Shea McGee is used to designing extra-large ranch homes and spacious mountainside retreats. So when her husband and Studio McGee cofounder, Syd, surprised her with a run-down vintage Airstream, she felt a little out of her element. “All of my normal dimensions went out the window,” says Shea. Syd had sought the help of a local Utah Airstream renovation company to track down a van that was big enough for the couple and their three daughters—they happened across the perfect one in Idaho. The camper had been abandoned in someone’s yard, and its mere 180-square-foot interior was in a dire state. 

While the design obstacles piled up, Shea was unwilling to compromise on certain elements of comfort, like central AC, a functional kitchen (boat-grade fridge-freezer included), a walk-in shower, and a queen-size bed. Ahead, the designer shares how she packed plenty of style into her smallest reno yet. 

Be Light on Your Feet

Shea is used to shopping for sturdy, durable, heavy natural stones and woods for her residential projects, but an Airstream requires the exact opposite. “Everything needs to be lightweight,” she notes. When the camper is in motion on the highway, everything inside shakes as if it’s experiencing an earthquake, which means all the stuff has to be a little bit flexible so it doesn’t snap mid-drive. Exhibit A: While the floor looks like vinyl planks, it’s actually a plastic sheeting with a wood design printed on it.

Feast, Then Sleep

The McGee children’s favorite job come nighttime is pushing the button that lowers the walnut dining table. The surface is set on a motorized stand that allows it to become level with the U-shaped banquette. The next step? Grabbing an extra cushion and—voilà!—you’ve got an extra-large bed that comfortably sleeps three kiddos. Shea took advantage of the space underneath the bench by decking it out with drawers for clothes storage.

Take the Spa on the Road

As you make your way toward the back of the Airstream, you’ll find a bathroom with a marble-tiled walk-in shower—yes, you read that right. “I really wanted marble,” insists Shea. She knew the Airstream had strict weight limitations, so she ran the numbers and compromised on the aforementioned flooring and plywood cabinetry. Still, the stone-covered shower couldn’t stand on its own, it needed something to balance it on the other side of the vehicle. Cue the Caesarstone vanity countertop. 

Defy the Layout and Lighting Tropes

Shea took every other opportunity she could to make the teeny home-on-wheels feel high-end. This included brass light fixtures from Visual Comfort and a queen-size bed that faces the rear. “A lot of RVs have a bed that’s turned to the side, so you can only get in on one end. I didn’t like the look,” she says. Someone also recommended going with a full—she said no way. The headboard is made out of superthin wood, wrapped in foam, and affixed to the end of the trailer. 

A good night’s rest is essential after a day with the McGees’ mobile. The family fills their afternoons with hiking to get everyone’s energy out after sitting in the trailer, followed by campfire meals and s’mores. “We set up the beds and go to sleep, and then hope everyone stays asleep,” Shea says with a laugh. 

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Most campers whip together their meals over a portable burner or folding table, but not Carlene and Michael Duffy. The Cedar + Suede interior designers, who have become known for renovating vintage caravans (they recently wrote a whole book on the topic, titled This Old Van), prepare their food on a full-size peninsula that’s complete with a sink and utensil drawers. The clever innovation is just one of many they’ve made to their newest trailer. To fit the pull-out counter, they raised the main bed on the inside of the van. After unlocking the hatch door on the facade, they can slide out the surface and quickly screw on the legs so it’s ready to use. “It’s very efficient,” attests Carlene. 

While their latest caravan, which they’ve lovingly dubbed Goldie in honor of their hometown on Australia’s Gold Coast, is a good 6 feet smaller than their last one, moving the kitchen to the outdoors left plenty of room for cozy sleeping nooks and storage inside. With this marking their fifth RV reno, the couple compiled all the lessons they’ve learned from previous projects and implemented it into this space—an outdoor kitchen was only the beginning. Here are a few more game-changing updates they worked into their tiny vacation home on wheels. 

Enjoy Taking Your Shoes Off

In past spaces, when it came to installing flooring, the Duffys always went for wood-look vinyl. And while it was long-lasting, it proved difficult to clean and didn’t feel great underfoot. This go-around, they went with carpeting. Yes, it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen in a van, but the designers selected a low-pile goat-hair covering that’s commonly used in commercial spaces and laid it in square tiles so that if a section ever gets damaged, they only have to replace that particular square. “It’s also a very good lightweight flooring option, which is important in a van,” says Carlene. 

Spread Out While You Play and Sleep

When the Duffy’s two kids, Paddy and Stella, were little, they could curl up in just about any nook, but now that they’re 14 and 12, respectively, they need bunks where they can stretch their legs. To accommodate their fast-growing teens, Michael and Carlene made sure there was adequate headroom and a small niche next to the mattresses with a light for reading at night. The primary bunk actually folds up into the wall like a Murphy bed when not in use, allowing them to pack the area with tables and chairs when they’re on the move. 

For morning meals or Connect Four games, they can post up at the breakfast banquette. The bench spans the entire width of the RV’s interior, making it extra-functional if they ever have a fifth guest riding with them.

Keep Your Wardrobe Wrinkle-Free

The other perk of elevating the primary bed was that it allowed Michael to build a set of drawers underneath the mattress for storing folded clothes. Still, the solution left out Carlene, who prefers to hang most of her things. So she turned to Facebook Marketplace and scooped up an old wardrobe for $50. Inside the tall cabinet, there is a rod and two shelves for shoes. The set of cubbies next to it is where she keeps things like shorts, swimsuits, and socks (although the very bottom drawer front is completely fake—it covers the wheel arch). 

