Glazed cabinets will help your small space to feel larger. Find out why
Large Norway Cabinet, Cox & Cox
Contemporary glazed cabinets
Open shelving makes a wonderful display area for crockery, glasses and vases that are just too pretty to be hidden away behind closed doors when not in use. The problem is, open shelves are also a dust trap. Glass-fronted furniture, such as this contemporary Large Norway Cabinet from Cox & Cox, is a much more functional option. And, because you can see inside the cabinet, it makes your space feel subtly larger and more spacious too.
Industrial Fluted Glass Display Cabinet, £545, Vincent and Barn
Opt for semi-translucent glass if you only want to provide a teasing glimpse of what colourful items you have stored within. This industrial-style metal and glass cabinet from Vincent and Barn is fitted with linear fluted glass; as it is running vertically, it will help to make your room feel taller too.
Charcoal Iron and Glass Display Cabinet, Rose & Grey
Glazed cabinets don't only come in tall and thin shapes either, as this contemporary glass display cabinet from Rose & Grey demonstrates. Being raised up on elegant slim legs so that you can see the floor beneath, enhances the spacious feel in the room as well.
Disset Solid Acacia Wood Display Cabinet, £1,295, Cuckooland
If you don't want everything your unit contains to be out on display, opt for a glazed cabinet that also comes with some hidden storage. This mid-century modern style unit from Cuckooland has two deep handless drawers beneath the main glazed area. Remember, glazed units take the eye further inside and help to add depth to even the smallest rooms.
Halifax white storage cabinet with glass doors, White Tree Furniture
Traditional glazed cabinets
For a more homely, period feel, look for a traditional glazed cabinet. The Halifax white storage cabinet, shown above, has a dresser-like look and works equally well in a dining room for books and chinaware, as it does in a bedroom, where colourful neatly stacked sweaters can be piled up behind its glass doors.
  Corner glazed cabinets
Make a feature of a corner and increase your storage and display space with a triangular cabinet designed to fit snugly in to the corner of a room. The Florence Corner cabinet, shown above from Amazon, is available in four Farrow & Ballesque colourways: navy, grey, truffle and white, and it comes with a mix of hidden and glazed storage.
  Glazed wall cabinets
Glazed cabinets can look great fixed to the wall too. This Homecharm International wooden glazed wall cabinet, shown above from Amazon, has panelled window-style cabinet doors on top and open shelving beneath and is particularly suited to a dining or kitchen area. Just check that your wall can take the weight of the unit and whatever you plan to store within it before purchasing.
Read on for 25 ways to make the most out of your small home
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Regular readers of this blog will know that when TVs are not in use, I think they should not be seen or heard. So, I am always interested to hear about stylish new ways to hide a TV screen. Check this out Underneath this piece of artwork is a TV screen! Regular readers will also know that when I am not writing the Don't Cramp Our Style blog, I am working as a journalist and interior stylist. And, last week I was on a magazine shoot at a fantastic, but tiny cottage on England's south coast, and I came across this super hidden TV idea. One of the homeowners of this property is an artist, and he dreamt up this idea to hide a TV with art. He creates a canvas that fits snugly over a TV, paints it with a wonderful image – seascapes are one of his signatures – and then uses it to hide the TV. When that TV is required, the lightweight canvas is simply lifted off the screen, the popcorn comes out and the film title rolls.  Hide a TV behind a piece of wall art Why hide a TV with art?There are other ways to hide a TV. I have a TV that can be made to look like a painting, but the Samsung Frame is pricey and, unless you are willing to subscribe to its premium artwork offering, the choice of artwork is limited. Plus, having the art on display on the Samsung Frame means keeping the screen always on, not the most environmentally friendly way to hide a TV. Maybe I should have just invested my money more wisely in a cheaper TV and a not-too-pricey, bespoke, made-to-measure piece of artwork instead, a much more original hidden TV idea. If you want to hide a TV with art, use my contact page to get in contact with me and I can put you in touch with the artist. Just be sure to always turn off your TV at the wall when it's hidden behind a piece of wall art. Shoe storage solutions With more of us working from our little homes, a desk that we can hide away at the end of each working day is hugely beneficial when it comes to creating a work-life balance. The Arnie. M. hidden desk shelving system enables this and it looks great too
Workspace Arnie. M. desk, photo copyright Paul Moffat Photography
Designed in Manchester, England, the Workspace Arnie. M. desk is part of a frame-based wall storage system. The frame fixes to the wall and various inserts, such as the Arnie. M. desk, can then be slotted on to it and arranged to your own requirements.
