves from floor to ceiling, fix shelves above windows and doors and hang items from the ceiling.

Partitions are a great way to create different zones in open-plan living spaces or large rooms. You may want an office within a bedroom but don’t want the two to feel connected. Go for a partial or glass wall when forming 'rooms within rooms', as they won’t block valuable natural light or air. 

Okay, so forget smoke, you just need some uber large-scale mirrors to create an almighty illusion of space. Typically adopted by restaurants and bars, this trick is brilliant in small rooms. Just ensure the mirrors are frameless and totally floor-to-ceiling and watch as your square footage skyrockets.

Free up space inside your cabinets by placing jars of dry goods out on the countertop – it's practical and stylish. Narrow shelving is also handy for keeping pots within reach. Label and note the best-before dates to ensure nothing goes to waste and you don't mix up salt and sugar.

You may need a ladder for this one. Install your kitchen cabinets or living room storage right up to the ceiling, working shelving into any recesses or voids created by a sloping roof. Organise the contents so that things you need every day are kept low, while keepsakes and occasional items are stored high. 

Layering storage is a great way to save space in a small kitchen. Simply use compartment inserts, separators or internal drawers to utilise voids. Deep drawers just lend themselves to items getting lost, so reorganise and reconfigure. 

Rather than choosing conventional bookcases and storage units, hang shelves around and in the corners of rooms – usually an area not used to its full potential. Go for open shelves that coordinate with the wooden tones throughout your scheme for a cohesive feel.

Just because you have a tiny kitchen doesn’t mean you have to be lumbered with the task of washing up every day. A slim dishwasher that fits below the counter is a fabulous compact-living appliance that will save you time and keep your worktops ready for use, free from piles of dirty dishes.

You can decorate with dark or light colours in a small room, but there is one rule – choose one or two hues and stick with them. It will make a space feel less fragmented, so avoid mixing lots of colours if you can. The trick is to create a streamlined finish where colours seamlessly blend into one another, creating a sense of cohesion and openness. Who says you can't live large in a snug living space?

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