Encourage Shut-Eye 

One of the biggest design challenges, surprisingly, was the curtains (there was also a lot of head scratching to meet everyone’s different preferences for privacy and light). “Paddy and I like to sleep in complete darkness,” notes Carlene. But she also cared a lot about how the window treatments would look from the outside of the van, which meant selecting a fabric that was both chic and didn’t come with unsightly blackout lining (they landed on a combo from Warwick and Walter G). They also made two internal curtains that offer privacy for changing using the same textiles.

Leave the Sand at the Beach

Whether they’re traveling to Yamba in northern New South Wales during the spring or North Stradbroke Island (their annual Christmas holiday destination), the Duffys fill their mornings and afternoons with swim sessions in the ocean. The aftermath, however, isn’t as dreamy: Sand and tiny caravans don’t mix well. To avoid constant vacuuming, the couple added an outdoor shower to the exterior where they can rinse off in their suits. “Sometimes we book en suite campsites or use the public showers at the campgrounds, but it’s far more satisfying showering in the open air,” shares Carlene. 

Get the Look

Pasco Outdoor Wall Light, Emac and Lawton (Price upon request)

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This Old Van: Plan, Renovate and Style Your Own Vintage Caravan, Amazon ($25)

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Roll of Bibery Antique Fabric by Warwick, Etsy ($100)

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Aged Brass Cabinet Knobs and Handles by Yester Home UK, Etsy (from $11 per piece)

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The post A Breakfast Nook, an Outdoor Kitchen—Yep, This Tiny Pink RV Has Those appeared first on domino.

This story was part of Sofa Week, our seven-day stretch of, you guessed it, sofas. After years spent styling, sitting on, and searching for the best of the best—from bespoke designs to rare under-$500 gems—we’re compiling our couch knowledge in one comfy spot.

If love seats are outdated, no one told Noz Nozawa. The San Francisco–based designer swears by the compact two-seater sofa, with her own living room touting a 19th-century French settee. As the shortest of the couch category—typically spanning just 60 inches in length—it’s easy to see why this furniture piece is often dismissed by shoppers as suitable only for smaller spaces. Nozawa, however, argues that the best love seats were built to be stars in larger living arrangements. “Longer sofas can elongate proportions to the point that some pieces look stretched,” Nozawa explains. “I think the proportions of a love seat make some seating silhouettes shine much better.” While they may not be built for nappers or Netflix bingers, love seats are a boon for entertainers—they offer a stylish seat that encourages intimate conversations around a cluster of martini tables.   

Our 11 Favorites by Style

• Best patterned: OKA Tarma 2-Seater Sofa
• Best under-$500: Alcott Hill Parkes Upholstered Settee
• Best rattan: Crate & Barrel Fields Cane Settee by Leanne Ford
• Best mid-century: Rivet Sloane Mid-Century Modern Love Seat
• Best modern: Hay Can 2-Seat Sofa
• Best bouclé: CB2 Gwenyth Bouclé Loveseat
• Best armless: Blue Dot Bloke Armless Sofa
• Best slipcovered: Serena & Lily Spruce Street Loveseat
• Best beanbag: Urban Outfitters Dylan Velvet Double-Seater Bean Bag Sofa
• Best leather: Crate & Barrel Cavett Leather Wood Frame Loveseat
• Best outdoor: Neighbor Terra Aluminum Outdoor Lounge Loveseat

Best Patterned: OKA Tarma 2-Seater Sofa

Tarma 2-Seater Sofa – Sheki Olive, OKA ($2,995)

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Materials: 100% cotton upholstery; mango wood frame and legs; foam-filled cushions | Dimensions: 53.9 inches long

If you’re bold enough to step outside of the solid-sofa shopping box (we think everyone should!), then let this bespoke patterned love seat from OKA be your gateway purchase. The design is handmade by artisans featuring hand-embroidered cotton upholstery and a charming tasseled fringe, which can be easily removed or reattached depending upon your aesthetic preferences. While this particular Tarma two-seater is inspired by an antique rug, you can also purchase it in two other playful patterns: a chic charcoal stripe paired with burgundy fringe or another vintage-inspired textile motif.

Best Under-$500: Alcott Hill Parkes Upholstered Settee

Parkes 50″ Upholstered Settee, Alcott Hill ($490 was $753)

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Materials: 100% polyester upholstery; solid wood frame and legs; foam-filled cushions | Dimensions: 50 inches long | Weight: 67 pounds

Featured as the favorite love seat in our guide to the best sofa under $500, this Wayfair score is a rare budget-friendly iteration of the often expensive slipper-chair silhouette. Our favorite features of this Anglophilic design are its royal red upholstery and charming spindle legs.

Best Rattan: Crate & Barrel Fields Cane Settee by Leanne Ford

Fields Cane Settee by Leanne Ford, Crate & Barrel ($699 was $1,499)

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Materials: 100% cotton upholstery; solid red oak and rattan frame; high-density, fiber-wrapped polyfoam cushions | Dimensions: 65.75 inches long

A seamless blend of solid red oak and rattan makes this woven darling—exclusively designed for Crate & Barrel by Domino-favorite Leanne Ford—an easy addition to our roster of the best love seats. The warm wood frame makes it a textural no-brainer for casual summertime locales, yet its timeless settee-style silhouette is sweet any time of year. Reviewers have put it to good use inside and out, commenting on how it elevates any space with its overall airy aesthetic, comfortable cotton-upholstered cushion, and beautiful cane craftsmanship.

