Hello friends! I've missed you all like crazy, how in the heck has it been a month since I've last blogged. I've been working a few projects around my house, a few updates to my living room that I'll share on Wednesday. I started the series Small Home Style to inspire & share stylish ideas to incorporate into small spaces. Living in a small space can be a design challenge, from figuring out furniture placement, to determining storage solution for small bathrooms. However, with challenges comes the opportunity to make it work and get creative. As a small home dweller myself, I'm in the trenches making my small home work harder for my family while remaining stylish.

I recently came across this amazing 540 square foot home and I just had to share all the clever design and storage ideas. The stylish house was designed by Jessica Helergerson. Both the exterior & interior have me dreaming up some fresh ideas to incorporate into my she shed.

The front door opens to the sweet kitchen and dining room area. The kitchen and dining room area, feel like the heart of the home. The rectangle table others plenty of seating and can easily transform from lazy brunch to elegant evening in. The wood burning stove is a charming addition in the dining room and kitchen spaces.

image via Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

I'm in the love with the ship lap siding inside the cottage and love love the focal wall of re-claimed wood used backslash in the kitchen. The natural wood tones look so good against the white interior walls.

Floor to ceiling bookcases are perfect for small spaces, not only do they provide great storage solutions. Bookcases also help draw the eyes up and out helping a small room look larger. The ladder leads to the master bedroom loft area.

The loft area feels bright and open, even though its teeny tiny space. Since the space was too small for side tables, wall sconces are the perfect solution.

The kids bedroom and built-in bunks are so perfect for space. Seriously bunk beds have come such a long way and are fantastic space savers.

Small Home Style: Design Takeaways

Use a vintage buffet or hutch to add additional storage options for dinnerware in small dining rooms and kitchens
Consider using one color palette in small open areas
Have extra funds laying around? Raise the roof and turn a flat ceiling into a vaulted one
Add bookcases either free standing or built-in
Use wall sconces when space is at a premuin for side tables

For more inspiring pictures and to learn more about the re-model and sources used, visit JH Interior Design . As a quick reminder, every Monday I'm sharing design solutions for small homes. Do you have a design challenge in your small home? Shoot me… — For more inspiring pictures and to learn more about the re-model and sources used, visit JH Interior Design . As a quick reminder, every Monday I'm sharing design solutions for small homes. Do you have a design challenge in your small home? Shoot me and email and I'd be happy to help!
What do you think of this charming little cottage?

Hello friends, how's your August shaping up? Welcome to another design post all about Small Home Style. I started the design series about Small Home Style, to help inspire & solve those design dilemmas that can crop up when dwelling in a small home. As a small home dweller myself, I've learned some stylish design tricks along the way to help maximize the small rooms in my 1956 rancher. As with most small homes, your living room becomes your everything room: watching TV, hosting friends, family movie nights, home office. Even though your living room maybe on the small side and play double duty, doesn't mean the space can't be a fabulous room to entertain guests in. I've rounded up 6 Stylish Ideas ideas to take your living room from so-so to wow!

ONE: Choose Your Seating Wisely & Consider Placement

When designing my small living room, I opted for two sofas rather one. It seemed when we only had one sofa in our living room & two chairs everyone always gravitated to our sofa and nixed the chairs. Keep in mind when selecting a sofa not to go too big where the sofa takes over the entire room, but also don't go too small. A bunch of tiny furniture in a room can easily make your living room feel smaller. Break out the measuring tape to help visualize the placement of your sofa and chairs and the size. The sofa with a chaise looks so good in this apartment, I love that the chaise adds additional seating = its the perfect spot to stretch out on.

TWO: Go Big on Artwork

Large scale artwork looks fantastic in smaller spaces and creates a huge impact on the wall. Large artwork helps draw the eyes up and out, giving the illusions of larger space.

THREE: Choose the Right Coffee Table

When looking for a coffee table for your living room, consider how much room you have and how it will flow in your room. Need help, select the perfect coffee table style for your living room, click here for the 5 Best Coffee Styles for Small Living Room.

FOUR: Create a Office Area

When you don't have extra room in your home for a dedicated office space, consider adding a small home office right in your living room. Placing a small desk next to your sofa, is perfect to double as a side table for your living room. Or a small desk tucked into a corner also works perfectly.

FIVE: Bring in Bookcases

Adding bookcases to small living rooms are a must! Bookcases create much needed vertical storage. To create hidden storage, layer in woven baskets that also bring in texture.

SIX: Double Duty Furniture

By far the best double duty pieces of furniture for small spaces are dressers turned TV stands and benches used as coffee tables. Dressers are a stylish upgrade from basic TV stands and provide a huge amount of storage.

Ottomans are the perfect double duty pieces for small living room, once you add a tray they become coffee tables and can also be used as additional seating when needed.

I hope you found my six ideas for designing a small stylish living room. If you have any specific small home design delimas, please feel free to contact at Hello@ChicLittleHouse.com. In need of my design solutions for your small spaces? Look no further, hop over for posts sharing Small Home Style

What are your favorite small space design ideas, you've incorporated into your own small living room?