logo

Space-Saving Hacks: Our Favorite Convertible Furniture

Lilly Milman

By Lilly Milman

Mar 07, 2023


When renting a studio apartment or even a one-bedroom — especially if you are living with another person — it can begin to feel like there’s just not enough space for all of your stuff. But just because your home is a smaller square footage, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to have a dedicated space for eating, sleeping, working, and relaxing. If you’re making concessions in any of these areas, you don’t need to be.

With the right hidden storage solutions and space-saving furniture, you can create the home of your dreams. Convertible furniture, which are multipurpose pieces that can often be stored in compact spaces when not in use, can make a huge difference when you’re trying to turn your studio into a functional and space-efficient home.

Multifunctional furniture is the first step when you’re trying to save space in a small apartment, and we’re here to help you find the right fit for you. Check out some convertible furniture ideas below. And if you’re looking for more inspiration and design ideas, take a look at some of our favorite small space design influencers.

Convertible Beds

Murphy bed

A murphy bed, a wall bed, or a cabinet bed can be a life-saving hack in a small bedroom or a studio apartment. With a unique mechanism that allows it to fold up and mount against the wall, a murphy or wall bed can allow you to save valuable floor space when you’re not sleeping. Usually, when the bed is mounted up, it is stylized to look like a cabinet, shelving, or a bookcase — so it can spruce up your wall space as well. Many also have storage space built into different parts of the frame, convenient for your bedding, blankets, and other necessities.

There are a few things to keep in mind when deciding whether to buy a murphy bed, though. First and foremost, the dimensions of the bed and your space. Obviously, you’ll want to make sure the bed will fit on your wall — but also take your room layout into account. Will you have enough space to open the bed down and put it back up with ease? If you are living alone, also consider how heavy the piece is. Does it have an opening mechanism that will help you bring the murphy bed down and lift it up?

If you are hesitant on committing to a wall-mounted bed, consider a cabinet bed instead. Another type of convertible bed, a cabinet bed is stylized like a dresser and folds out horizontally in either direction rather than folding up against the wall.

Transformable Tables

Extendable table

If you are forgoing a dedicated eating space and having most of your meals on the couch, it’s time to think about a transformable table instead.

An extendable dining table can make hosting guests for dinner or eating at a table at home a possibility for small spaces. Typically, the table will take up a small amount of space—closer to a small coffee table or end table—and will have a mechanism that allows you to open it up and insert a leaf, or an extra piece of the table, in the middle. The leaf usually either comes at a separate piece that is easy to store or it will be attached to the table.

A lift-top coffee table is another great space-saver if you are less interested in having a dining table for hosting guests, but still want a comfortable space to eat at. While folded up, it’ll appear like a regular coffee table—but unfolded, it will work as either a table to eat at or a workspace! With a piece that you can lift up towards yourself, it creates an elevated surface that won’t leave you leaning over your coffee table and straining your back on the couch. Suddenly, your living room is a home office!

Sofas with Storage

Sofa with Storage

A sofa is usually a non-negotiable when it comes to furnishing your living space, and usually, there’s no way to avoid the fact that they take up a lot of square footage. However, you can get more out of your sofa by turning it into a storage solution. A small piece of furniture like a futon can be pushed against the wall and function as a bed for guests, but if you’re set on getting a large piece like a sectional, find one with built-in spaces for storing bedding, blankets, extra pillows, and more. Store your second set of sheets and have them handy for when you invite a guest to stay over!

Or take it a step further and find a convertible sofa or sleeper sofa, which will have a pull-out bed attached. If you opt for a fold-out couch or sofa bed, make sure to find one with extra space for storage.

Want to get even more function out of your living room furniture? Find a storage ottoman, which will usually have a removable top cushion for additional storage.

Kitchen Carts

Kitchen utility cart

While a kitchen utility cart doesn’t transform, it does offer a convenient, space-saving storage solution that will go along way—especially in a studio. Plus, because it’s on wheels, you can move it around to different areas in your apartment when needed. If you live in a studio with a kitchenette, these little shelves will be your best friend in your kitchen. Get even more bang for your buck by finding one with a small countertop on top. This can turn your cart into a small countertop cooking surface!

