Updated : June 6, 2025
Published : May 23, 2025
Help & Advice

When space is at a premium, the right piece of furniture changes everything. And we don’t just mean how it looks, but how it feels to live there.

At Furl, we design for that intersection – where beauty meets necessity. Every piece is handmade in our Nottingham workshop, built to move through narrow staircases and small doorways, and designed to last a lifetime.

This is our edit of the five best pieces of furniture for small spaces, with examples from our own premium collection.

Storage Beds That Do More

There’s something transformative about lifting a bed and finding your winter coats, your suitcase, and your spare towels all tucked neatly beneath you. Having a bed that also doubles as a storage solution is one of the best ways to free up space in a smaller home, especially in bedrooms where endless, increasing clutter can make it hard to truly enjoy your well-earned downtime.

Our Max Storage Bed is designed to hold more than any other on the market. With up to 40cm of internal depth and a lift that reaches 1.7 metres, it gives you space without eating into your square footage. Gas pistons do the heavy lifting, while the optional electric mechanism turns the whole experience into something effortless.

Each one is built to order, finished in the fabric of your choosing, and delivered in modular sections by our own team – so installation is seamless, even in tricky flats.

Sofa Beds You’ll Actually Sleep On

In small homes, furniture needs to earn its keep. Maybe you’re in a studio. Or perhaps your children have gone off to university, and you want to transform their bedrooms into a workspace - without getting rid of their bed. In situations like these, a sofa bed or sofa sleeper is a great, compact solution.

Our new London Sofa Bed is one of the few that works as well by night as it does by day. It looks like a real sofa – sharp lines, generous cushions, custom upholstery – because it is one, technically.

But inside is a proper mattress; not foam blocks, not futon thinness. A pocket-sprung hybrid that folds away smoothly and supports you fully. It’s ideal for living rooms that double as guest rooms, or simply for anyone who wants a bed that doesn’t feel like a temporary compromise.

Expanding Tables

Good tables can elevate any dining area, but transforming ones that feel substantial, look great, and truly add aesthetic value to your space? They actually elevate how you’re able to move around your space.

Our 4x4 expanding table starts as a compact square – ideal for one or two people working side-by-side. But it opens up to seat six with ease, locking firm when extended so it never feels flimsy or temporary.

Perfect for flatshares, micro-apartments, or anyone who simply needs functional dining options for tight areas.

Vertical Shelving That Feels Considered

Wall space is often underused. A tall shelving unit – ideally one that combines open sections with hidden compartments – can take the pressure off other areas of your home.

Think beyond the basic cube shelf; look for pieces that allow space to breathe between the items they hold. Shelving shouldn’t just store – it should display, elevate, punctuate the space around it.

We don’t make shelves (yet), but we often design our furniture to sit beautifully alongside them.

Multi-Use Ottomans & Storage Stools

An ottoman can play many roles (footrest, perch, table, trunk, to name a few) but only if it’s built to last and dressed to belong. We’re drawn to those that offer storage without looking bulky, and form without forgetting function.

Look for soft-close lids that don’t slam, silhouettes that feel intentional, and proportions that don’t fight the rest of the room. Tucked under a window or beside the bed, it’s one of those pieces that earns its keep without demanding attention.

Furl: Designed for Living Well

At Furl, we believe good furniture does more than fit the room. It changes how you feel in it.

That’s why every piece we make is designed with real-life limitations in mind – narrow staircases, multi-use rooms, shared spaces, and the reality that most of us want to own fewer things that do more.

We offer a free home measuring service, a wide range of custom finishes, and a 60-day trial on selected pieces. Because when space is limited, there’s no room for doubt.

Explore our full collection, and discover why we’ve earned our reputation as the experts in space-saving furniture.