Don't let small spaces cramp your style

Cool stuff for small-space living

By Christopher Solomon of MSN Real Estate



Don't let small spaces cramp your style

Whether you're sacrificing space for that dream job in New York City or you're downsizing thanks to the brutal economy, it can be tough to make the most of not-so-much in a Super-Size-Me culture. Here are some creative suggestions and tools, thanks to folks who think a lot about living large in modest digs.

The hip clip

Sometimes the smallest, cheapest things can make a huge difference in a tiny space. For Michael Bogdan, editor of the blog Small Space Living, one such discovery was "this little clip(about $7) that attaches to the inside of a pot while cooking, so the spoon drips back down in the pot, instead of on the counter." A messy counter matters a lot in a cramped kitchen, he points out.

Deep pockets

Roee Dori opened the store Tiny Living with his wife in 2005 in New York’s East Village after experiencing life in a 200-square-foot apartment. He knows what small apartment dwellers need."An all-time classic is a shower curtain with pockets," says Dori. "You can shove everything in there: shampoo, children's toys. And they're mesh pockets, so they don't collect any water or mildew." This one costs $19.95.

Nail clutter to the wall

Using wall space effectively is important in a small home. That's why Roee Dori of Tiny Living is so excited about these tiny corkboard squares, which come with an adhesive backing. "Even if you have the tiniest workspace, you can make a bulletin board," Dori says.

Expandable drying space

Most apartments don't have room for a dryer, of course. And dryers use a lot of energy. The editors at Apartment Therapy, who think a lot about good design in smaller spaces, suggest a smaller, no-energy alternative: many-runged drying racks. Racks can range hugely in price and intricacy. But one particularly nice one is this $99 wall shelf drying rack of eastern white pine by Gaiam.

Compost, compactly

A lot of people would like to compost but don't, not having a backyard for a big compost bin and not willing to risk the mess of composting in the house. Here's a tiny, non-stinky solution, says Micheal Bogdan of Small Space Living: NatureMill's in-house composter. The fully-sealed composter, which starts at about $200, has a filter to ensure no odors, can process 120 pounds of food waste a month (that's family-sized) and just sips electricity.

The magic stick

"One of the things that we really like are things that can do double duty," says Michael Bogdan of Small Space Living. The TubeStick hybrid ($129) is a device about the size of a key fob that plugs into your laptop and lets you watch and record digital TV without need of another TV or loads of other gear, says Bogdan. A caveat: Right now there's only software for Macs to get digital TV. But it can also be used to get "regular" TV on a PC. (See this site.)

Raise your knives

These (magnetic knife holders) are generally a great space saver instead of some knife block; in a small kitchen you don't have room on the countertop," says Roee Dori of Tiny Living. "But this is warmer looking, and a green alternative, because it's made of quick-growing bamboo," he says, calling it "a softer touch to knife storage."

Single sleeper seat

A big challenge of a small place is how to accommodate overnight guests. But finding a small and stylish sleeper sofa isn't so easy. "These are really, really difficult to come by," says Roee Dori of Tiny Living. We've been looking for these for years." On this single chair of high-density foam ($470), "the backrest reclines and the seat cushion unfolds, to become a single bed. I have it at home," Dori says.

Complete kitchen in a cabinet

Especially in big cities, kitchens get pinched the worst. Custom builder YesterTec has an elegant solution: the Armoire Kitchen. It's a complete kitchen that's concealed within an armoire. Inside its cabinets are a two-burner cooktop, microwave, sink, exhaust hood, an under-counter fridge, single-drawer dishwasher and storage. And the appliances work on 120-volt power, making it usable in any apartment. Such smart design doesn't come cheap: the Armoire starts at just under $10,000, not counting shipping.

Wash, dry, fold(ed into one)

Washers and dryers are great to have, but they're huge appliances. That's not a deal-breaker in a big house, but it's another matter in a small space. What about halving the bulk?LG Electronics makes that easy with its full-size, all-in-one SteamWasher/SteamDryer. The appliance also features its "Allergiene" allergen-reduction cycle, which LG says uses steam to break down and wash out 95% of allergens, and was certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. You'll pay up for the technology and space-saving functionality: $1,999.

The transformer table

Coffee tables can take up a lot of room in a small apartment. But what if your coffee table did double- or even triple-duty? Then it could be an asset, not a shin-banging liability. Janel Laban, managing editor at Apartment Therapy, likes BoConcept's functional coffee table($899) because both sides open up to store remote controls, magazines, paperwork; "If you work from home, you may be able even to be able to put your laptop in it," Laban says. And if your place is so small you don't have a dining room table, this hard worker could even serve as a low-slung table.

Make use of under-the-bed space

"One of the biggest concerns when living in a small space is not having enough storage," says Typhanie Peterson of the blog Shoebox Décor. The Stratton Bed with Drawers (by Pottery Barn, about $1,599, depending on bed size) is great for people with this concern." The platform accommodates large drawers and makes the most of that old hiding place for stuff, - space beneath the bed. "I would use the drawers for seasonal clothing or linens, but they can really be used to store anything," Peterson says.

Neat, clean recycling

Recycling sounds great, but it's easy to be lazy about it, especially if we feel like it will make a small place look smaller or messier. One suggestion from Popular Mechanics: Elfa's mesh-basket laundry sorter($130), which is so good-looking you don't mind leaving it in plain sight. Constitutionally opposed to paying that much? Check out IKEA's Trofast or Antoniusstorage series instead.