Guide · Renting and leases
Small Space Living
A friendly, practical guide to making a studio, ADU or small home feel bright, organized, safe and truly yours.
Where to start
- New to the room?
Measure first, place the bed first, and test the layout with painter’s tape. Tick through planning the layout.
- Using a space heater in a small room?
Only plugged directly into the wall, three feet from anything that burns, and never left on while sleeping. See safe from fire.
- Damp or musty?
Run fans during and after showers and cooking, and keep furniture a few inches off outside walls. See dry and fresh.
The short version
A small home can feel open, calm and welcoming with a little planning. How it is set up matters more than its size.
Use the walls, doors and the space under the bed for storage, and choose furniture that does two jobs.
Bring in light with clear windows, mirrors and layered lamps, and keep the floor and paths to exits clear.
Small spaces build up moisture quickly, so run fans while cooking and showering, and anchor tall furniture to the wall.
Rules for studios and ADUs differ from place to place, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at your local rules. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.
Four simple rules
- 1Go vertical
Walls, doors and the space under the bed are free storage. Use them before adding more furniture to the floor.
- 2Everything has a home
When each item has one place to live, a small space stays tidy with only a few minutes a day.
- 3Light makes space
Clear windows, mirrors, light colors and layered lamps make a small room feel larger and calmer.
- 4Keep the way out clear
No matter how tight things get, keep paths to doors and windows open, and never block heaters or alarms.
Planning the layout
From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.
All done. A safe path and a plan can make a small room feel like home.
Storage without damaging the walls
- Use under bed and over door storage first.
- Choose furniture that stores things.
- Anchor tall furniture with permission.
- Keep heavy items on low shelves.
- Double closet rods and add bins.
- Label shared storage and set limits.
Walk your layout at night with the lights off before you commit.
Safe from fire
From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.
All done. Thank you for keeping everyone in your home safe.
Dry and fresh
From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.
All done. Small spaces build up moisture quickly, and you are on top of it.
A few things to avoid
- Buying furniture before measuring.
- Blocking a window or the path to the door.
- Putting beds or curtains near heaters.
- Leaving tall furniture unanchored.
- Ignoring vertical space.
Guides that go well with this one
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Go deeper with The Perfect Toolkit
A calm, plain guide for residents and owners to building a basic home toolkit, using it safely for small everyday fixes, and knowing exactly when to stop and call the owner or a pro.
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This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal or safety-code advice. Bunklow does not inspect properties or decide deposits.