Smart Ideas for Small Spaces

from http://www.bhg.com

Hoover: here are some design tips for small spaces, awkward angles, room colors and storage solutions for your home.

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Fabulous Hang-Ups

Turn a closet or nook into a work zone. In this space, drapery panels slide along a curtain rod to make it easy to conceal the clutter. Even without an architectural niche or bay, you can duplicate this effect by curtaining off an area across the width of a room -- just hang the drapes from a rod or thin wire suspended from the ceiling.

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Distinctive Details

Add storage as well as architectural heft with a built-in. Incorporating a recessed daybed into this cabinet's design maximized limited floor space and eliminated the need to buy a sofa. Cushions covered with fabric remnants make this alcove cushy and inviting.

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Hidden Assets

Don't let the awkward angles of a dormerdissuade you from taking advantage of square footage -- the light-filled alcoves are often the perfect spot to squeeze in a desk. Two 1 x 4s painted white and mounted on shelving brackets create a handy work zone in this second-story cubby. Built-in benches boost the cozy quotient and allow the space to double as a dining table for two.

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Step It Up

Reclaim wasted space under a staircase as storage. Wide-trim molding turns these staggered shelves into a strong architectural feature. Baskets add eye-pleasing texture as they keep linens and other kitchen odds and ends corralled.

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Nesting Instincts

Nesting tables are perfect for squeezing a lot of storage out of minimum space. Pull out the lower table when you need an extra surface for holding drinks or reading material, then tuck it away when you're done. Here, a stylish fabric-covered bin keeps DVDs accessible but contained.

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Landing Zone

Transform the often-unused space at the top of the stairs into a destination. Built-in bench seating capitalizes on the sunny window on this second-floor landing, creating a cozy reading retreat. Flip-up lids under the bench cushions provide access to hidden storage.

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Ceiling Savvy

Most people slap a coat of white paint onto their ceiling and call it quits, but creative use of the space can reap room-enlarging results. A tray ceiling lined with beaded board takes this room to new heights.

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Hanging Around

Storage in a play area is a must, and a gridwall unit is a simple way to keep things off the floor but in plain sight. Here, colorful soft-sided bins are secured to the wall between the grid's crossbars, providing instant storage for toys and books. Matching bins below handle the toy overflow.

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Art Imitating Life

Home offices are natural candidates for multifunctional spaces. This dining room was too small for entertaining, so it was converted into an artist's garret, complete with a draftingtable and a rolling set of drawers. To expand the room's usefulness, the built-ins hold special-occasion dishes, and extra floor space is home to a vintage bike that doubles as sculptural art.

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Keep It Airy

Get big style from a small space through careful design. This kitchen is just 9 feet square, yet careful choices resulted in both beauty and function. Tall cabinets stretch to the ceiling in a mixture of light woods and reflective stainless steel that keeps the space clean and open.

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Look Under the Bed

This bedroom uses the space under the bed forstorage. But rather than allowing that space to become a tangle of stuff, well-made drawerskeep things neat.