Best Mid-Century: Rivet Sloane Mid-Century Modern Love Seat

Sloane Mid-Century Modern Loveseat Sofa, 64.2″, Rivet ($594 was $662)

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Materials: Polyester-cotton upholstery; hardwood frame and beechwood legs; foam-filled cushions | Dimensions: 64.2 inches long | Weight: 96 pounds

Rounded edges soften the square silhouette of this mid-century modern two-seater, which comes in a 64-inch version ideal for studio apartments and tight corners. The button-tufted back cushion gives it a retro, tailored vibe, but the relaxed lean keeps things casual. Go with the pebble gray colorway for an easy-to-pair-with neutral in a cinch-to-clean fabric (regular vacuuming is recommended). Bonus: Looks like if you decide to return it, you won’t have to pay shipping fees for up to 30 days.

Best Modern: Hay Can 2-Seat Sofa

Can 2-Seat Sofa, Hay ($2,295)

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Materials: Cotton-linen blend upholstery; steel frame with canvas sling; down-padded, high-density foam cushions | Dimensions: 67.71 inches long

Ideal for minimalists with a no-frills, utilitarian design sensibility, brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s less complex but arguably more comfortable take on the traditional sofa for Danish decor brand Hay has been an industry favorite since it arrived on the market in 2016. Available in seven different fabrics, the flat-packed sofa features a tubular steel frame and detachable modular pillows that make it a breeze to assemble at home—plus the down-padded, high-density foam cushions ensure you won’t ever want to get up.

Best Bouclé: CB2 Gwenyth Bouclé Loveseat

Gwyneth Bouclé Loveseat, CB2 ($1,499)

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Materials: Bouclélike polyester upholstery; sustainable engineered wood frame; sinuous wire-suspension cushions | Dimensions: 68 inches long

We’re convinced that popping a squat on Gwyneth Paltrow’s love seat for CB2 is the decor equivalent of resting on a cloud—and not just because it’s covered in It material bouclé. Better yet, the plush fibers and rounded silhouette nail that high-end, luxurious look without the RH price tag. Pair it with or without pillows and a throw blanket for a glamorous take that never looks out of style.

Best Armless: Blu Dot Bloke Armless Sofa

Bloke 60″ Armless Sofa, Blu Dot ($2,310)

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Materials: Linen-polyester blend upholstery; kiln-dried hardwood frame; powder-coated steel legs; fiber-wrapped foam cushions | Dimensions: 60 inches long | Weight: 120 pounds

Remember armless furniture? It’s cool again, according to stylist Benjamin Reynaert. The Bloke by Blu Dot is a 60-inch armless wonder that would do just fine squeezed between two walls or styled like an armchair in a gigantic great room. The biggest benefit of choosing this look is significantly less visual real estate—which, let’s be honest, is probably a luxury already hard to come by if you’re choosing a two-seater over a sectional. Though its sides are free, we love the high, deep back that feels like a comforting embrace. 

Best Slipcovered: Serena & Lily Spruce Street Slipcovered Loveseat

Spruce Street Slipcovered Loveseat, Serena & Lily ($3,898)

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Materials: 100% linen upholstery; kiln-dried hardwood frame and legs; fiber-wrapped, soy-based foam cushions | Dimensions: 57 inches long

One of the most popular styles of the year, slipcovered sofas are no longer as stuffy as their predecessors once were. Serena & Lily’s Spruce Street love seat doesn’t come with tassels or tied bows; rather it offers a streamlined, upholstered look for the most sophisticated living rooms—and it’s supremely washable, to boot. Though it does appeal to a younger buyer, it’s by no means a starter sofa; this is an investment piece that you’ll have for years to come. If yours is a lively household with kids and pets, we recommend an acrylic performance fabric, like the Perennials line. 

Best Beanbag: Urban Outfitters Dylan Velvet Double-Seater Bean Bag Sofa

Dylan Velvet Double-Seater Bean Bag Sofa, Urban Outfitters ($379)

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Materials: 100% velvet-polyester upholstery; expanded polystyrene-bead fill | Dimensions: 53 inches long | Weight: 24 pounds

This elevated take on the traditional beanbag chair makes for a playfully retro love seat moment. We appreciate the multiple configuration options—from one- to two- to three-seaters—that afford this legless design a modular edge. The chic velvet upholstery comes in four subtle hues: bold blood orange, minimalist ivory, light chartreuse, and slatelike brown. The best part? It’s made to order in the U.S. and arrives fully assembled, weighing an easy-to-move 24 pounds.

Best Leather: Cavett Leather Wood Frame Loveseat

Cavett Leather Wood Frame Loveseat, Crate & Barrel ($1,999)

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Materials: Full-grain aniline leather upholstery; sustainable kiln-dried walnut wood frame; soy-based polyfoam cushions | Dimensions: 51 inches long

This supersleek seat isn’t your boyfriend’s boring sofa. Though often relegated to basements or man caves, leather is perfect for love seats—it is soft yet durable, often outlasts fabric, and is easy to clean—and deserves a spot in your living room or bedroom. That’s especially true if it appears on this cantilevered, slatted walnut number from Crate & Barrel. With a compact frame that could pull double duty as a bench at a dining table, these caramel cushions will patina over time, taking on a weathered, lived-in look that will only encourage you to lounge on it longer. 

Best Outdoor: Neighbor Terra Aluminum Outdoor Lounge Loveseat

Terra Aluminum Outdoor Lounge Loveseat, Olive, Neighbor ($2,590)

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Materials: Sunbrella outdoor upholstery; aluminum and stainless-steel frame; fiber fill and quick-dry foam cushions | Dimensions: 70.5 inches long

Neighbor’s Terra outdoor loveseat sports a sleek, powder-coated frame that color matches its unusually plush cushions. This unique weather-resistant seat has earned its place in our guide to the best new outdoor furniture of 2023 thanks to its design-forward looks and thoughtful materials—including 20% recycled content, trusty Sunbrella fabric, and sturdy aluminum and stainless-steel hardware.

Our Shopping Checklist

Fillings and Fabric

“The fabric and filling of a love seat are important for both aesthetics and comfort,” stresses Kuo. Her advice is to go with feather-filled fibers since they’re durable but still pliable enough to conform to your body, creating a plusher feel that isn’t as stiff as foam and is less likely to start sagging. 

Fabric, however, is a personal preference. At the moment, she’s loving rich mohair and velvet for a sophisticated look, but recommends cotton if you’re on the lookout for something a bit more timeless. Other natural fabrics, like linen, can be a sophisticated choice but require a tad more upkeep. No matter the visual you aim to achieve, a performance fabric (think: synthetic blends of nylon, polyester, and vinyl) or quality leather is always a safe bet for households with children or pets. 

Design

Love seats are made for nearly every design style, but Kuo says there’s increased interest in modern classic and French-country styles. The former skews traditional and can be used to create a full-size seating optical illusion. “French country, on the other hand, has distinct elements and detailing that creates an elegant appearance,” she notes—perfect for complementing a more elevated aesthetic. 

Styling

Couches are great for napping, but it’s the petite proportions of love seats that draw Nozawa’s eye. “To me, love seats look best in nooks like bay windows and living rooms that are much longer than they are wide,” she says. And they are a good sectional or sofa alternative in small spaces. “It provides the seating you need without overwhelming the room the way a traditional sofa would, and often allows for more versatility when arranging or changing up the layout,” offers Kuo. “They’re a great addition in spaces like the living room, study, or even primary bedroom.” 

Ask Domino

Q: How long is a love seat?

Love seats earned their moniker due to courting couples, with a design just big enough to comfortably seat two individuals. In comparison, sofas are much larger, sitting a handful of people or allowing someone to fully stretch out for a nap (you’d likely feel a bit more cramped on a love seat). In general, these pieces are no bigger than 64 inches long but can be quite small (sometimes only 50 inches, though Nozawa argues it’s unnecessary to harp on actual dimensions). 

Q: How do I style a love seat?

You can style a love seat much like you would any sofa. To dress up a plain fabric, add a patterned throw blanket and drape it over an arm, along the back, or tucked under a pillow (for the latter, our Style team recommends a solid velvet). To make a love seat look bigger than it actually is, proportions are key. In small rooms, choose one that doesn’t dominate a lot of visual space, ideally something armless or streamlined with a straight silhouette that doesn’t lean too far back.“The proportions of a love seat are what makes this petite sofa size such an asset,” shares Nozawa. “If your space would be ideally laid out with a love seat and two armchairs, you could explore letting all these pieces be chunky, since there will be more open floor space in a room without a larger sofa.” 

How We Vetted These Products

Every product in a Domino guide meets these criteria: 

• They blend form and function. We believe the best-designed products reflect your personal style and are a joy to use.
• They’re expert approved. In addition to our team of editors, we tap a range of designers, makers, renovators, and all-around knowledgeable people to share their intel. 
• They’re endorsed by people who actually own them. We pay close attention to real reviews to know that they pass the test IRL. 

The post From Shoebox Studios to Sprawling Parlors, the Best Love Seats Command a Room appeared first on domino.

This story was part of Sofa Week, our seven-day stretch of, you guessed it, sofas. After years spent styling, sitting on, and searching for the best of the best—from bespoke designs to rare under-$500 gems—we’re compiling our couch knowledge in one comfy spot.

If you live in a small space and actually have enough room to carve out a little living area, consider yourself one of the lucky ones. (Studio dwellers, you know what we’re talking about.) An oversize sectional sofa is the sort of living room staple we tend to take for granted until we find ourselves struggling to source a viable option that fits within the spatial constraints of our homes—we may or may not be speaking from personal experience here. Finding a comfortable couch is difficult as it is. Finding one that’s design-forward and compact? Decidedly more so. That’s where we come in, with a knack (and passion) for scouring the entirety of the web for the style-focused essentials your home deserves. From generous single-seaters to elongated svelte frames and everything in between, we’ve got the shopping intel on the best sofas for small spaces organized by inches, below. (Continue your search for the best coffee tables for small spaces here.)

Our Favorite Sofas for Small Spaces

• Best chair and a half: Hay Quilton Single Seater Sofa
• Best 50-inch (and under): OKA Coleridge 2-Seater Linen Slipcover Sofa
• Best 51-inch to 59-inch: Serena & Lily Spruce Street Slipcovered Loveseat
• Best 60-inch to 69-inch: Industry West Prado Sofa
• Best 70-inch (and up): West Elm Arianna Modular 3-Piece Ottoman Sectional

The Best Chair-and-a-Half Sofas

While its name might suggest otherwise, the chair and a half is verging on the sofa category where small spaces are concerned. Toss an ottoman in front of one and it is big enough for one to two people to cozy up in—yet still small enough to fit inside spaces that might be even too tight for a love seat. Additionally, a chair and a half is usually comfier in construction than other svelte small-space sofas, offering plusher cushions, deeper seats, and lounge-friendly frames. Our favorite from Hay boasts an inviting armless silhouette with marshmallow-like upholstery and a nice 43-inch deep seat.

