Decor That's More: Condo Furnishings

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FURNISHINGS THAT DO DOUBLE or even triple duty can help to ensure that a sleek new pad functions as well as it looks. "Furniture for small spaces should do multiple things in the room and be versatile," says Pottery Barn spokeswoman Lauren Nelson. "It should serve as storage and also be aesthetically pleasing."

Vastu (1829 14th Street NW, 202-234-8344), a furniture store that also offers interior design services, sells plenty of practical space-savers. Elite's platform Bachelor Storage Bed (pictured above) with six storage drawers underneath ($2,635) is one of the shop's biggest sellers. "Most people give up the footprint of their bed in terms of storage," says Jason Claire, the co-owner of Vastu. "This is a new approach, and it's been very successful. [The bed] offers more storage than a typical standing dresser."

Vastu also sells a variety of furniture cubes and ottomans with built-in storage. Rectangle- and cube-shaped storage ottomans by Steven Anthony (from $246), for instance, come in hundreds of different fabrics and leathers. You can use them to seat guests as well as store blankets or photo albums.

In addition, Vastu's custom upholstered pieces can be designed to fit the exact dimensions of a space. "There are a lot of odd floor plans and unique shapes being built out there, related to the fact that D.C. is a grid plan superimposed on diagonal streets," Claire says. "Our custom line lets us build, to the inch, pieces that maximize space and seating capacity."

Pottery Barn's Small Spaces collection also has no-nonsense space-stretching pieces for every room. Items range from apartment-sized sofas to the circular Shayne kitchen table (from $699), which boasts two storage shelves tucked between its legs for easy access to plates, napkins or cookbooks.

Another way to free up space is to move belongings off bookshelves and countertops and onto the walls. Pottery Barn's Nelson recommends installing shelves on the walls of your kitchen, dining room, study or bedroom. "You can put up shelving to store plates and wine glasses," Nelson suggests. "It can be artful to have those displayed."

Written by Beth Luberecki and Katie Aberbach/Express
Photo by Marge Ely/Express