Creating Open Spaces

• Open-floor plans are popular in contemporary home design and for good reason. An open-floor plan makes even small spaces seem large and open. Open-floor plans are plans that leave spaces as connected as possible, featuring few full walls and large, multipurpose areas. Half walls are commonly used to make clear delineations between spaces in open-floor plans.
  
  

Forgo the Formal Spaces

• The formal living and dining room are some of the most underused areas in modern homes. Instead of including these rooms, create more livable, everyday areas that also can function as dining areas and can be used for entertaining. Kitchen islands can double as a cooking preparation space and for meal times, and can separate a kitchen space from a living and entertaining space without the necessity of a full wall.
  
  

Create Storage in Walls

• In a small home, the more built-in storage space the better. Instead of creating full walls, use shelving to separate spaces. Also consider using the space between studs for built-in shelving, thus creating storage without sacrificing square footage or livable space.