Quilton Single Seater, 41.5″, HAY ($1,495)

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Harlowe Media Lounger, Lulu and Georgia ($2,348)

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Family Oversized Sherpa Chair and a Half, Crate&Kids ($1,699)

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Abisko Plush Yarrow Gold Lounge Chair, Article ($899)

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The Best 50-Inch (and Under) Sofas

The 50-and-under sofa category is tricky, as many of these smaller-width seats tread into the chair-and-a-half category. While we tossed in a few single-seaters, still generously sized enough to squeeze two, in the low 40-inch range, our favorite is a true 50-incher from British homewares brand OKA. From its traditional 20th-century-inspired silhouette to its brass caster–clad stained-birch legs and 100% linen slipcover, this elegant sofa is a worthy small-space investment.

Coleridge 2-Seater Sofa with Linen Slipcover, 50″, OKA ($2,495)

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Belgian Club Loveseat, Serena & Lily ($2,998)

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Sofa 2 Places “Togo” by Michel Ducaroy 1973, 40″, 1stDibs ($4,008)

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Atlanta Velvet Loveseat, 46″, Soho Home ($2,995)

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Atwood Lounge, 47″, Gus Modern ($1,400)

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Howell Upholstered Loveseat, 48″, Threshold ($550)

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The Best 51-Inch to 59-Inch Sofas

The over-50 range opens up a comfier category for small-space couches, with more formidable and spacious designs verging on three-seater capacity. Our favorite is, unsurprisingly, Serena & Lily’s Spruce sofa—a top pick from our guide to the best love seats. The slipcovered style is available in a wide range of patterns and materials, from 100% linen upholstery to stain-resistant performance fabric. It’s custom-built in the U.S. with a sturdy kiln-dried, hardwood frame and legs, featuring fiber-wrapped, soy-based foam cushions.

Spruce Street Slipcovered Loveseat, 57″, Serena & Lily ($4,098)

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Movie Felt Grey Twin Sleeper Sofa, 56″, CB2 ($1,999)

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Sink Down Lounge Chair, 51″, Floyd ($1,267 was $1,810)

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Jackie Loveseat, 53.54, Zinus ($324 was $345)

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The Best 60-Inch to 69-Inch Sofas

If you can swing a sofa from the 60-and-up crowd, we recommend going with a deeper seat—like our favorite from Industry West. The soft, cloudlike silhouette of the Prado sofa cushions the blow of its bulkier 62-inch frame inside a smaller space. We love the cocoon quality of its low seat-bed paired with a high back and overstuffed cushions. Our other favorites feature either similarly softened frames or, in the case of a vintage 1stDibs find, pair their longer dimensions with a narrower and taller frame.

Prado Sofa, 62″, Industry West ($632 was $790)

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Handwoven Malawi Cane Sofa with White Linen Cushion, 65″, 1stDibs ($995)

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Fan Pleat Sofa, 69″, Anthropologie ($2,098)

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Kearney Upholstered Loveseat, 61″, AllModern ($860)

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The Best 70-Inch (and Up) Sofas

Our top picks for 70-inch-and-up sofas range from a compact slipcovered cloud couch by Domino-favorite Leanne Ford to a collaborative Herman Miller x Hay design with barely there legs to a ’60s-inspired Urban Outfitters creation featuring a comfy, curvaceous profile. Our top choice, however, is West Elm’s Arianna sofa, as it’s one of the most space-conscious sectionals we’ve come across. The soft modular design can be reconfigured to fit within whatever size space you’re working with—standing alone or clustered together.

Arianna Modular 3-Piece Ottoman Sectional, 72″, West Elm ($1,997)

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Eames Compact Sofa, 72.5″, Herman Miller x HAY ($6,500)

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Aria Sofa, 72.5″, Urban Outfitters ($999 was $1,299)

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Ever Slipcovered Apartment Sofa by Leanne Ford, 77″, Crate & Barrel ($2,199)

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The post Your By-Inch Guide to the Best Sofas for Small Spaces appeared first on domino.

The uncontested hero of any living room setup is the coffee table. Beyond serving as a spot for your favorite design books or morning cappuccino, this workhorse staple can completely change how a room functions—especially when you’re short on square footage and need a surface designed to work overtime. There are a few key questions to ask yourself when looking for the best coffee tables for small spaces: Can it be easily moved out of the way when guests arrive? Will there still be room for all my living room lounging essentials? How well does it disguise clutter? To help you on this shopping journey, we scoured the Internet for streamlined styles that do just that (and more).

Take a look at our favorites, below. (If you need help pairing it with some size-conscious seating, check out our guide to the best sofas for small spaces.)

Our Favorite Coffee Tables for Small Spaces

• Best with built-in shelving: West Elm Terrace Coffee Table
• Best ottoman: McGee & Co. Brynlee Woven Ottoman
• Best glass: Kartell Panier Coffee Table
• Best with secret storage: Blu Dot Hoard Low Side Table
• Best nesting: Maiden Home The Morro Tables
• Best narrow: Henn & Hart 45-Inch-Wide Rectangular Coffee Table

Coffee Tables With Built-In Shelving

Tiered coffee tables are a great option for those who need additional space. The bottom shelf acts as a catchall for everything from magazines to mail to remotes, while the top can display all the cute stuff—like a sculptural vase or an artful candle. 

