Have you ever been in an apartment in New York City? Residents of these tiny spaces are masters of utilizing a small space. Efficiency is the key. Certainly, there are furniture and appliances that help save space, but the way the resident lives has to be pretty austere to make that small home work over the long haul.

It makes sense that starting simple will make the space seem bigger, so that means big, bulky furniture probably won’t work. Flat screen TVs and computer monitors are a great invention because they save space. However, there are the really important things, like washers and dryers that can really eat up a lot of room. The new high efficiency units can be stacked on top of one another. This way you don’t lose washing capacity, but you save about three feet of horizontal space. A smaller refrigerator and stove might be necessary. Try a drop leaf table that can be folded out when guests are visiting, but dropped to fit a small space on a daily basis. If the space has high ceilings, build a loft in the bedroom, and put a comfortable mattress up there. This leaves the space under the loft for a dresser or desk.

Ongoing efficiency means you have to be willing to reduce the amount of “stuff” you keep around. Don’t hang onto old clothes. Give away books once you’ve read them. Read newspapers and magazines online. Wash dishes often so that you don’t need as many. Don’t let mail pile up on the table. Learn to live neat and clean. All that messy clutter will make the space feel even smaller.

Don’t have more furniture than you need on a daily basis. If there’s only room for a couch, just keep some extra throw pillows around that guests can sit on. Instead of a coffee table, try a trunk that can also serve as storage.

Be creative and efficient.