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Collection by Allie Weiss

Tips for Tiny Apartments

From smart storage ideas to double-duty furniture, these urban dwellings are prime examples of living small.

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"We wanted to keep the exterior walls uncluttered, so you can focus on the views, the light, and the air," says Rosa Garneau, the owner of a 650-square-foot co-op in New York's Chelsea neighborhood. To achieve a clean look, everything gets tucked away, including the mattress and bedding. When looking for the best Murphy bed, look for one that can accommodate basic bedding without having to remove and store it daily.
"We wanted to keep the exterior walls uncluttered, so you can focus on the views, the light, and the air," says Rosa Garneau, the owner of a 650-square-foot co-op in New York's Chelsea neighborhood. To achieve a clean look, everything gets tucked away, including the mattress and bedding. When looking for the best Murphy bed, look for one that can accommodate basic bedding without having to remove and store it daily.
When slid toward the kitchen on custom tracks, the fold-down table gives Hughston much-needed counter space. Luckily, the apartment came with stainless steel appliances; Sanders covered the cabinets with matching Formica. A mirror behind the kitchen sink also adds a feeling of space.
When slid toward the kitchen on custom tracks, the fold-down table gives Hughston much-needed counter space. Luckily, the apartment came with stainless steel appliances; Sanders covered the cabinets with matching Formica. A mirror behind the kitchen sink also adds a feeling of space.
A movable feast: In designers Nix and Novak-Zemplinski's 1,000-square-foot apartment’s open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space, almost everything is convertible. Cookbooks are kept in low "nesting" shelving, keeping the countertops free. Photo by Andreas Meichsner.
A movable feast: In designers Nix and Novak-Zemplinski's 1,000-square-foot apartment’s open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space, almost everything is convertible. Cookbooks are kept in low "nesting" shelving, keeping the countertops free. Photo by Andreas Meichsner.
A seamless sliding door by CS For Doors—accented by Mockett hardware—separates the master bedroom from the living room and doubles as a backdrop for a projector.
A seamless sliding door by CS For Doors—accented by Mockett hardware—separates the master bedroom from the living room and doubles as a backdrop for a projector.
The Laccio side table in the bedroom is by Marcel Breuer for Knoll.
The Laccio side table in the bedroom is by Marcel Breuer for Knoll.
The apartment's built-in closets are deep and have mirrors on one side. Spotlights set flush overhead provide light and also allow the maximum amount of storage, all the way to the ceiling. For more of Schönning's dark, cozy-meets-modern interiors, visit his website. Photo by Per Magnus Persson.
The apartment's built-in closets are deep and have mirrors on one side. Spotlights set flush overhead provide light and also allow the maximum amount of storage, all the way to the ceiling. For more of Schönning's dark, cozy-meets-modern interiors, visit his website. Photo by Per Magnus Persson.