More Tips for Living Well in 1 Room

New York City designer Elaine Griffin, author of "Design Rules" (Gotham, 2009), offers these tips for living comfortably and stylishly in one room:

— Create Zones. Divide your space into "zones" dedicated to certain activities (sleeping, socializing, eating, working). L-shaped studios can work well when divided roughly into thirds: the front space, the rear corner and the ell of the L. It's OK for some zones to do double duty (i.e., working and dining).

— Plan for Company. Even if you are the world's biggest hermit, you should still be able to seat at least three guests. Pull-up seating lets you do that: Think ottomans, benches or small dining chairs that can be moved over to the sofa when folks come over.

— Sofa goes on short wall. In long, narrow rooms, sitting the sofa on the shortest wall will actually give you more space for other furniture. Sixty-inch-long loveseats never sit more than one person comfortably. If you have enough space for a 72-inch-long "apartment sofa," it's a better option.

— Make an entrance. Even in the tiniest spaces, you still need a foyer. Create a "faux foyer" near the front door by installing a shelf or low bookcase with a little tray on top for keys and mail.

Color cohesively. Keeping your color palette tight in small spaces gives visual cohesion and prevents the walls from closing in.

— Hide it in plain sight. Stack pretty storage baskets and boxes in the open spaces at the bottoms of consoles, desks and end tables.

— Guest Relations. Invest in a twin-size inflatable air mattress to accommodate overnight guests. But splurge on the most luxurious linens you can afford to make up for when guests have to sleep on the floor.

— Multi-tasking furniture. In a small space, you have to love every piece of furniture because you're looking at it constantly. Think outside the box when shopping: Stools, benches and plant stands make terrific bedside tables. Dining room sideboards and foyer-style chests are great buffets for serving guests, and also make perfect dressers.