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Apartment Therapy's Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces
Whether you inhabit a studio or a sprawling house with one challenging space, Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, co-founder of the most popular interior design website, Apartment Therapy, will help you transform tiny into totally fabulous.
According to Maxwell, size constraints can actually unlock your design creativity and allow you to focus on what’s essential. In this vibrant book, he shares forty small, cool spaces that will change your thinking forever.
These apartments and houses demonstrate hundreds of inventive solutions for creating more space in your home, and for making it more comfortable. Leading us through entrances, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms, bedrooms, home offices, and kids’ rooms, Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces is brimming with ingenious tips and ideas, such as:
• Shifting the sense of scale through contrasting colors
• Adding airiness by using transparent collections
• Utilizing the area under a loft bed for a kitchen and mini-bar
• Tucking an office with chic vintage doors into an unused bedroom corner
In each dwelling Maxwell points out what makes the layout work and what adds style. Most of the “therapy” involves minor tweaks that can be accomplished on a limited budget, such as dividing a room with sheer curtains, turning a door into a desk, or disguising electrical boxes with art displays. An extensive resource guide, including Maxwell’s favorite websites for buying desks, open storage solutions, and much more, will help you turn even the tiniest residence into a place you are always happy to come home to.
According to Maxwell, size constraints can actually unlock your design creativity and allow you to focus on what’s essential. In this vibrant book, he shares forty small, cool spaces that will change your thinking forever.
These apartments and houses demonstrate hundreds of inventive solutions for creating more space in your home, and for making it more comfortable. Leading us through entrances, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms, bedrooms, home offices, and kids’ rooms, Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces is brimming with ingenious tips and ideas, such as:
• Shifting the sense of scale through contrasting colors
• Adding airiness by using transparent collections
• Utilizing the area under a loft bed for a kitchen and mini-bar
• Tucking an office with chic vintage doors into an unused bedroom corner
In each dwelling Maxwell points out what makes the layout work and what adds style. Most of the “therapy” involves minor tweaks that can be accomplished on a limited budget, such as dividing a room with sheer curtains, turning a door into a desk, or disguising electrical boxes with art displays. An extensive resource guide, including Maxwell’s favorite websites for buying desks, open storage solutions, and much more, will help you turn even the tiniest residence into a place you are always happy to come home to.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2010
About the author
Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan
4 books10 followersMaxwell is the founder of Apartment Therapy, initially started as an interior design business. Ryan expanded the business to a website with the help of his brother in 2004 and has since added a home cooking website, The Kitchn, as well.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
September 2, 2010
Ahhh, the newest from the Apartment Therapy family. And how sweet of my public library to make it available to me in such a timely manner. I love you, Public Library.
The Good:
There is a focus on basic concepts in a way that makes them seem accessible. It is not totally dependent on expensive, hard-to-find high design pieces. The rooms are not totally dependent on custom architecture, although some of them do have architect-driven solutions to their space challenges. For example -- if you like the way a room looks, you can identify the key features of that room, e.g. "contrasting paint on the ceiling" or "built-in workspace in a cabinet" or "recessed lighting." If you have a hard time figure out what it is that you like about rooms you're drawn to, this is helpful.
There is a useful index and resource list with sources, shopping resources, and basic pieces. The photos are beautiful, big enough, clear and bright. The accompanying text curates the photos well. