When we think of a shelf, we think of something to set books on. Most people forget that a shelf can hold things other than inanimate objects.

By installing a thick cherry wood shelf (or another type of sturdy wood shelf) above a closet and mounted to a wall, you add a whole new level to the room. This area can be used as a small bed or study area depending on the width of the surface.

If you have children and live in a small space, try pull-out beds. They can go under anything, including your regular bed. During the day, the beds can be pushed in and out of sight. At night, they can extend and provide a comfortable space for the children to lay their heads.

Do not underestimate the power of drawers and cabinets! Drawers can be put anywhere; they can sit up next to a bed, go under a bed, or even over the bed (just make sure they are high enough so there is no head bumping!). This will allow you to store clothes, art supplies, and more in an organized manner. They can also be decorated and colored to match the room.

If you have a studio apartment or the rights to just one room in a shared house, you do not have to pick between a living room and bedroom. By choosing the right piece of furniture, your bed and couch can be one in the same.Sleeper sofas can be transformed into a sofa during the day and instantly made into a bed at night. Select the right kind of pillows and blankets and save even more space!

Beds don’t have to be on the floor. Open up floor space by sleeping up high. This way the floor can have more room for a desk, dresser or kitchen area.

Simply put a mattress on a sturdy supported shelf and you have a cozy place to sleep. Use the wall space leftover to put a TV to achieve ultimate relaxation.

Attic rooms are sometimes so small you wonder how a bed will fit, let alone additional furniture. Here again, use shelves and drawers. A shelve can be installed low enough on the wall to use as a desk. A set of small drawers to hold writing utensils and paper can be put in just below that.

If you need space enough for just one person, consider getting smaller furniture for the room. For example, a two-person couch and one-person bed are less expensive and take up a lot less space.

Upholstered wall panels add instant comfort. If the room is just big enough for a small bed right against the wall, adding upholstered panels to the walls and plenty of pillows to the bed can make it very homey. Add a small bookshelf, and TV mounted on the wall, and you may never want to leave.

This is great for a child who moves around in their sleep. The wall panels can act as bumpers and parents won’t have to worry about the child rolling out of bed.

If you are a minimalist, you will love this idea. A bed with a shelf and mini pull out desk to set a computer on can fit in any space. By having a light right above the bed, you won’t even have to get out of bed when you finish working!

Curtains can be used as doors. They can be hung from the ceiling and wrap all the way around a bed or bunk beds for added privacy. This is a very cost-effective and easy way to get some privacy without having to hire a construction crew.

Not only are there pull-out beds, but there are also old-fashion fold-up beds. When not in use, they can be pushed up against the wall, and this makes the room feel and appear bigger.

If the room is narrow, think up rather than across. Typically, in rooms, we have things set up across the floor. In narrow rooms, floating shelves and utilizing wall space is the way to go. If there is no space on the floor, just look up!

Large cupboards have doors and shelves already; you just have to add the bed! If the shelves are up high, a one-person bed can be stowed away down low. If you close the doors, no one will ever suspect there is a place to sleep in the cupboard.

Fit a bed and desk into a room. Use a bookshelf bunk bed to get both. With the bed up top, the floor underneath can have the desk. The shelf space can contain baskets and decorative boxes for whatever else is needed.

By adding wall mounted curtains that work similar to shower curtains, you can add a bit of mystery and class to a small room. Leave them slightly open to reveal a comfortable place to sleep or read.

No room for a headboard? Add wallpaper or wall art to the wall directly behind the head of your bed for a creative alternative. It can liven up the space without taking up any additional room.

A white room will give the illusion of more space. Painting the walls as well as any furniture white will do the trick. Sometimes, it’s all about illusion.

If you have more room vertically than horizontally, use it to your advantage! Curtains, the right sized furniture, and bookshelves will make all the difference in the world. Just make sure to pick curtains that you like!

If a room has bunk beds and that is all, invest in good quality beautiful bunk beds. Some have staircases that double as drawers and shelves specific for each bed. Consider your options and skip on the basic bed.

Loft beds are affordable and space saving. The options for what you put underneath are endless. A nice loveseat or small couch are always great choices. A bedroom can double as a living room, and each space will still be on its own level.