The desk is particularly well suited to working from home, because when your working day is done, you can pack all your work equipment in to the main body of the desk, flip up the hinged table top and hide it all away. There is no constant reminder on display of all the work that you've still got to plough through. With this modular hidden desk shelving system you can forget about work as soon as you sign off for the night. 
Workspace Arnie. M. desk, photo copyright Paul Moffat Photography
A modular flexible storage system
With this modular hidden desk shelving system, crafted from sturdy 18mm birch plywood, you can add additional hidden and display storage options underneath, on top and to the sides of the desk. Each unit is ordered bespoke, select the configuration that works best for your space: – the number of frames, door units, inserts and desk spaces – and that's what will be delivered to you.
Workspace Arnie. M. desk and flexible modular storage system, photo copyright Paul Moffat Photography
This frame-based wall-storage system is smart enough to take up a living room or bedroom wall, and, in its most compact form, the hidden desk could be squeezed into a hallway or landing. It's a good option for a child or teen's bedroom too.
And, if your space is a little too small for the standard configurations you can talk to the designers about creating a smaller bespoke hidden desk shelving system. Plus, you can ask for it to be crafted in a specific colour. A fantastic and stylish extending table is hard to find, but I've done the searching for you. Here is my top ten of the best extendable dining tables
It's lovely to be able to entertain occasionally, even if you don't have much space. You might have to push some furniture around and ask your guests to bring their own chairs, but, even if it's just for a few hours, you should always be able to get several people around a table for a meal. The best way to achieve this is with a dining table that can grow.
  1. The Lucia extending console table
Extending console tables that morph into dining tables are becoming popular at the top end of the market. I don't think it will be long until they start turning up in stores such as Ikea and Habitat. Laura Ashley already does one that extends to seat six.
This Lucia Multi-Function extending console table, shown above from Amazon, can sit neatly against a wall for use as a desk or console table, measuring 90cm wide by 50cm deep. When needed, its legs can then be telescoped out so that several more leaves can be added growing to 237cm deep, comfortably seating ten or more. There are three sizes in between too, for more intimate gatherings. 2. The Double Cross extending dining table
The Steuart Padwick Double Cross extendable dining table can also be pushed against the wall to be used as a wide console table or desk or perhaps a breakfast bar; but by folding out the double legs and flipping over the table top you have a dining table ready to feed a crowd. It's available with matching benches too and the legs can be painted in any colour of your choosing.
Como Black extendable dining table, My Furniture
3. Como Black extending dining table
This slim-legged, fifties-style glam Como dining table extends from 130cm to 260cm. Although super comfy and sophisticated looking, the chairs displayed with it here are quite bulky. You could squeeze a few more bums around it if you opted for bench seating along each width.
More on space-saving benches 4. Skovby circular extending dining table
Round tables can grow too. The three leaves in the Skovby SM32 extending circular dining table are stored in its central column and there are no legs to get in the way of guests. In its compact form it seats six and grows to seat eight. It's available in several wood finishes.
More on the benefits of pedestal tables 
Tavistock Industrial extending dining table, Modish Living
5. Tavistock Industrial extending dining table
If you're looking to add an urban edge to your room, with its bronze-gold effect steel frame and rustic rough sawn table top, the Tavistock Industrial extending dining table will do just that. The extension leaves need to be stored separately when not in use, however, so think about where you will keep these before you buy.