Terrace Coffee Table (48″), West Elm ($429 was $479)

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Clairemont Round Ebonized 36″ Coffee Table with Shelf, Crate & Barrel ($599)

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Palma Coffee Table, Anthropologie ($1,598)

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Wood & Cane Coffee Table by Hearth & Hand with Magnolia, Target ($180)

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Ottoman Coffee Tables

If you truly lack the space for a weightier furniture buy, try investing in a midsize ottoman that can function as everything from an easily movable footrest to extra seating for a table—all while adding an extra layer of textural character, whether that be by cozy upholstery or posh details. The only accessory you’ll need to complete its coffee-table transformation is an extra-large book or tray to top it with for added surface stability.

Brynlee Woven Ottoman, McGee & Co. ($553 was $760)

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Montague Upholstered Ottoman, Birch Lane ($448)

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Scarlett Ottoman by Heather Taylor Home, West Elm ($399)

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Purple and Orange Couture Geometric Bicolor Pouf, 1stDibs ($3,265)

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Glass Coffee Tables

When your space is cramped, visual clutter is just as noticeable as a mess. Enter glass and acrylic. An ideal alternative to heavy wood, the transparent material promises clear sight lines. Even a large table will belie its bulk thanks to a frame with vanishing lines. 

Panier Coffee Table, Kartell ($460)

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Salim 12mm Tempered Glass Coffee Table, Christopher Knight Home ($227 was $238)

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Nola Coffee Table, Gold Finish, Better Homes & Gardens ($86 was $115)

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Gbelinda Coffee Table, Wayfair ($940 was $1,698)

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Cabrini Coffee Table, Modloft ($1,189 was $1,699)

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Tempered Glass Coffee Table by Fresco, ABC Carpet & Home ($1,050)

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Coffee Tables With Secret Storage

If a coffee table with built-in shelving is no match for your hoard of living room stuff, we suggest trying a secret-storage style to conceal your not-so-pretty essentials within its depths.

Hoard Low Side Table with Storage, Blu Dot ($276 was $425)

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Naya Pop-Up Coffee Table, Urban Outfitters ($549 was $699)

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Margot Coffee Table, Lulu and Georgia ($1,049)

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Turning Table by Teresa Arns, Menu ($670)

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Nesting Coffee Tables

The best nesting tables are all about versatility: Keep them together for movie night or spread them out when friends come over for cocktails—or a candlelit dinner for two.

The Morro Tables, Maiden Home ($735)

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Sintra Coffee Tables, West Elm ($748)

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Set Of Two Lutwidge Nested Coffee Tables, OKA ($350 was $1,395)

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Union Oval Nesting Coffee Table with Stools, Crate & Barrel ($1,099)

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3-Piece Peekaboo Colored Acrylic Nesting Table Set, CB2 ($299)

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Loft Bamboo Nesting Tables In Loft Tangerine (Set of 3), Elk Home ($542 was $638)

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Narrow Coffee Tables

While the best coffee tables for small spaces aren’t necessarily a size play, certain square-footage limitations call for the straight and narrow. If you live in a shoebox, we culled together a few strategically streamlined styles to suit. (Two of these long boys even boast tiered storage bonus.)

45″ Wide Rectangular Coffee Table in Blackened Bronze, Henn & Hart ($128)

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St. Germain Glass Coffee Table, Serena & Lily ($1,998)

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Nera Coffee Table, Lulu and Georgia ($1,398)

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Theo Coffee Table, Reclaimed Pine, Sixpenny ($1,999)

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The post 28 Clever Coffee Tables for When You Don’t Have Room for Much Else appeared first on domino.

Time to hit up your local thrift shop: You need a vintage mirror. Aside from adding charm and a certain old-school flair that’s guaranteed to be a conversation starter, these pieces are a great way to fill up an empty wall when traditional artwork won’t do. Small-space dwellers will note another benefit of large mirrors—they open up a room and make it feel instantly larger.

This particular small-space hack comes with a ringing design celeb endorsement. Nate Berkus recommends using bigger mirrors to visually trick the eye into thinking a space is larger than it actually is, sharing this insight via a recent Instagram post.

 

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“Looking to invest in something special for your home?” he writes. “There’s always a place in your home for a big, beautiful vintage mirror. It always makes the room feel taller.”

While Berkus’s mirror of choice is a mid-century French oak piece from Paris, the beauty of this styling tip is that it’s customizable. If you’re big on color, look for something simple with a wood frame you can sand down and paint over in the saturated hue of your choice. If you love the antique look, hit up a vintage fair to hunt for a gilded option.

Or if you’d rather forgo the process of tracking down the perfect vintage piece altogether, you can always buy online. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite large mirrors (both contemporary and old school) that are prime for perusal—you’re sure to find one to fit your style.

Keep It Simple

Streamline Wide Arch Mantel Mirror, West Elm ($439)

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Modern minimalists, there’s nothing about this sleek, contemporary piece you won’t love.

Go With Something Old-Looking But New

Gleaming Primrose Mirror, Anthropologie ($548)

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Mimic the character of an older piece without the work it takes to source one via this gold mirror.

Embrace the Curves

Randaccio Mirror, TRNK ($899)

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If you’re looking to fill the space above your mantel, opt for something round to contrast with the horizontal line of the shelf.

Pick Your Polish

Demi Acrylic Rectangular Wall Mirror, CB2 ($229)

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Over time, the shiny brass corners on this rectangular mirror will patina and bring a subtle charm to a room.

