A trip to the homeowner's closet provided the design inspiration for this small modern apartment.The statement making patterns, timeless silhouettes, and fun accessories found in the wardrobe were translated into this home design for a look that mixes classic with modern, and sophisticated with fun.

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What can you do with just 600 square feet? An super efficient floor plan containing a great room, bedroom, and full bath, cleverly constructed cabinets, and multifunctional furniture makes this small one-story home live large.

Decorated in crisp white and blue with pops of spring green, the inviting open living area not only serves as living, dining, kitchen, and work space -- it can also host up to three guests thanks to a trundle bed/bench squeezed into a window niche and a traditional pullout sofa. An ottoman serves as a coffee table with hidden storage beneath its upholstered lid.

Drawers pull out from under the daybed to reveal clever storage for games when the homeowner is entertaining. Store items near the place you are most likely to use them for an easy and convenient way to stay organized.

A wall-hung TV frees up space for media equipment on shelves below. Storage baskets mix the room's color palette  green and blue  and add more pattern, playfulness, and storage to the room.

With the help of wall-mount file pockets and a portable file box, a small table in a corner of the living room easily goes from dining to an impromptu office. Swivel stools tuck neatly under the table when not in use, saving space in the small quarters.

Hallways are for more than navigating through a space. By borrowing just a little square footage from surrounding rooms and making the hallway wider, you can greatly multiply storage options. Here, floor-to-ceiling shelves line the walls surrounding the curtained bedroom entry. Or, if you already have a wide hallway, consider adding banks of shelves around the doorway or at the end of a passageway. Add cabinet doors to lower shelves for hidden storage.

The petite bedroom features two skinny closets that flank the entry and four deep drawers below the bed. A bounty of baskets and boxes adds another layer of shipshape organization to this miniature marvel.

A nightstand-headboard at one end of the bed packs extra storage under the eaves, while four drawers built into the base of the bed store folded clothes and shoes without taking up additional floor space.

A pair of narrow closets provides ample storage for clothing and shoes. Baskets corral socks and shoes, while hooks for laundry and tote bags maximize back-of-the-door space.

Don't skimp on style when outfitting a small space with storage. Find solutions that blend beauty and function. In the bathroom, a vanity features storage for bath items in the cabinet and on an open shelf below. A pair of pretty glass canisters house cotton balls and swabs.

Cabinets in the hallway near the kitchen house office supplies. A bamboo stationery holder, stacking flip-top bins, and an acrylic organizer stash small items such as paper clips, pens, and computer cords, while larger canvas bins hold notepads, printer paper, file folders, and gift-wrapping supplies.

Open shelving, small scale cabinets, and a slender pantry work together to create an efficient galley kitchen featuring a two-burner cooktop and a sink. Baskets hold bulk items and take advantage of the extra space near the ceiling, while boxes above the cooktop contain dish towels and napkins.

The pantry keeps the microwave and toaster ovens hidden yet accessible. Baskets and wooden bins hold packaged food and beverages on adjustable shelves; clear acrylic canisters provide airtight storage for snacks. Sets of canisters come in uniform sizes so they can stack together nicely, the way a hodgepodge of food packages often don't.

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Decorating a small space has it’s own set of challenges. Today I have 7 ideas to help make the most of your space even if it’s not that large. Through the use of color, the right accessories, proper furniture placement and a few other decorating tricks, you can turn your small space into a fabulous space.

Paint an Accent Wall. Dark colors make a wall recede giving the illusion of more depth in a room. Paint one wall a contrasting color then carry that color into the room through accessories and fabrics.

Create a desk in a niche. Utilize small nooks or niches to add a shelf to use as a desk. Decorative corbels and trim help to give it a finished look.

Choose furniture you can see through. Clear chairs and a glass top table help to visually expand a small dining area and keep it from feeling cramped.

Choose furniture that is multi-functional. A daybed functions as a sofa during the day and a bed at night. This is an excellent solution if you live in a studio apartment or don’t have the space for a guest room.

Use smaller armless side chairs. Lightweight chairs without arms work better in smaller spaces because they are easier to maneuver in and out of and they can easily be moved from one room to another.

Keep your kitchen storage open. Heavy upper cabinets can sometimes make a small kitchen seem even smaller. By using open shelving, the eye is tricked into believing the space is larger.

Select furniture that doesn’t weigh the space down. This bed offers a great focal point in this room and the height brings the eye up. Like the clear furniture mentioned above, the sleek style doesn’t take up too much visual space. Keeping things light and airy helps to make the space feel larger.

By Peggy Pardo

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Living with limited space can be a challenge. See how these homeowners streamlines and uses smart storage to make tight rooms livable.

Even small homes can live large, thanks to smart furniture choices and use of space. When space is limited, keep scale in mind and find furniture that isn't oversize. A glass coffee table and sofa and chairs with exposed legs do the trick in this tight living room.

Mirrors reflect light, which will make a space feel larger than it is. This living room is filled with dark, rich finishes, but the space is anything but cavelike thanks to large windows which let in lots of natural light and plenty of reflective surfaces, such as this mirror above the fireplace.

Creating storage in a small kitchen can be tricky. Designing a storage smart island such as this one is the perfect way to maximize a tight space. And the centered pulls add a nice personal touch by making the cabinet doors look like old fashioned bins.

When space is at a premium, turn seating into storage. Here, a banquette located across from the kitchen island houses small appliances and dog food beneath the cushioned seats.

Round tables are great for eking out a bit of extra space. They provide a better flow throughout the room and can seat more people. The exposed table base and thin chair legs also take up less space and make the room appear more open.

The amount of light is always important in a small space. In the dining room, shades that close from either the bottom up or top down allow flexibility in both light control and privacy. The padded window seat offers another comfy spot to read or relax.

A dining room hutch can hold storage overflow from the kitchen. Items not used every day, such as serving dishes and linens, can be housed in a dining room hutch to make space for kitchen essentials in cabinets. Glass doors provide depth and allow you to display your finest dishware. Also, the all-white walls of the dining room reflect sunlight and make the space appear larger.

The same principles used in the living room are applied in the narrow den to create an inviting space. Shades of white and gray, plus a mirror above the sofa, reflect light, and appropriately scaled furniture comfortably fills the space. Consider placing a sleeper sofa in a den so it can double as a guest room.

When wall space is limited, even books can serve as artwork. Here, stacked rather than upright books serve as pedestals and artful backdrops for a few favorite pieces in the den. Also, the light color painted trim and ceiling create the illusion of height in a tiny room.

Window seats maximize the functionality of small or awkward nooks. The bed and dresser in this bedroom take up most of the floor space, but a window seat tucked into a narrow nook adds a comfy seating area. Topped with a thick cushion and soft pillows, the master bedroom window seat becomes the perfect place to read and relax. And the pop of bright pink upholstery adds a nice contrast to the subtle hues of the rest of the room.

Give kids plenty of play space in their bedrooms by pushing beds against the wall. An upholstered queen-size headboard along the side creates the look of a daybed and keeps kids safe from bumping the wall while they sleep.

Bins, buckets, and shoe organizers give kids visual cues to remind them where everything belongs. When they see that there's a place for everything, they're more likely to put things away on their own. Here, books and toys are easy to grab and put away with this kid-size bookshelf.

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