Shelves and space underneath a raised bed are perfect for putting clothes, shoes, and handbags. These things take up more space than we realize and we don’t typically want them out in the open for guests to see. Extra storage space helps everything to stay tidy.

This multi-functional bed is customizable and so much more than just a place to rest. The parts of a modular bed are removable and can be stored discreetly depending on the owner’s needs. You’ll never want another bed again!

Need a place to eat or study, but have no floor space for a table? Get a wall mounted fold-up desk table! These tables are inconspicuous when not in use and appear to be a cabinet on the wall. If you have wall space, you have table space. They come in various sizes depending on your needs.

Perhaps you need to hide your food from greedy roommates. Or maybe you find a full-size refrigerator is unnecessary. A mini fridge/microwave cabinet is the perfect solution. Some even have extra space to store canned good or dishware. By adding decoration on top, this piece of furniture can go anywhere in the room.

A common problem we face is figuring out what to do with all our stuff! And it only seems to multiply! This ottoman is classy and surprisingly spacious. It appears to be a place to put your feet up, but when you remove the lid, there is a place for storage.

This word often brings up thoughts of a hard mattress and wiry frame. In their early days, futons were not very comfortable. They have come a long way since then. Now the good ones have modern appearances and comfortable cushy beds. What could be better for a small living area?

An easy DIY way to make the room more spacious is to lift the floor in parts. This gives the room the feeling there are two individual areas. On the raised level can be the “bedroom” and the regular level can be a place for a kitchen or living room. For extra storage, leave areas under the floor to store seasonal clothes or shoes!

Putting a bookshelf on one side of the bed is another way to give places in the room some individuality. The bed can be a hidden private area, while the rest of the room can be welcoming to guests.

No, not window screens, but floor screens! Turn a room or studio apartment into a sectioned off kitchen, bedroom and living room by setting up floor screens. Get a screen with a beautiful design for some added pizzaz.

Dressers take up a lot of room. Here is a better way to keep your clothes organized and out of the way. It’s a bed with sections underneath the mattress so you know where everything is, even though no one else will!

Get more space in your kitchen by building a shelf in a space that is rarely used – directly over the sink. Nail together pallet wood and shelf legs to create a simple and rustic looking addition to your kitchen. Not only is it an attractive addition to the kitchen, but it provides extra space for cups, soap, plants, or anything else you can imagine.

Have you run out of space on the walls? Look up! Chances are there is still room directly over the door. This convenient yet out of the way spot is a great place for towels, sheets, knickknacks, or any other items you have that are looking for a shelf to call home.

Are you out of space on your shelves? What about under them? Screw mason jar lids to the bottom of your shelves and you will have instant storage taking up a very non-traditional space. If you use clear jars, it’s also a chance to easily find small beads, coins, pens, or other items that might otherwise be hard to locate around the house.

Are your surfaces too cluttered? Clear up the mess and get it out of the way with useful wall-mounted cups. Securely attach your cups to the wall or a board and you are ready for a clearer and more organized space.

Are you lacking a space to put your laundry? Get it out of the way with a hoop hanger. It can hang from a doorknob, bed post, a hook on the wall, or any other available space. Best of all, it’s easy to make one with just a needle, thread, a pillowcase, and an embroidery hoop.

Are you wasting space behind the sofa? No more! Now you can get use out of those extra few inches that were just collecting dust and preventing the wall from getting damaged by the sofa. With a little bit of carpentry (or shopping) expertise, you can get a table that is a perfect fit.

Have you run out of space on the floor? No worries! There’s still the ceiling. Suspend a table (or tables) from the ceiling to create a stellar look while taking advantage of an underutilized space. Add some hanging plants as well for the perfect effect.

Use glass walls to divide a space while keeping the feeling of a larger area. It can help to bring in light and alleviate any feelings of claustrophobia that small rooms could create.

Get creative with your mirrors to create the illusion of space. The perfectly placed mirror can make a room feel twice as big.

The microwave and other appliances can end up taking up a lot of counter space. Declutter by giving them their own space in the pantry instead. Retractable drawers will keep your appliances out of the way except when you need them.

Use shelving to make a place in the sun to enjoy breakfast without using a lot of space. Combined with the perfect benches that slide underneath, it can make your kitchen a more friendly place to start the day.