{"id":2838,"date":"2016-03-03T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-03-03T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/?p=2838"},"modified":"2025-10-15T15:35:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T19:35:27","slug":"big-ideas-small-spaces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/big-ideas-small-spaces\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Ideas for Small Spaces"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like many, I have been fascinated by the tiny house craze that has taken America by storm. I watch my share of home improvement and home buying TV shows that feature tiny homes and wonder where I\u2019d store all my shoes or sundresses. Making the best of small spaces is nothing new, though. People have been living large in big city cramped apartments for generations. Whether you\u2019re pulling your house like an RV or in a fifth-floor walkup, compact furniture with great function and innovative storage is a must-have.<\/p>\n

Seven Ways Furniture Can Do Double Duty<\/h2>\n

1. Expect more out of your dining room table:<\/strong> If you\u2019re anything like me, the top of your dining room table has become a default storage area, piled with mail that needs responding or groceries waiting to be put away. Wouldn\u2019t it be nice to use your table for storage and also have room to set the dishes for dinner every evening? It can be done with a\u00a0table that has built-in storage under the table top.<\/p>\n

\"Amish<\/a><\/p>\n

Take the Amish Mission Kitchen Cabinet Dining Table<\/a> has drawers.<\/p>\n

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2. Skip the dining table altogether:<\/strong> Speaking of kitchen islands<\/a>, if there is not enough space for both a dining table and kitchen island, combine the two. A kitchen island with a broad surface can provide plenty of room for chairs and serve as an eating table while still providing much-needed storage and space for preparing meals.<\/p>\n

\"Design<\/a><\/p>\n

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3. Learn from history:<\/strong>\u00a0 The secretary desk<\/a> may have been around a long time, but it continues to be a great solution for combining work space with storage, especially in this day of compact laptops and tablets. With storage underneath and often on top as well, the secretary desk is likely the perfect piece of furniture for small spaces.<\/p>\n

\"Amish<\/a><\/p>\n

Or they can be so unobtrusive as to be tucked away in a corner or hallway, like the Amish Calloway Secretary Desk.<\/a><\/p>\n

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4. Combine storage with seating:<\/strong> If your bedroom is small, don\u2019t bother with a bedside bench. A chest or trunk provides storage as well as a place to sit. If you need to pack away pillows and blankets, try a hope chest<\/a> or traditional trunk<\/a>. Hope chests are available in a variety of styles from the well-known cedar chest to shaker and contemporary styles.<\/p>\n

\"Amish<\/a><\/p>\n

Some chests, like the Amish Rustic Pine Hope Chest with Drawers<\/a>, can provide several areas of storage.<\/p>\n

\"Amish<\/a><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re running out of closet space, you can tuck shoes away in unexpected places, like the Amish Entryway Hall Bench with Concealed Shoe Storage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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5. Demand more from the longstanding solutions:<\/strong> A Murphy bed is always a great space saving idea when you don\u2019t have enough room for a designated guest space or need to tuck a bed away during the day in a studio apartment or tiny house. But why can\u2019t a Murphy bed serve other purposes as well? The Murphy Wall Bed and Desk Workstation<\/a>\u00a0is the ultimate in space saving solutions: a work space\u00a0by day and a\u00a0sleeping space\u00a0at night.<\/p>\n

\"Murphy<\/a><\/p>\n

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6. Go horizontal:<\/strong>\u00a0Storage beds<\/a>, like platform beds with drawers, are always a helpful solution for small spaces, but there is furniturte that takes this concept to a new level. Take advantage of the height of a room if the width is tight by placing the entire dresser under a bed.\u00a0 With the Amish Solana Loft Bed with Ladder<\/a> you have room for clothes and books while your child sleeps soundly on top. And it doesn\u2019t mean you need to skimp on taste, with the paneled ends and raised drawer fronts.<\/p>\n

\"Amish<\/a><\/p>\n

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7. Don\u2019t forget Fido:<\/strong> Many dog breeds are recommended for apartment living, but that\u2019s not always true of all of the gear that comes with owning a dog. Dog crates may be great for training but they can take up a lot of space. I love this dog crate that also serves as a side table. It\u2019s perfect for next to a sofa or bed, so Fido can be comfortable, and you still have a place to set your cup of coffee or bedtime reading material.<\/p>\n

\"Amish<\/a><\/p>\n

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