Furniture does double duty

We’re squeezed for space.

According to a study conducted by the American Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMA), 87 percent of Americans describe the size of their home as small or medium and over 30 percent say they have small rooms in their homes.

“Don’t allow your small space to box you in creatively,” says AFMA vice president Jackie Hirschhaut. “Look at furniture as part of the answer to using your space most efficiently.”

Storage quest: As the American family continues to collect, keep and inherit, the need for storage grows, particularly in a space-challenged environment. Forty-two percent of the respondents said that lack of storage space was their biggest challenge in living in a small home. The solution: Now there are pieces that serve more than one function, like a coffee table that provides storage or bookshelves within it. Corner cupboards, blanket chests, armoires and curio cabinets are all excellent choices for consumers in search of storage-friendly furniture. Many beds also offer storage.

TV central: Americans’ love affair with the television requires an attractive, yet appropriate place to house this often used and sometimes awkward-to-place electronic product. For this reason, almost a quarter of the survey respondents said that an entertainment center was the piece of furniture that makes the best use of their space. It’s no wonder - today’s entertainment centers provide room for televisions, CD, DVD and VCR compartments, retractable doors and a host of other space-saving features. Armoires and attractive television tables with wheels also serve as a practical place to keep the television.

Space to snooze: Seventeen percent of respondents identified the sofa-sleeper as their second most space efficient piece of furniture, followed by a desk or workstation and bookshelf. Daybeds and sofa-sleepers allow for space savings and multifunctionality.

Books and more books: The survey also suggests that our books are starting to pile up. Twenty percent of the respondents said that a bookshelf or shelving would be the most practical piece of new furniture in their small space, followed by a sofa-sleeper, desk or workstation and an entertainment center. Furniture manufacturers produce bookshelves and shelving that allow consumers to have a “built-in” look, or the pieces can stand alone beautifully in any room of the house.

10 TIPS FOR TINY SPACES

Go vertical: Consider tall furniture rather than wide to preserve floor space.

Use your walls: Add a shelf or rack to display a favorite collection or for hanging hats, ties and scarves.

Stash it in style: Today’s occasional tables offer plenty of storage with drawers, shelves and cubbies plus glass-topped display space for collectibles.

Sweet dreams: Under the bed, use decorative boxes and storage bins to stow out-of-season clothing, wrapping paper, sporting goods or anything else.

Retractable doors: In armoires or entertainment centers, they provide more space when the doors are open.

Try the kids’ department:M Youth furniture is designed to fit into smaller rooms. Have a small guest bedroom or a little alcove office? A child’s dresser or desk might be the perfect fit.

Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’: Many pieces of furniture have wheels. Enjoy extra mobility and function with a wheeled piece of furniture that is fashionable and practical.

Don’t leaf it out: Ask your retailer about a dining table with removable leaves.

Accent it: A mirror is always a nice accent to any room and adds light and depth when space is limited.

American Furniture Manufacturers’ Association