Guides

How to Furnish a Small Apartment Without Sacrificing Style

A buying order, a short list of pieces that earn their floor space, and the real measurements behind them, so a small home feels finished instead of full.

Updated November 5, 20269-min ReadCozey Editorial

Short answer: Furnish a small apartment in this order: measure the route and the room first, buy the sofa second, add tables and storage third, and only then add a chair, a desk or a dining table if the floor allows. Choose pieces that do two jobs, such as a storage ottoman or a sofa that becomes a bed, keep a clear walkway of at least 30 inches (76 cm) and repeat a few materials and colours so the room looks calm rather than crowded.

Small homes leave little room for mistakes: one sofa that is too deep or one table that blocks the walkway affects the whole room. This guide gives you a sequence to follow and the published measurements of our own pieces, so you can plan with real numbers. For city-specific advice on stairs, elevators and moving day, see our guide to furnishing an apartment in Canada.

What should you do before you buy anything?
In what order should you buy furniture?
Which sofa fits a small apartment?
Which pieces do two jobs?
How do you add storage without crowding the room?
Where do a chair, a desk and a dining table fit?
How do you keep a small apartment stylish?
Our recommendation
Explore our furniture

What should you do before you buy anything?

Start with the way in and the room, not with the furniture. A sofa that suits the room but cannot pass the stairwell is not a sofa you can use, and our guide to measuring stairs, elevators and doorways shows how to compare your route with the size of each box.

Then plan the floor. These clearances are general advice, not a product specification:

30 inches (76 cm) is a common minimum walkway.
36 inches (91 cm) is more comfortable on a path you use all day.
14 to 18 inches (36 to 46 cm) is a good gap between the sofa and the coffee table.

Mark the sofa, the table and the walkway on the floor with masking tape and live with the outline for a day. Our guide to choosing a sofa size explains how to turn the wall width and the floor depth into a shortlist.

In what order should you buy furniture?

Buy the largest, most-used piece first, because everything else is sized around it. The order below works for most small apartments, and you can stop at any step when the room feels complete.

In what order should you buy furniture?

Step	Piece	Why it comes here	Examples from our range
1	Sofa	It sets the footprint of the whole room	Cassini, Gaia, Neptune
2	A surface beside it	Gives you somewhere to put a drink or a laptop without a large table	Stella, Arca, Eclipse side table
3	Closed storage	Takes clutter off the floor and surfaces	Aurora credenza, Altitude cabinet
4	A rug	Marks the living zone in an open room	Washable rugs
5	An extra seat	Only if the walkway stays clear	Hubbel lounge chair
6	A desk or dining table	Last, because it needs a fixed spot	Themis desk, dining sets

Buying in this order also spreads the spending out. Each piece works on its own, so you can stop after the sofa and add the rest as you learn how you use the room.

Which sofa fits a small apartment?

The sofa should be sized by its footprint, which depends on the seat count, the arms and any chaise or corner. A modular sofa lets you choose each of these, and our sofa size guide and small-apartment sofa guide compare the collections side by side.

Some compact starting points, from our product pages and sizing sheets:

Cassini two-seater with arms: 60.6 inches (154 cm) wide.
Cassini two-seater without arms: approximately 53 inches (135 cm) wide. A compact Cassini L fits within roughly 62.5 inches (159 cm) on each side. The armless seat is 36.0 inches (91.5 cm) deep overall, with a seat depth of 26.4 inches (67 cm).
Gaia armless corner layout (armless seat, corner and seat): 65.4 x 65.4 inches (166 x 166 cm), built from Gaia modules.
Neptune two-seater: 64.6 inches (164 cm) wide as a sofa, with a sleeper option described below.

Leaving the arms off saves width, and a straight run of seats along one wall keeps the middle of a studio open.

Which pieces do two jobs?

In a small apartment each piece should earn its floor space. These are the pieces from our range that do more than one thing.

