4 Murphy Furniture Tips for Growing Families in Small Houses | Murphy Door, Inc.

Furniture Tips for Growing Families

In the effort to maximize small living spaces, strategic furniture choices can be a clever way to make your floor plan feel way larger than it actually is. Whether navigating a cozy urban apartment or revamping a compact home office, the right furniture layout and choices can transform cramped quarters into functional sanctuaries.

With thoughtful design tips and creative furniture choices, your interior design will be perfectly catered for your unique home. From clever storage solutions to minimalist designs that enhance openness, each piece of home design contributes to a harmonious balance of style and functionality.

Furniture Choices for Small Bedrooms

Choose a Space Saving Bed

Installing a Murphy bed from Murphy is a great solution for saving space in small bedrooms. These wall beds can be folded up against the wall vertically or horizontally when not in use, which frees up floor space. This flexibility allows the room to have functions, like turning a bedroom into a home office in just a few seconds.

Murphy beds are available in lots of different sizes and designs to suit a variety of room layouts and decorative themes. They are simple to fold down and store away, making them convenient for multiple uses. By utilizing vertical space, Murphy beds help create a more spacious and well-organized bedroom, even if it's a small room. This clever furniture choice not only improves the functionality of a room but also brings a fun design element to the space.

Opt for Light Colored Paint and Decor

Choosing light-colored paint and decorations is a smart way to create a room that feels more open and airy. Soft whites, pastels, and light neutrals reflect light better which gives the room a more spacious look. This trick works well in rooms where making the most of the space is important.

Light colors on the walls visually expand the room as the light is more easily reflected and bounces off surfaces for longer. By going for the lighter shades, you not only change how your living space looks but also create a fresh and welcoming atmosphere. This simple design decision can have an impact making even small rooms feel bigger and more spacious.

Choose One Large Rug

Opting for one large area rug instead of several small ones can open up the space in a bedroom. A larger rug visually expands the floor space by creating an uninterrupted surface. This design decision helps prevent the room from appearing cluttered or divided which can occur with a bunch of smaller rugs segmenting the floor space.

Furthermore, a big rug acts as an anchor for the room's furniture and layout bringing everything together in harmony. It serves as a unified foundation that complements the decor and enhances the room's flow. By selecting a rug that fits the dimensions of the room well, you not only improve the visual flow but also create a more spacious and well-balanced seeming furniture arrangement.

Install Built-In Cabinets to Maximize Vertical Space

Installing built-in cabinets is a creative way to make the most of a small space and give the illusion of a larger room. These cabinets are designed to blend with your room layout while using wall space efficiently without taking up valuable floor space. Built-in cabinets replace the need for several pieces of stand-alone furniture that end up making your space feel crowded.

Built-ins can be customized to accommodate your storage needs by providing ample room to organize clothes, linens, and personal items. This helps reduce clutter and create a tidier environment which makes a room feel a lot more open. The uniformity of high-quality custom units also creates a stylish design element to your room without the room feeling cluttered with excess decor.

Small Living Room Furniture Tips

Create a Focal Point

Designing a welcoming living room involves creating a focal point. This could be a fireplace, an eye-catching piece of art, or a stylish piece of furniture like an accent chair. Choosing a focal point helps to anchor the room and guide the rest of your living room layout. Make sure your furniture placement is chosen with the focal point in mind.

Arrange chairs and tables in a way that creates a conversation area and maintains a view of the focal point. This method not only enhances appeal but also establishes a natural flow and harmony in the space.

Add Mirrors

Strategically placing mirrors in your living room can work wonders to enhance its perceived size and brightness. Opt for larger mirrors to reflect more light and create an illusion of spaciousness. Position them across from windows to maximize natural light and make the room feel airy. Placing a mirror behind a focal point, like a sofa or a console table, can also amplify the sense of depth in the room.

Consider leaning a tall mirror against a wall or hanging it horizontally to visually widen the space. Mirrors placed on adjacent walls can create a seamless reflection that expands the room's boundaries. Avoid placing mirrors where they reflect clutter or direct sunlight, which can be distracting.

Ditch the End Tables

Choosing to forgo side tables in your family room can create a sense of spaciousness by reducing clutter and crowding. Instead of traditional side tables, opt for alternatives like wall-mounted shelves or multifunctional furniture pieces that serve multiple purposes.

This minimalist approach opens up floor space and allows furniture to shine without being overpowered, making your living room feel larger and more open. It also encourages a modern aesthetic that enhances the overall flow and functionality of the space.

Add a Foldable Coffee Table

Adding a foldable coffee table to your living room not only maximizes space but also enhances versatility. This dual-purpose furniture piece allows your living room to transform into a dining area effortlessly. When not in use as a dining table for meals, the table can serve as a traditional coffee table, providing a practical surface for drinks and decor.

Its foldable design ensures easy storage and mobility, making it ideal for smaller living spaces where flexibility is key. This addition not only optimizes functionality but also maintains a clean and organized environment, making sure your living room remains spacious and adaptable to different needs.

Replace Ordinary Doors With Hidden Doors

A creative and functional furniture tip for maximizing the space in your home is to replace ordinary doors with hidden doors from Murphy Doors. Our DIY hidden doors add 20 cubic feet of extra storage and are customizable for a huge variety of rooms in your home.

Signature Refreshment Door

The signature refreshment door from Murphy Door is the perfect hidden door storage solution for wine connoisseurs and at-home mixologists. These doors hold all of your beverages while freeing up space in your kitchen for other things. Converting your pantry door into a hidden refreshment door is a fun way to create more space in your home.

Flush Mount Bookcase Door

A bookshelf hidden door from Murphy Door is a clever way to make the most of the space in rooms- especially for book lovers. For those who enjoy reading this door offers access to a reading corner or study space without taking up extra floor space. It's both practical and chic, improving both the functionality and visual appeal of rooms making it simpler to keep things organized while enjoying a passion for reading.

Find Your Perfect Space Saving Furniture From Murphy Door

Discover the ideal space-saving solutions with Murphy Door's innovative furniture, including Murphy beds and hidden doors. Murphy beds offer a versatile sleeping solution that folds away when not in use, perfect for maximizing floor space in small rooms.

Our hidden doors, like the Bookcase Hidden Door, blend seamlessly into your decor while providing concealed storage or secret passages. Whether you're outfitting a cozy apartment or optimizing a home office, Murphy Door's furniture combines functionality with clever design to enhance your living space's efficiency and style.

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.

1 of 3