Small-space Solutions from This Old House magazine

There is a magazine I like called, This Old House. But don't let the word 'old' stop you. This magazine has new ideas for both older homes and for those not yet built!

The online articles are usually a series of 'slides' for you to scroll through. Here's a few samples:

Little Big Ideas - has some basic but classic ideas for making the most of your home.

14 Kitchen and Bath Space Savers - ideas for maximizing space.

Entertaining in Small Spaces - is a review of party friendly products that have maximum impact for minimal storage. Number three is the folding kitchen island/cart I've had my eye on for my own kitchen. Number five can serve has a hall table until a dining table and four chairs are needed for guests.

This Old Studio Apartment - check out what this person did with only 450 sq. ft.! Never say your place is too small again.

In the May 2009 print edition of This Old House (sorry this article isn't available online), Keith Pandolfi lists 9 tips for saving space, including;

• Painting the crown molding to match the ceiling paint in order to widen a narrow room


• Placing "large mirrors facing each other to create the illusion of more space."


• Maximize square footage and natural light by adding bay windows.


• "Use tall furniture and built-ins to draw the eye upward."


• His ninth suggestions is that you incorporate a spiral staircase, but in other article and books I've seen people add storage or shelving under the staircase. One such book showed how they built drawers under the treads, a large cascading chest of drawers if you like. You could do both and really maximize a small space.