A sofa that becomes a bed. Our Neptune sofa bed is 64.6 inches (164 cm) wide as a two-seater. It opens into the room: the three-seater reaches about 60 inches (152 cm) from the back of the sofa, and the two-seater with two ottomans reaches 79.9 inches (203 cm), so measure the floor in front of the sofa as well as the wall. Our Neptune guide explains the versions.
A storage ottoman. It is a footrest, an extra seat and hidden storage in one footprint. The Ciello ottoman holds 75 litres, the Neptune ottoman holds 32 litres, and the Atmosphere ottoman module is 29.5 inches (75 cm) wide. Our guide to storage ottomans that double as seating compares them.
A coffee table that changes height. The Stella coffee table has a 23.6 x 23.6 inch (60 x 60 cm) top. It is 18.5 inches (47 cm) high when closed and rises to 26.4 inches (67 cm), which suits a laptop or a meal at the sofa.
Side tables that become a coffee table. Two Arca side tables, each 21.7 x 21.7 inches (55 x 55 cm) and 13.8 inches (35 cm) high, connect with foot connectors to make one coffee table. The curved version has hidden storage and the fluted version has open storage.
An extendable dining table. Our dining sets with a Vela or Ushi table measure 62.0 x 38.6 inches (157.6 x 98 cm) closed and 77.8 inches (197.6 cm) long when extended, so the table stays compact until you host. The leaf is stored inside the table and folds in and out, so there is no loose piece to put away. Our guide to compact dining sets covers the chairs and benches.

How do you add storage without crowding the room?

Closed storage hides small items and makes a room look calmer. Low, shallow pieces keep sight lines open, and wall-mounted pieces keep the floor clear.

Aurora credenza: 32.1 x 15.0 x 18.5 inches (81.5 x 38.2 x 47 cm) per unit, in oak, walnut or Dove, with adjustable shelves, built-in ventilation and four door styles (Solid, Slat, Chevron and Rattan). Two units side by side are 64.2 inches (163 cm) wide and three are 96.3 inches (244.5 cm), so you can start with one and add units later.
Altitude cabinet: a closed cabinet, 32.1 x 9.4 x 9.8 inches (81.5 x 24 x 25 cm), with a magnetic push latch that slides in between Altitude shelves so that some items are hidden and some are displayed. It comes in oak, walnut, black wood and Dove.
Themis shelf and cabinet: each unit is 32.0 inches (81.3 cm) wide and 24.0 inches (61 cm) high, and can be wall-mounted or freestanding. The cabinet has doors, each shelf or cabinet holds 50 lb (23 kg), and both come in oak, walnut or Dove.

Where do a chair, a desk and a dining table fit?

Add these last, and only where the floor allows.

A chair. The Hubbel lounge chair is 27.0 inches (68.5 cm) wide, 32.7 inches (83 cm) deep and 27.8 inches (70.5 cm) high, with a seat 15.7 inches (40 cm) high. It comes with oak or walnut legs. Check the walkway before you place it, since the overall depth includes the backrest and legs.

A desk. The Themis desk is wall-mounted and measures 32.0 x 17.0 x 24.0 inches (81.3 x 43.1 x 61 cm), so it takes almost no floor space, and it holds 50 lb (23 kg). Hang a Themis shelf or cabinet beside it, and close the cabinet doors when the workday ends. Our home office corner guide shows how.

A dining table. If the room has no space for a fixed table, use the extendable table described above, or the Stella coffee table at its raised height for a quick meal.

How do you keep a small apartment stylish?

A small room looks finished when it repeats a few choices. Pick two or three materials and one or two colours, and use them across the sofa, tables and storage.

Repeat one finish. Our Stella table, Aurora credenza and Hubbel chair all come in oak or walnut finishes, so one tone can run through the room.
Choose a calm base colour. Pick a base such as soft white, sand or light grey, so you can add colour later.
Refresh without replacing. Replacement covers are available for our Atmosphere, Cassini, Ciello and Gaia sofas, so you can change the colour of the sofa later without changing the sofa itself.
Define the zone with a rug. A rug marks where the living room starts in an open room. See our washable rugs.
Leave empty floor and wall. A room that has a few clear surfaces looks larger than one with every surface used.

Our recommendation

Choose by the room you have:

Studio: a compact straight sofa or a sleeper such as the Neptune two-seater, one Aurora credenza unit or a Themis wall unit, and the Stella coffee table. Add a rug to mark the living zone.
One-bedroom with a separate living room: a compact L-shaped sofa such as the Cassini, an Arca pair for tables, a closed credenza and a Hubbel chair if the walkway stays at 30 inches (76 cm) or more.
Rental you may leave: modular pieces that you can reconfigure for the next place, such as sofa modules, Aurora units and Themis units.
Not sure where to start: book a free design consultation and we will help you plan the room.

Explore our furniture

Product specifications can change. Check the current dimensions on the product page before ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I furnish a small apartment well?

Start with the route and the room measurements, then buy the sofa first and add the rest in stages, because each piece works on its own and the sofa decides how much floor is left. Choose pieces that do two jobs, such as a storage ottoman, a Stella coffee table that rises to 26.4 inches (67 cm) or two Arca side tables that join into one coffee table. Keep a clear walkway, repeat one or two wood finishes and colours, and wait a few weeks before adding a chair, a desk or a dining table, so you know how you use the room.

Which furniture pieces do double duty in a small space?

Several of our pieces work in two ways. The Neptune sofa bed gives you a sofa by day and a bed for guests, and its two-seater is 64.6 inches (164 cm) wide as a sofa. Storage ottomans, such as the 75-litre Ciello ottoman, hold blankets and serve as a footrest or extra seat. The Stella coffee table rises from 18.5 to 26.4 inches (47 to 67 cm), and an extendable dining table stays at 62.0 x 38.6 inches (157.6 x 98 cm) until you host, with its leaf stored inside.

What order should I buy furniture in?

Start with the route and the room measurements, then buy the sofa, because it sets the footprint of the room. Next add a surface beside it, such as a side table or a small coffee table, then closed storage, then a rug to define the living zone. Add an extra chair, a desk or a dining table last, since each needs its own spot and a clear walkway. This order is general advice, and you can stop at any step when the room feels complete. Our modular pieces let you add to a set later.

How much space should I leave to walk around furniture?

A common minimum walkway is 30 inches (76 cm), with 36 inches (91 cm) more comfortable on a path you use often, and 14 to 18 inches (36 to 46 cm) between the sofa and the coffee table. These figures are general advice rather than a product specification, so measure the route you use most. Tape the outline of each piece on the floor before you order, then walk around it and open any doors that swing into the area. If a path feels tight, choose a shallower piece or remove an arm.

What size sofa suits a small living room?

Choose the sofa by its footprint rather than by its seat count alone. A Cassini two-seater with arms is 60.6 inches (154 cm) wide, an armless one is approximately 53 inches (135 cm) wide, a compact Cassini L fits within roughly 62.5 inches (159 cm) on each side, a Gaia armless corner layout is 65.4 x 65.4 inches (166 x 166 cm) and a Neptune two-seater is 64.6 inches (164 cm) wide. Leaving off the arms saves width, and a straight sofa along one wall uses the least floor. Measure your wall and the depth available before you pick.

Can a small apartment have a guest bed?

Yes, if you choose a sofa that converts. Our Neptune sofa bed is 64.6 inches (164 cm) wide as a two-seater and converts into a bed for guests, so the room needs clear floor in front of the sofa at night. A Neptune three-seater opens to about 60 inches (152 cm) from the back of the sofa, and a two-seater with two ottomans reaches 79.9 inches (203 cm). Our Neptune guide gives the open sizes for each layout, and our comparison of sofa bed mechanisms explains how sleepers differ. Measure both the wall and the floor in front of it.

Will modular furniture fit through narrow stairs and elevators?

A modular sofa arrives as separate modules in separate boxes, so the question becomes whether the largest box fits through your tightest point, rather than whether the finished sofa does. Measure the clear width and height at doors, stairs, landings and elevators, then compare them with the box sizes for the collection you are considering. Our guide to measuring stairs, elevators and doorways lists the boxes. Your building may also set its own rules for deliveries and elevator bookings, so check them before you order.

Can I take my furniture with me when I move?

Our modular sofas, Aurora credenza units, Themis units and Arca side tables are built from separate pieces, so they can be taken apart and set up again in a new place. You can also reconfigure the sofa modules for a different room, for example a straight sofa instead of an L where the layout allows. Layouts vary by collection and some arms are handed, so check the modules you would need. Keep the original boxes if you plan to move soon.

Explore Cozey's Sofas

Shop Sofas Today

On This Page