6. Vox Spot extending dining table
Not only can this table grow to three different sizes, up to 198cm, it also has a clever storage cubby hole, sold separately, which is ideal for storing condiments and cutlery or even a vase of flowers. The matching stools and bench come with integral drawers too.
Bonaldo Prora extending dining table, Go Modern
7. Bonaldo Prora extending dining table
This smart glass-topped acid-treated dining table will never date and it comes in a variety of finishes and in two sizes: the largest of which will extend to 330cm. As it's supported from the centre, no diners will have to arrange their legs around this table's legs either, allowing you to squeeze a few more people around it.
Annecy Extending Dining Table and Upholstered Fabric Roll Back Chair set, Furniture Village
8. Annecy extending dining table and chair set
This classic French farmhouse-style extending table is timeless. It grows from 140cm to 180cm and it comes with a set of chairs included. It's reasonably priced too.
Parquet pie round extending dining table, Loaf
9. Parquet Pie round extending dining table
This Parquet Pie round extending dining table from Loaf is our favourite small extendable dining table. It has a classic homely feel and converts from an intimate circular table to a cosy oval. It extends from 120cm to 165cm; officially growing from a four-seater to a six seater, but we reckon that you could get eight around it with a push and a shove. The leaf has to be stored separately, but you can stow it under a bed or sofa when not in use.
ercol for John Lewis Shalstone rectangular extending dining table, £899
10. ercol for John Lewis Shalstone table
This sleek mid-century-modern-style table has rounded corners, which softens the design and helps to protect the head's of small children should they bump into them. Its description says it seats up to eight when fully extended from 170cm to 215cm, but we think you could squeeze two at the head and foot sides of this table too.
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25 ways to make your tiny home feel bigger Don't Cramp Our Style is always on the look out for brilliant designs ideas for small spaces. This folding, space-saving desk is exactly that WFH Desk, Deskmate When in use, this folding desk, designed and made by Deskmate, is just one metre wide, 55cm deep and 74cm high; just large enough to fit your PC, notebook and cup of coffee on. Fit this small desk into spaces most desks can't work with, in an entrance hallway, on the landing or an alcove in your living room. At just over £150, it's excellent value for a WFH desk too.  A desk that folds down to 23cmWhen all your work is done, the top of this space-saving desk folds down to just 23cm. You can leave it where it is, tucked against the wall or if you want it completely out of sight, it can probably be stowed under a bed or sofa or concealed away behind a door. When you're working from home it can be hard to switch off, but when your desk is out of sight, it's much easier for your work to be out of mind. When you're ready to use it again, you just need to put it in position and fold out the legs under the table top. This folding, space-saving desk is designed and built in the UK from recycled plywood. It's lovely as is, but I'd be tempted to give it a coat of Frenchic Paint so that it fades into its background. Or, if you want to show it off this space-saving desk, go for a contrasting colour or colours for a really individual look and feel. It could work well as a compact kitchen table too. Working from your tiny home and desperate for a smallish or even secret workstation that is hardly noticeable when not in use? This guide to secret desks is just what you need  Wall-hung secret desks
It looks like a chalk board and in this mode it is a chalk board and can be used as one. But the front of this wall-hung Phoenix Desk unit from Amazon folds down and folds out to rest on the floor to become a fantastic WFM secret desk.
It even conceals a storage area that will hold a small laptop, booksand stationary, so all trace of your work can be hidden away at the end of the day. It's reasonably priced and can double up as a kitchen table too. Click on the image above to see the transformation. 
Nubo wall desk, Ligne Roset
Designed to look like a suitcase with a soft upholstered front, this wall-hung hidden desk drops down to reveal a roomy desk area and a storage support for a laptop and books, plus there is a slit for cables to be fed through. Designed by Gam Fratesi for Ligne Roset, you can find much cheaper hidden desks than this one, but here you will be buying a design classic that could well become a collectible in the future.