Thomasville Mid-Century Modern Burled Walnut Framed Arched Mirrors, Pair, 1stdibs ($1,495)

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Take a page from Nate Berkus and choose a real vintage piece (or two). This simple arched set is peak mid-century modern.

The post The One Item Nate Berkus Swears by for Making a Space Look Bigger appeared first on domino.

Given the choice between a twin bed and a full, we think it’s safe to say most people over 18 would choose the latter. But what if your space makes it impossible to fit anything larger than a mattress that’s roughly 38 inches wide and 75 inches long? Despite popular belief, single beds are not only for children and dorm rooms—twin beds are for adults, too. With the right color palette and eye for layering, you can sleep easy at night knowing you’re saving space and look good doing it. Ahead, we rounded up nine twin beds for adults that are, dare we say, chicer than most kings.

Desert Oasis 

When the Morongo Valley sun begins to take its toll and tire out Denise Portmans and Sara Marlowe Hall, the mother-daughter duo behind the Santa Monica–based Merchant, this cozy twin bed is a welcome respite. Like all the bedrooms in their rural home, the mattress sits atop a low Japanese-inspired frame and is dressed with layers of linens sourced from France.

Secret Garden

Twin beds are the perfect fit for a bedroom with awkward ceilings and protruding eaves but that doesn’t mean they can’t feel airy and welcoming. By wrapping all the surfaces in this English countryside home in a climbing vine wallpaper, designer Emma Ainscough brought a little magic to a less-than-ideal sleeping arrangement.

Breezy Blues

In her 800-square-foot guesthouse in New York’s Hudson Valley, designer Sheila Bridges embraced a palette inspired by the sea and the sky, and the rich colors trickle all the way down to this teeny room’s bedding. With a vintage kantha blanket serving as a dynamic base, Bridges kept the pattern mixing going by adding a floral lumbar pillow from Hammertown and a graphic throw pillow from Walter G.

All the Beige

Emily Henderson let the gallery wall be the focus of this nook and kept all the textiles (sourced through staging company The Platform Experiment) on the antique-style daybed from Lulu and Georgia on the sandy-toned side.

A Plaid Pal

Turn heads with a tall, upholstered headboard. This black and white plaid one was a fitting choice given the home’s surroundings (it’s a cozy cabin located in northeastern Georgia). To make it feel a little less stuffy, designers Hayes Little Studio finished off the foot of the bed with a marigold blanket.

Walk This Way

Previously this mezzanine used to be an elaborate shoe closet, but homeowner Nikki Lindman wanted to make better use of the space by swapping the midlevel shelving for a daybed, bolstered with an ikat-print headboard. The setup is actually a trundle that pulls out into a plush double (Lindman’s mom slept on it for three weeks and gave it a thumbs-up).

Kids’ Corner

Forget for a moment that this twin bed is technically a kids’ twin bed and look at the bones: a dusty pink linen duvet, a heavy woven quilt, a trio of plush pillows that allow you to prop yourself up. What we’re really stealing from this space is the architectural bed frame. (Psst: You can find adult-size versions of the rattan piece at 1stDibs, West Elm, and Ballard Designs.)

Up in the Attic

Head- and footboards would only soak up precious real estate in tight quarters. In this cherry red nook, Angela Chrusciaki Blehm, a painter and amateur decorator, had platforms constructed for the mattresses, then framed them with easily removable bolster pillows.

Closet Cool

This twin bed is doing double duty as a space-saving fixture and organizational tool. Lower drawers keep clutter out of sight and free up coveted wardrobe space—which, if you’re living in a small apartment, is definitely a necessity.

The post These 9 Spaces Will Convince You Twin Beds Are Indeed for Adults appeared first on domino.

Drew Barrymore’s bedroom in her Manhattan apartment technically has a walk-in closet, but—wait for it—she doesn’t use it to store clothing. In a new article in New York magazine, the talk show host and mogul invites writer E. Alex Jung into her home, and then into her bedroom closet—which actually isn’t a closet at all. Instead, it’s her meditation room. 

Barrymore and Jung find themselves sitting on the floor in the slanted-ceiling space, facing each other and surrounded by Barrymore’s handwritten affirmations, which are pinned to walls covered in a pink flamingo wallpaper. As Jung writes, some of them are as simple as the word permission and others are full-on phrases: Today is the day you start trusting yourself, spiritual superhero.

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Here at Domino, we’re all about transforming a tiny space into a cozy nook where you can relax and recharge. For instance, Barrymore has her room filled with candles and a wood table. Our associate editor, Raven McMillan, has a few ideas on how she’d fill her own yoga-centric chill zone. And in Leanne Ford’s Pennsylvania guesthouse, she took a mini storage space and transformed it into a reading spot for her daughter, Ever. If you don’t happen to have the square footage indoors, you can always build one outside. Here’s how to get started.

Build Your Own Meditation Room

Checkerboard Travel Speaker, Sunny Life ($29)

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Meditation Cushion and Mat Set, Walden ($298)

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Thatcher Wood Bench, Target ($120)

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Santal 26 Medium Concrete Candle, Le Labo ($75)

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The post Surprise, Drew Barrymore’s Walk-In Bedroom Closet Doesn’t Actually Store Clothes appeared first on domino.

When the majority of the people in your household can be categorized as a preteen or teen, having a bonus space—a game room, a basement, a den, anything—is a must. Shannon and Mitch, parents to a 15-, 13-, and 11-year-old, had recently reached that ratio, and yet there was nowhere within their Houston home to retreat. So they turned outward, tacking a 725-square-foot apartment onto their garage. It now serves as a place for not just their children to relax away from the chaos, but three sets of very involved grandparents when they’re in town. “The kids desire a little space and privacy, and so do Mitch and I,” says Shannon. “Have I mentioned how loud a group of 13-year-old chatty girls can be?”  

