One of the biggest trends we’re seeing lately is the rise of appliances that you can use for way more than meets the eye. For example, what may look like an oven is actually an air fryer, a steamer, a broiler and way more, saving you valuable counter space in the process. If your laundry room is lacking space, you’re in luck, because combination washers and dryers are now a serious hit in America after being beloved for years across the pond.

If you’re in the market for new appliances, take a look at where you’re seriously lacking space and see if you can pack a punch with a single appliance. While every room may not be the right fit for a secret super appliance, you may identify a few places where you can kill two birds with one stone (or broil and air fry with one oven).

Another trend we’ve seen a lot of is appliances coming in smaller size options to accommodate a smaller kitchen. While bigger might seem like it’s always better, this isn’t necessarily the case. In some cases, you can look at your family’s individual needs and see where you may be able to downsize to accommodate a smaller space, says Chelsea Bothe, brand manager at True Residential.

“Prioritize exactly what you need in your kitchen to make it work for you and your household,” she says. “We see many customers choose to pair a 30- or 36-inch refrigerator column with 24-inch undercounter freezer drawers because they know they need more fresh food storage and only a small amount of freezer space.”

This is another instance where a bit of planning can come in handy. Not only can measuring your space allow you to understand what you can reasonably fit in a room, but looking at how you use the appliances in your home can also help you maximize space where you need to—and trim it down where you don’t.

When you don’t have a ton of room in your home already, you won’t want to compete with appliances on your counter as you’re trying to chop veggies for dinner or tchotchkes on your table as you’re trying to do a puzzle. In this instance, you’ll want to think vertically as much as possible: mount your microwave, add additional wall shelving and stow items under tables and above cabinets as much as possible.

This idea should carry on throughout your home, including adding shelving to your bedroom and considering hanging storage. In fact, Brian Dougherty, VP of sales for ClosetMaid Pro, says that on the business’s direct-to-consumer side, its most popular products are those that help maximize vertical storage, like wall-and-door racks, cabinet organizers or wire shelving in laundry closets or smaller bedrooms.

It’s also worth taking a hard look at what you’re keeping out on your counters and on your dresser and considering storing some things away for a bit. For instance, if you only use your stand mixer to prepare dough for holiday cookies or neglect the stack of baseball hats on your dresser until the spring, it may be safe to put them in the basement for a bit just to see if you miss them being displayed.

Getty Images

Another effective way to make the most of your smaller space is to actually well, make space. One of the biggest home trends that goes hand in hand with smaller homes is homeowners literally stowing their items away. “The popularity of hidden storage also continues to grow. People don’t want to have everything on display,” says Dougherty.

You can tackle this more traditionally, with cabinets that close to hide any mismatched dishes, or in new and innovative ways with spice drawers that are flush to the wall or even in more high-tech innovations like range hoods that only extend when you’re using them. No matter how you do it, clearing space from your commonly used surfaces and hiding away any clutter is always a great way to maximize your space.

Working with a small space means thinking outside the box (or rather, the big box furniture). If your space is unique, your furniture, storage solutions and other home items may have to be too. Think about uniquely shaped furniture, like hutches that can fit perfectly into the corners or entertainment systems that fit snugly under your mounted TV with room for your record player.

Even if you love a piece in the store, be sure it actually makes sense for your home and square footage. In some cases, this may mean opting for custom furniture—after all, furniture that’s literally made to mesh with your home can make the puzzle of home layouts a bit easier to solve.

Shine Interior Design Studio

If you’re not working with a ton of square footage, it’s more important than ever to get creative with your design and find small ways to show off your unique style within even the most functional of spaces.

For example, a recent 2024 trend report by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) notes that though smaller kitchens are being designed to maximize storage and function, you can (and should) still consider some innovative design choices to bring the space to life. For example, the report suggests open shelving in a smaller kitchen to offer “a visual break and an opportunity to highlight decorative elements like glassware and pottery.” So while hiding things away can help a space look bigger, choosing what to show and where can also make a big impact on the look of the room.

You may also want to consider combining functional spaces like mudrooms and laundry rooms, allowing for more space and more room for design elements like fun wallpaper, bold textiles and pops of color in accent walls.

While you definitely want to add style to your space, having too heavy of a hand with home decor can quickly add up, making the space appear smaller and more cluttered. Keep the tip above in mind and find intentional opportunities for design, rather than just trying to fill the space with as many design elements as possible.

Consider one larger art piece for your wall that you really love, cut down on cluttered items on shelves and tables and be picky about any bold items that you bring into your space. When you’re working with less real estate, you’ll want to make every bit of it count.

Working with a smaller home doesn’t have to be a negative. In fact, many prefer it because it can allow you to cut the noise and invest in a home that you’re truly obsessed with. That may be why the NAHB highlighted another home trend in addition to smaller homes—more custom ones.

“Our home owners are looking to personalize their homes,” said Donald Ruthroff, AIA, founding principal at Design Story Spaces LLC in the report. “They want it to feel like it was made just for them and be significantly different than their neighbors’ homes.”

With less square footage, you’ll have to be more intentional about what you bring into your home, but you may also be able to splurge a bit more on flooring or go for a custom kitchen island because you don’t need quite so much material or such a large item. This is a good opportunity to, again, figure out what you value and upgrade accordingly.