For more storage ideas, check out our guide on using storage to make the most out of a small space.

We rate and sort every listing based on fair market rent.

Start your search

Top metro areas

Albuquerque Metro Apartments

407 apartments starting at $550/month

Atlanta Metro Apartments

1,365 apartments starting at $698/month

Austin Metro Apartments

1,498 apartments starting at $500/month

Bakersfield Metro Apartments

348 apartments starting at $400/month

Baltimore Metro Apartments

893 apartments starting at $500/month

Birmingham Metro Apartments

618 apartments starting at $595/month

Boston Metro Apartments

3,194 apartments starting at $950/month

Charlotte Metro Apartments

951 apartments starting at $549/month

Chicago Metro Apartments

2,595 apartments starting at $400/month

Cincinnati Metro Apartments

678 apartments starting at $595/month

Cleveland Metro Apartments

823 apartments starting at $450/month

Colorado Springs Metro Apartments

790 apartments starting at $500/month

Columbus Metro Apartments

1,148 apartments starting at $490/month

Dallas Fort Worth Metro Apartments

3,044 apartments starting at $400/month

Denver Metro Apartments

1,779 apartments starting at $450/month

Detroit Metro Apartments

1,048 apartments starting at $435/month

El Paso Metro Apartments

267 apartments starting at $550/month

Fresno Metro Apartments

324 apartments starting at $650/month

Hartford Metro Apartments

167 apartments starting at $750/month

Honolulu Metro Apartments

580 apartments starting at $830/month

Houston Metro Apartments

1,200 apartments starting at $400/month

Indianapolis Metro Apartments

703 apartments starting at $475/month

Jacksonville Metro Apartments

988 apartments starting at $495/month

Kansas City Metro Apartments

1,204 apartments starting at $410/month

Las Vegas Metro Apartments

1,509 apartments starting at $600/month

Los Angeles Metro Apartments

4,642 apartments starting at $400/month

Louisville Metro Apartments

384 apartments starting at $495/month

Memphis Metro Apartments

1,027 apartments starting at $450/month

Miami Metro Apartments

1,002 apartments starting at $950/month

Milwaukee Metro Apartments

703 apartments starting at $485/month

Minneapolis Metro Apartments

1,486 apartments starting at $500/month

Nashville Metro Apartments

616 apartments starting at $845/month

New Orleans Metro Apartments

328 apartments starting at $425/month

New York City Metro Apartments

1,218 apartments starting at $500/month

Oklahoma City Metro Apartments

1,243 apartments starting at $475/month

Omaha Metro Apartments

481 apartments starting at $550/month

Orlando Metro Apartments

1,356 apartments starting at $550/month

Philadelphia Metro Apartments

1,963 apartments starting at $400/month

Phoenix Metro Apartments

1,840 apartments starting at $750/month

Pittsburgh Metro Apartments

1,021 apartments starting at $400/month

Portland Metro Apartments

2,191 apartments starting at $415/month

Raleigh Metro Apartments

852 apartments starting at $595/month

Richmond Metro Apartments

655 apartments starting at $625/month

Riverside Metro Apartments

479 apartments starting at $595/month

Sacramento Metro Apartments

1,024 apartments starting at $525/month

Salt Lake City Metro Apartments

660 apartments starting at $600/month

San Antonio Metro Apartments

1,265 apartments starting at $525/month

San Diego Metro Apartments

1,725 apartments starting at $590/month

San Francisco Metro Apartments

1,986 apartments starting at $850/month

San Jose Metro Apartments

712 apartments starting at $1,000/month

Seattle Metro Apartments

1,997 apartments starting at $500/month

St. Louis Metro Apartments

1,036 apartments starting at $495/month

Tampa Metro Apartments

1,061 apartments starting at $750/month

Tucson Metro Apartments

537 apartments starting at $499/month

Tulsa Metro Apartments

455 apartments starting at $529/month

Virginia Beach Metro Apartments

495 apartments starting at $700/month

Washington Metro Apartments

909 apartments starting at $675/month

Wichita Metro Apartments

381 apartments starting at $425/month