7 Tiny House Design Tricks to Try in Your Full-Sized Home

Whoever said “bigger is better” has clearly never heard of tiny houses. Clocking in at about 400 square feet or less, tiny houses are both Instagram bait and a unique challenge for homeowners. We mean, fitting a whole house worth of stuff into an itty, bitty space is no easy feat.

Decorating a tiny house is all about making the most of the square footage you have, so it’s no surprise that the people who own ’em have a few space-saving tricks up their sleeves. However, many tiny design tactics would look great in any place.

Don’t believe us? Here are seven tiny house-approved tricks to try in your full-sized space:

Unless you successfullyMarie Kondo’d your entire place,你可能有很多衣服和knick-knacks lying around. Maximizing your storage is a great way to hide the clutter. We love how theClover 24 tiny househas extra cabinets built into the stairwell.

Who even uses a formal dining room anymore? Ditch the fancy table and scoot some bar stools next to your kitchen counter. Not only does it save a lot of space, it’ll turn your kitchen into the epicenter of your home. Let this shot from@Gabrielle.Graceshow you how it’s done.

Never underestimate the power of good lighting. Floor and table lamps can be limiting, which is why you might want to consider hanging some string lights overhead. As seen on@NewFrontierTinyHomesInstagram feed, string lights can create a warm, rustic vibe.

Speaking of hanging stuff, exposed hooks are perfect for anyone with a lot of kitchen wares but very little cabniet space. It’ll remove the clutter from your counter, plus give your kitchen a whimsical feela laNatasha Lawyer and Brett Bashaw’s tiny house on wheels.

Psst… traditional, swinging doors aresoyesterday. If you want to up the ante on your entryways, add a sliding barn door, which looks great and takes up a lot less space. Check out this cool door in thisgarage-turned-apartment.

Have you noticed how just about every tiny house features a day bed?Buja & Mae’s placeis no exception. Turns out, a daybed can be a smart investment for your full-sized home, too. Think about it: A daybed can act as a sofa during the day, but turn into a bed for guests come night.

Lighter colors—think pastels, neutrals, and whites—will make your space appear bigger and brighter, no matter the size of your space. Take a page from@HandcraftedMovement’stiny house and slather your walls in a warm, off-white hue.

Not sure which shade to choose? Here are14 designer-approved options.