The pair tasked interior designer Emily Butler and architect Sarah Hannah with executing the addition. When Hannah sat down with the couple to mock up the plans, she showed them a previous conversion she had worked on with airy, vaulted ceilings—the opposite of a “college-y” vibe. “They really responded to that,” recalls Hannah. “One day when we finished up a meeting, they clapped. I knew it was going to be special based on the energy they gave off.” One top request from Mitch: It had to have a generator. “We’ve been through three hurricanes and an ice storm, all of which have shut down power for weeks,” he says.

Putting a living space above a garage isn’t an unusual concept in Houston, but people tend to plop another box shape on top of the original and call it a day. Shannon and Mitch wanted to ensure the addition looked like it had been built at the same time as the main house, so architectural details like transom windows were extra-important. “It’s by far the nicest-looking garage apartment in the neighborhood,” says Butler. 

Keep Future Drivers in Mind

Before a dwelling could be added, a crew had to expand the garage from a two-car to a three. Any Houston property with an ADU is required to have a third parking spot, but the change had another lesser-known benefit: It offers more wiggle room for the couple’s oldest child, who is a new driver. From there, Hannah linked up with a structural engineer to figure out the inner workings of the framing. 

Factor in Compatibility

All the contractor bids (everyone was pre-vetted by Hannah) came in around roughly the same price—now what? She advised the couple to instead make a decision based on who they thought they’d jell with the best. “Personality matches are important because communication is everything,” Shannon says. It’s her biggest tip for other homeowners looking to tackle a similar project. They ultimately went with Bayou City Builders, Inc. “Take time to hire people who are skilled at their trade, but also people whom you trust and genuinely like to be around,” she adds.

Make a Meal Out of It

Carving out a full-size kitchen was a choice made both for resale value and for future guests staying beyond a couple days. A “here’s your glass and Keurig” system, as Hannah puts it, wasn’t going to cut it. The architect and designer decked out the space with a range, refrigerator, and dishwasher drawers. It was a surprising splurge; smaller-size appliances are actually more costly than standard versions. Still, having everything you could ever need at your fingertips has worked out. A family relative was able to isolate there during COVID. “People are visiting more often and staying longer,” notes Shannon. “I think that’s a good sign that we accomplished what we set out to build.”

See Double

To give the kitchen a lived-in feel, Butler opted for butcher block counters. Then she split up a single slab of marble, using some for the sliver of backsplash behind the cooktop and the rest to top a bathroom vanity Shannon sourced on a trip to the Round Top Antiques Fair: “I’ve always loved vanities that were created from pieces of furniture, and I knew I wanted something similar for that space,” she says.

Leave (Almost) No Wall Untouched

An easy way to ensure the inside of the apartment didn’t feel dormlike was to go big on wall texture. (The only place with plain Sheetrock is inside the closet.) “The shiplap really makes a difference and elevates the space,” says Butler of the treatment in the public areas. She then switched to wallpaper in the bedroom and bathroom. The whimsical leafy print in the latter was Butler’s subtle nod to the fact that the place is reminiscent of a grown-up treehouse—which explains why visitors are never in a rush to leave. “Our kids have had few opportunities to host friends because we’ve had nonstop guests since we completed the space,” says Shannon with a laugh. “Our family is genuinely over the moon.”

The post Parents to 3 Teens, This Houston Couple Looked to the Garage for a Chance at Personal Space appeared first on domino.

Interior designer Sidika Owen d’Hauteville could walk into a Victorian-era house in central London with her eyes closed and move around the space with ease—almost all of them have the same layout. “I once read a statistic that more than half the homes in London are Victorian,” says d’Hauteville. On the main level, she expects to find a long, double reception room that stretches the depth of the house. Typically, people designate the area toward the front of the home as the living area, while the rear space goes underused (some families might turn it into a second dining room; others, a kids-only TV space). But when a family of five living in the northwest neighborhood of Little Venice asked d’Hauteville to completely renovate their Victorian house, the designer decided to break with the status quo. 

“My aim was to connect these two rooms so that they feel like one big space,” she shares. Her solution: create custom slatted oak cabinetry that runs along the wall, visually uniting the two zones. The result turned out to be way more functional than anyone could have imagined. Within the cupboards, d’Hauteville tucked away a TV, bar, fireplace, and—get this—two desks. 

Incorporating a mini office into the typically overlooked space was essential. The father works two days a week at home and there wasn’t another place in the house to carve out a separate room. Still, d’Hauteville didn’t want the rest of the family to have to stare at Dad’s mountain of paperwork when they’re all hanging out. The designer called on furniture maker Andy Gardiner to build cabinets with discreet doors that can flip down and double as a desk, not unlike a tray table on an airplane. The textured wood treatment naturally disguises the seams.

The whole thing juts out 35 inches when open, and the melamine surface on the interior is not only easy to wipe down but it’s lightweight, which was key to the construction. D’Hauteville had the ribbed facade stained an orangey tone to make the oak look a touch closer to teak, lending warmth to the newly renovated space. 

“At the end of the day, it was important that they could hide their work and relax or entertain,” says the designer. “The clients also didn’t want to see computer screens—they’re always best kept hidden.”

The post Desks Flip Out Like Airplane Tray Tables From This Home’s Fluted Wood Wall appeared first on domino.