Small-Space Furniture, Lighting, and Storage Solutions

By living in a small New York City apartment — a one-bedroom that I converted to two—I've learned to Tetris my family's belongings into cabinets and closets just so to make things fit. Still, it's not easy: With a school-age child, it often feels like a tsunami of stuff — papers, foam swords, shoes — washes into my home each week. In an attempt to regain control of the chaos (and because I'm a writer with a niche writing about small-space living ), I called on fellow New Yorkers who are also living small (or who professionally help those who do) and asked them: What are your small-space essentials? Their answers include many picks from Ikea and Japanese manufacturers, but to my delight, many of these suggestions are stylish or colorful things I'd want to have out on display.

When I asked interior designer Gunnar Larson about his favorite things in his home, he pointed to a piece of furniture I adore as well: Gothic Cabinet Craft's simple wood storage bed with built-in dresser-style drawers. "I've used them in multiple projects and also in my own home," he says. "The quality is amazing, and I love the finish-color options." A bed with drawers is a great way to maximize the space in small bedrooms (common in older buildings) without adding extra furniture pieces.

$1,799 Larson mentioned another way to use the space under a bed: a bunk or loft bed. "We recently upgraded to this West Elm bunk bed from our kids' previous tree-house-vibe bunk bed, which was fun, but to be honest, a bit bulky for our small space," he says. The blue colorway is his favorite.

Hovet Mirror now 23% off "Large wall mirrors are a must-have for small spaces because they reflect light and create the illusion of more space," says Manhattan-based interior designer Rebecca Frye Jones, who strategically employs mirrors to visually expand spaces and amplify natural light. Jones says this nearly six-foot-tall budget model from Ikea is "the best value out there," and it has endured in her tiny apartment for years. I've added it to my personal wish list after living for nearly ten years without being able to see my whole outfit.

"It's so hard to find great, beautiful lamps that also emit natural, warm lighting," says Christene Barberich, who pens the newsletter A Tiny Apt and lives in Brooklyn. "This smaller-scale Noguchi Akari 1A was one of the first nice things I bought when we moved to our little apartment, and turning it on every evening when the sun sets has become a ritual that makes me feel instantly soothed." Barberich says she loves that it also doubles as sculptural art. "It has this grand-gesture effect, making any dull corner into a moment," she adds. (As a small-space dweller who also owns and loves an Akari lamp, I second this pick. Save the box so you can fold it flat again when you move!)

Jones sings the praises of plug-in wall sconces as "a fantastic space-saving solution for small apartments because they free up valuable floor and surface space." Jones has often used them next to beds or in a living room for task lighting because they're easy to install — no hardwiring required. Plus, you can take them with you if you end up moving. These candy-colored models from Schoolhouse are among her favorites.

Interior designer Adnan Anwar is also enthusiastic about plug-in sconces, but his tastes lean a little more traditional. "I keep coming back to this sconce," he says of the Visual Comfort model, which he has used in his Manhattan apartment and clients' homes. "Having sconces versus bedside lamps in a small bedroom often allows me to fit in two small nightstands, which feels more balanced and luxurious than a single one." Anwar cautions that there are a lot of brass swing-arms on the market, but the "Wayfair dupes consistently miss the mark." However, these, he says, "feel so luxurious and sturdy for the price. I will be devastated if this is ever discontinued!"

Any small-space expert will encourage you to take advantage of wall space for storage. Lisa Lu, a public relations pro and self-described "interiors enthusiast," lives in a studio in Chelsea and made use of hers by installing Ikea's basic Besta cabinets at ceiling height along one wall of her apartment. "They provide extra storage for my off-season wardrobe, and because they are white, they blend into the wall so you barely notice they are there, " she says.

"The Componibili storage units are the holy grail for entryway organization," says Merie Subryan, a home stylist living in a one-bedroom with her family of four in Brooklyn. "It's stackable, has a small footprint, and holds items from all of our multifarious activities." Subryan uses the ones in her entryway for shoe storage and winter essentials and has another in her bathroom for toiletries. She says they're easily accessible to kids, and giving everyone their own assigned section of a unit has resulted in less looking for shoes in the morning.

Tyler Moore, best known as The Tidy Dad and the author of the forthcoming book Tidy Up Your Life , lives in a railroad apartment in Manhattan with his wife and three kids. He says that Ikea's Pax wardrobes have been essential for his family in their circa-1914, lacking-in-closets building. "We have one set up as an entryway cabinet, one in our playroom as a toy-rotation cabinet, and three in the bedroom our daughters share," he says. The system is fully customizable with drawers, shelves, baskets, and hanging rods — at a fraction of the cost of custom closet systems.

Jeanie Engelbach, the founder of Apartmentjeanie , a design and professional organization service in New York City, recommends the Elfa over-the-door organizer because it has metal baskets that can be repositioned to fit your exact needs. "It's intended for the pantry, but we integrate these into all kinds of closets, especially entry closets where it stores seasonal accessories and dog-walking necessities," says Engelbach. In adult bedrooms, the white-painted metal rack holds accessories; in a laundry closet, it corrals cleaning supplies; and in a kid's room, it's full of toys. Engelbach adds that the over-the door option is very renter-friendly because it's easy to take down when you leave.

Yamazaki's slim rolling cart, which fits into particularly tight spots, is a favorite of a few different experts. "Whether it's beside the bed, between appliances, or in the bathroom, the narrow five-inch-wide design makes it ideal for organizing toiletries, cleaning supplies, or pantry essentials," says Moore. Larson adds, "Yamazaki is the best at pretty much everything it makes."

Modeled after commercial steel racks but scaled down and made from colorful, heavy-duty paper, these racks are ideal for organizing within a pantry or closet, says Barberich. If the bright colors aren't your vibe, the rack is also available in ivory. They're small in scale, so think of them as shelves for your shelves.

"As someone who not only lives in a small space but has been a professional organizer for 20 years, I have seen every type of food storage container ; these are my absolute favorite," says Brooklyn-based organizing consultant Laura Cattano . "I use them to cook and store food, as they're microwave-, oven-, freezer-, and dishwasher-safe. I also love how the glass top allows you to see inside."

Cattano says she'd love these soft, lightweight, and quick-drying towels no matter where she lived, but they're especially well suited to a tiny apartment because they take up less space than a regular cotton towel. "Also important in my small space is that they're beautiful," says Cattano. "I keep mine folded and stacked on an open shelf in my bathroom in full view."

Engelbach likes to save space on her clients' kitchen countertops with streamlined dish racks from Yamazaki. An over-the-sink dish rack keeps the counter clear, but if your sink is too small, you can still cut your drying rack's space in half with a two-tier design. "Much like an apartment building, we know we can increase precious real estate if we stack vertically," says Engelbach.