 
This SoBuy wall-mounted desk from Amazon doesn't quite fit within the hidden desks category, but with the laptop removed it appears to be a regular bookshelf, so it's one of those secret desks in plain sight.
As wall-mounted desks can be positioned at any height, they make great standing desks too. Just position them at the height you need to stand rather than sit. Bespoke hidden desk ideas
A bespoke hidden desk in a Brayer Design kitchen
It may cost more, but when you really want to maximise the space you have the best option is often to go bespoke. This secret desk and home office is cleverly concealed within a bank of kitchen units.
Similar bespoke hidden desk ideas could work equally well in a bedroom, hallway or living space too. Plus, when you go bespoke you can have the desk built to your exact height requirements and choose the mix of shelving and drawers to fit your particular storage needs. Hidden home office armoire
Bruton Home Office, The Dormy House
You can also find a range of traditional and contemporary hidden home office stand-alone units. You can choose the paint colour, notice board fabric and handles for the armoire shown above from Dormy House, which also comes with cut outs to thread cables through.
Hidden sideboard desk
Yukon 2 in 1 Sideboard Desk with Extendable Top, DaAl's
When the top is pushed in on this sideboard desk, it looks like a standard sideboard. When it's pulled out it turns into a desk top with a hidden office storage organiser beneath. While two drawers and two cupboards flank the central display shelf beneath. At less than £200, this modern sideboard desk is good value too.
You probably won't find all of these super space-saving features in one dining table, but if you can find a space-saving dining table with one or more of these features, you will free up valuable space in your small home
Vinicius dining table, Essential Home
Pedestal dining tables
Pedestal dining tables that balance on a single central column are not only space-saving dining tables they are space enhancing too, meaning that they will make your eating area appear a little larger than it is.
As there are no legs around the outside of a pedestal dining table, you can sit more people and fit more chairs comfortably around it. The lack of legs also means that you can see more of the room behind a pedestal dining table too and the more you can see of a room the larger it feels. Although most often matched with round or oval table tops, you can find more contemporary square and rectangular table tops being supported by a single pedestal as well. And you can find them in a host of different materials. 
Tortona extending dining table, Cuckooland
Extending dining tables
Extending dining tables are perfect for small homes that can't accommodate a largish table for the bulk of the time, but can on occasion for entertaining a crowd.
Look for extending dining tables that can store the extra leaves required for extending within the body of the table when they're not in use. You don't want to have to find a place to conceal them elsewhere in your home.   Extending console tables
Extending console tables are the latest take on the extending dining table design. These tiny tables, best placed against a wall, extend from a slim console table that would seat one at the most, to a long dining table that can be pulled out from the wall to seat twelve or more.
The extending console table shown above is a Comfort Home Innovation extendable console table, available from Amazon, it grows up to 237cm. Click on the image to see how small it can go. Perfect if you live in a very small home and don't want to have to find room for a long dining table permanently. And, it can also double up as a desk. It's a win win. 
Vox Nature Oak dining table with drawers and built in trivet, Cuckooland
Dining tables with drawers
Dining tables with drawers are invaluable where space and storage is tight. Drawers can be used to store cutlery, table mats, napkins or even a laptop, if your table doubles up as desk. More traditional dining tables with drawers styles tend to feature a drawer at each narrow end of a rectangular table. In more contemporary styles, like the one above, you'll often find drawers on the longer sides.
Drop-leaf dining tables
With drop-leaf dining tables, often also called gate-leg dining tables, the sides of the tables can be dropped down when not in use. You can then drop one or both of the leaves down when the table is not required fully extended and push the table against a wall to save space.
Drop-leaf dining tables date back to the sixteenth century and were particularly popular up until the 1950s, so if you're an antique or vintage furniture fan scour antique markets and car-boot sales for them.  Isla sofa from £625, Sofa.com .The new season's sofas have landed. We've trawled the world to find the very latest best sofas for compact living spaces. Sofa.com's Isla has a timeless classic beauty and could you get any plumper upholstery? We love the natural linen colour too, but if you fear it being too difficult to keep clean, don't worry it comes in a host of other hues. Plus, the covers are removable for washing too. The raised legs will make your room feel larger, but don't overdo the cushions, it will make your space feel more crowded.  Mabel velvet sofa, from £1,650, Rose & Grey Another super snugly sofa in on-trend mustard, Rose & Grey's Mabel sofa also comes in a rainbow of colours. Plus, it's stylishly raised off the floor and it has neat little low arms so that the eye can easily see under and and around it, helping to enhance the illusion of space.  Layabout Sofa Squidger, from £1,195, Loaf Did you ever see a more aptly named sofa? Loaf's Layabout Sofa Squidger. It's a hug in a seat and with no hard edges, it's a winner for anyone that is easily bruised. It's bulky, but at just 167cm wide, it's quite weeny. Nevertheless, with people perched on those squidgy arms it should still seat four, more or less comfortably. When it's just being hogged by you, it will be difficult to drag yourself out of this one to bed at the end of an evening!  Luna Azure blue velvet sofa, £895, Oliver Bonas Raised elegantly off the floor with mid-century modern style slim legs, this curvy number from Oliver Bonas manages to look sophisticated and cosy simultaneously. What's not to love? Coming in at just under £900, it's pretty affordable too.  Peacock Art Deco sofa from £1,745, Sweatpea & Willow If you're going for that crowded but intimate maximalist look, then this candy floss-coloured Peacock Art Deco sofa from Sweatpea & Willow is the one to go for. Although you can't see under this, the brass trim running around the base will reflect light into the room making it feel more spacious during the day and it glams things up at night. Discover how to choose a sofa for a small room Samsung Frame TV There is now a TV that looks like a painting. It means that your living space no longer has to be dominated by a big dark screen when the TV is not in use. The Samsung Frame TV attaches to a bracket that fits it snugly to the wall and a single wire that attaches it to its 'set top' box. This wire can be chased into the wall, as has been done here. When the TV is in art mode, it displays art picked from the Samsung library, or photos or images from your own uploaded library.  Switch it to TV mode and you're ready to watch whatever you want. Up until now we've made do with a mini TV that sat on top of a sideboard, because I didn't want our compact living space taken over by a giant screen. I've gone for the Samsung Frame TV in the 43 inch size. Any larger and, even in art mode, it would overpower the relatively small wall. It is available starting at 32 inches. The TV that looks like a painting is a winner for those who want to create a stylish compact living space that isn't dominated by a TV. Prices for the Samsung Frame TV start at around £500.. 
Libby Stool in Vintage Pink, £107, Woods Furniture
Now, it's unlikely that you can squeeze an extra sofa into your lounge, but you might just have the space for a comfy stool. This Libby stool is perfect to pull out as an extra seat when entertaining; and when you're not, it becomes a cosy foot rest or additional perch for books or nibbles.
Harris Tweed Stool with Punch Needle Design, £175, Perch Upholstery
As you can see through the legs of this Perch Upholstery stool into the room beyond, it helps to create that illusion of space that you're forever chasing. Although, if you wanted to make it more stylised and a useful storage area too, you could pop a few small books in a pile under the legs or a neat stack of magazines.
Asare Round Storage Stool, £119, Made
This stool with on-trend copper legs also contains a useful storage space beneath its seat. Useful for toys, chargers or arts and crafts materials.
Leather Sling stool, £135, Cox & Cox
It seems a shame to hide this striking leather stool away, but if space is really tight it folds up, so you can hide it behind the door or under the sofa when not in use.
Go for on trend brass with the Nova set of three nesting side tables, £229. Made.com
When you're entertaining, it's always useful to have a few extra areas for perching a glass of this or that and a bowl of nibbles. This is when a nest of tables comes into its own. These are the best nesting tables to home in on now.
Go all Bauhaus with the Bauhaus Satztisch (1926) nesting tables E1,795, Heimat Werk
Look for nesting tables that tuck neatly inside each other and are easy to pull out when needed.
Two Hairpin side tables, £175, Cox & Cox
For a more casual feel opt for a curved triangular table top. These two Hairpin tables come with handles for easy lifting too.
Umbra shift hanger chair in marine E250, Einrichten Design
Where to store additional seating is always a problem, and even more so if you live in a small house or apartment. This chair is one solution. It folds up and then can be hung up next to your clothes in your wardrobe.
Umbra shift hanger chair in grey E250, Einrichten Design
Available in five pastel colours, when not in use as a chair it might even be helpful in keeping the clothes hanging alongside it in the wardrobe in ironed shape too. The store which sells this is based in Germany, but they ship worldwide.
Antiqued brass and iron shelf, £65, Cox & Cox
Art works come pretty low down on the fitting-in priority list when it comes to furnishing a small space. With the little wall space that you have, when it comes to choosing between a painting, a shelf, a cabinet or coat hooks, the painting is going to lose out every time. So, these shelving frames are cool, they can be made to look like 3D works of art and they can hold stuff on top of the shelf and suspended from the hooks below.
Rotin Marius shelf, €99, tikamoon
This shelf from the French website tikamoon, is really cute, but you will need to take time arranging your bits and pieces on it so that it all looks as pretty as a picture.
I love the look and feel of a real book. I hate the idea that one day the written word will only be found on an electronic device. And, whilst Ereaders are great for little homes, it's still lovely to be able to have some 'proper' books on display. If shelving space is scare, thinking about where to display them can be tricky, however. We hope that these alternatives to traditional bookcases will inspire you:  4You four poster king bed with storage and shelves, £955, Cuckooland This funky four-poster bed includes a nifty series of bookcases beneath and at the rear.  And, I found space for a neat little stack of books under this pedestal bedside table.  Look up as well, when thinking about where to put books. Here a ceiling beam makes a perfect spot for our little library.  And, the collection carries on here in our bedroom. I love the way this mini skyline of books brightens up the top of our wardrobes.  Traditional shelving also has its place if you've the room. This one from Ella's Kitchen Company found its way into our kitchen. Whilst here we uncover some more clever little shelves that we hope you'll love...
A piece of furniture that allows the eye to see through it further into the room will help that room to appear larger than it is. So, if you want your room to feel more spacious, a glass dining table makes the most sense. Here are some of our favourites:
Porada Infinity round glass dining table, £3,209, Chaplins
Glass tables come in small packages. Starting at 130cm in diameter, this Porado Infinity round table should comfortably seat six and will look lovely tucked away in a corner dressed with a vase of flowers when it's not in use.
Bonaldo Greeny Oval dining table, £3,480, Go Modern
Glass tables are often associated with modern design, and generally the look is contemporary, but this oval piece with its elegant American Walnut legs will fit beautifully into a period setting. The fact that you can see through its base too, means it will really enhance the feeling of space in a room.
Profile four to six seater glass dining table, £149, Danetti
Square and rectangular glass table tops are doable too; and at 140cm long, you should easily squeeze six around this and possibly more, with elbows knocking.
Why it helps to put tables on a pedestal
Have you found any lovely glass tables? Share your discoveries in the comments below  Tallulah two seater small sofa in blue velvet and linen, £599, Atkin and Thyme Finding the perfect small sofa for a small room is a challenge. It doesn't help that retailers often put the larger sofas on display, making it hard for you to visualise what they would look like in a smaller size. Many stores make sofas to order, however, and many ranges will offer sizes that start from one and a half seaters.  Jonah two seater small sofa, £549, Made.com Oh and remember that their bum measurements tend to be extra generous too. Most 'three seaters' could easily fit four bottoms comfortably and most two-seaters can squeeze in at least three.  Whitney velvet two-seater small sofa, £329.99, Argos Home When you are buying a smaller sofa, however, it's best to avoid cramming it full of extra cushions and throws. Never go for more than two cushions per sofa, or one cushion and a throw. Keeping it simple ensures that the seating area doesn't feel overcrowded and that the sofa doesn't look overdressed.  The Hunstrete chaise longue, from £897, Willow & Hall Keep in mind too that a lower back and sides to the sofa will also let your eye see further into the room, making the space feel much larger.  59th Street two seater sofa, £1,915, Content by Terence Conran Raised legs that allow you to see under the sofa too, is another optical illusion space enhancing technique.
So to buying and styling a small sofa for a small room:
Read on here to find out how to maximise your dining seating too  Ipanema Keramik dining table, £2,045, Chaplins Furniture A pedestal dining table that is supported by one central column frees up valuable space in a small home. It allows you to squeeze more chairs around it and ensures that no one has to wrestle with a table leg for floor space.  Kelly Hoppen by Resource Decor Band dining table, £2,999, Houseology A pedestal dining table will also help your room feel larger too, as it allows the eye to see further into the room.  Top Down Bottom Up Duoshade Zinc pleated blind, Blinds 2go Looking for a stylish alternative for net curtains? If you live in a ground floor flat or a house that looks out on to the street, you will want to keep away prying eyes, but at the same time maximise the light coming into your property. Blinds have always been a reasonably cheap and practical way of screening your windows, and the latest bottom up and top down blinds offer a much more flexible way to create privacy.  Bottom up/Top down Duoshade Maize, Blinds2go You can raise or lower these blinds from the bottom or the top. Blinds2Go's Top Down/Bottom Up blinds also come with aluminium lined honeycomb pockets to trap heat, increasing your thermal protection and cutting your energy bills.  Mia Blanche Ceramics, Sweden Sales' season is upon us, follow these three simple rules to ensure that you don't come away with a bargain that you don't really like or need:
1. If you shop regularly at a store where everything is affordable for you out of sale period don't shop there during their sale period. If you liked it enough you would have bought it before it was discounted. The only thing that is attracting you to the product this time is its bargain basement sale tag. 2. Don't shop anywhere where you couldn't afford even 20% of the price of the goods on offer outside of sale time. Rarely is anything discounted more than 70%. You won't be able to afford to shop there during sale time either, you don't want to buy something that puts you into debt. 3. Haggle. The reason the stuff is on sale is because the store wants rid of it. If it's a large piece of furniture with a still fairly largish figure attached, there may be some further leeway to go on the price. Nothing to lose in asking, especially if it's a little substandard and has a scratch somewhere or a stain. You can do this virtually too, send them a cheeky email, you never know... Have you spotted any great sales? 
Cupertino wall office from £589, BoConcept
How clever is this? It's a little office that hangs on the wall. The Cupertino wall office comes in matt white or lacquered Oak or Walnut veneer and it can be folded away when not in use. Plus, it doubles up as a speaker - told you it was sound!
Integrated within are Bluetooth enabled speakers. The desk, designed for BoConcept by René Hougaard, also has storage space and a cable management system.
 How clever is this? The As if From Nowhere range from Orla Reynolds Studio features a book case that conceals a table and four chairs. It's perfect for a home where you have no room for a permanent dining table or where you occasionally need additional table and seating space when entertaining.  The units arrived ready assembled and when you need table space, you simply slide the chairs and tables out of their slots. There is no construction required.  If you fancy something a little less boxy, it can be arranged in different configurations too. The units are sold in modular sections. If you need extra chairs and not a table, you could buy just the chair units and let them double up as bedside tables or side tables in the living room.  Prices start from £500 for a single chair and unit and rise to £3,180 for four chairs, two tables and six white bookcase compartments. Visit Orla Reynolds Studio for more information. We are always on the hunt for big ideas for small spaces like this one, if you have seen something along these lines do share in the Comments below
You may also like Folding chair art  House Doctors ' 7 Squares Mirror in copper and black metal, price on application, Reforma Sthlm A strategically placed wall mirror can appear to almost double the size of a room. Hang a mirror opposite a window or doorway for maximum effect, as it will reflect the entrance or window back and make a solid wall appear to lead somewhere else. Grouping multiple mirrors makes the reflections go even further.  Woodcraft door mirror, £437.50, One World Trading Company If you can find a mirror that matches the shape of your home's windows or doors, such as the one above, even better.  Glassworks Mirror Bevel brick tiles, price on application, Original Style You could even cover a whole wall with a mirror. This is particularly effective in a small bathroom. You can find companies all over the web who cut mirrors to fit any space. Or opt for mirrored tiles, as shown above.  Hula Mirror, £165, Loaf Make your mirrors work too. This one doubles up as a shelf, perfect for small ornaments, invitations and little items that you always like to keep to hand by the front door, such as sunglasses and keys.  Tong Tong Cat's mirror, E49.95 DaWanda Every little room can benefit form a mirror, just makes sure it's fitting. This cat-shaped mirror is perfect for a children's room, for example. Now find out how you can use mirrors to grow your garden here
Radiators can now be more than a heat source. Here are some of our favourite multi-purpose designs:  The Spekio mirror radiator, £1683.75, The Radiator Centre, 01727 840344 Something to reflect, on this radiator doubles up as a mirror, ideal for a bedroom or lounge. The Spekkio is available in a painted or a coloured anodized finished.  Rebel Steel single horizontal towel rail by Francesco Lucchese, £1,302, Iconic Radiators, 01342 302250 This radiator is also a roomy shelf unit and although designed with bathrooms in mind, it could work equally well in a contemporary style bedroom and put to good use keeping perfectly stacked jumpers and T-shirts toasty.  Multisec Bench price on application, MHS Radiators, 01268 546700 Whilst this little number from MHS doubles up as a bench, and would particularly suit a hallway or landing. Now learn more about fires that don't require chimneys here
Perhaps you live in a modern home with no chimney or the original fireplace in your home has been bricked up. Just because you have no flue and no inclination to install one, it doesn't mean you can not bring the warmth of a real flame into your home.  The Decoflame Chicago burns for up to eight hours, from £4,890, Go Modern The latest bio-ethanol fireplaces are smoke free and don't require a flue or chimney. Although they don't give out quite as much heat as a standard wood-burning stove, it's enough to make a smallish room feel very cosy.  The suspended Cocoon Aeris fireplace delivers about the same amount of heat as a medium gas or electric fire,£3,000, Wharfside Whilst the most sophisticated designs with price tags to match are to be found at the top end of the market, there are a growing number of very stylish looking products to be got for less than £500 too.  Imagin White Marlow bio-ethanol fireplace, £489, Homebase These fireplaces run on a type of ethanol derived from plants such as corn, wheat, barley and sugarcane. You pour the required amount of this bio fuel into the intended vessel on the fire and light. It produces a clean, smoke-free flame instantly. Discover how to make a tiny rental home feel cosy here
It looks like a funky mid-century modern apartment block, but you can't live in it. It can, however, live with you. This is the Penthouse Cabinet.  It's beautifully, uniquely stylish. It's crafted from a mix of Walnut, Maple, steel and glass and each 'apartment' features programmable remote-controlled lighting that can emit a soft, dim white glow or a bright rainbow of vibrant colour. It's also the perfect artistic focal point of a small room. Raised up on legs so that you can see the floor beneath - a space enhancing feature, it conceals plenty of hidden storage and those balconies are just made for perching cocktails on. Not cheap though, but only one hundred are being produced. From £4,800, Piece-UK.  Like this? The dolls house come coffee table might be right up your street too. See it here |
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