Live

Clever space-saving tricks courtesy of the "smallest house in the world"

By Jennifer Laing  | September 10, 2014 - 2:59PM
image

By now you’ve likely checked out what the Guardian newspaper has christened “the smallest house in the world” that’s for sale in north London for about £275,000 ($450,000). At 188 square feet, it’s tiny even by New York City standards. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in nifty ways to get the most out of the space. Here, some of the best features:

A loft bed: When there’s no room on the floor, think up and loft your bed. It’s the quickest and easiest way to increase square footage, especially if your home has high ceilings.

Hidden storage: Who needs furniture when you can store your stuff under the living room floor and in cabinets that are concealed in the walls? Indeed, hidden storage keeps a small space looking neat and uncluttered.

A counter top-slash-staircase landing: While a riser-less staircase placed over a meal prep counter top doesn’t strike us as the most hygienic arrangement (or one that's going to catch on super quick), it does keep the design of the apartment light and open. Suffice to say, with a set up like this, it’s essential to remove your shoes at the door.

Built-in kitchen appliances: The key to small living is finding a place for all one’s stuff—and that goes for kitchen appliances, too. Here, a fully functional kitchen is hidden away under the counter.

A shower stall that doubles as a bathroom: Admittedly, this isn’t ideal, but when you’re sort on space, a combo toilet-shower stall may be the way to go.

A unifying decorative theme: A simple palette of light wood and white walls—a combination of painted brick and cabinets—gives the tiny space an airy feel.

Related:

Don't fall prey to these small space decorating snafus

Learning to love your tiny apartment: The internet's best decorating tips for small spaces

A three-level studio on the Upper West Side stretches the limits of a tiny space

"Tiny House Nation" host John Weisbarth on living large in a really small space

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.

topics: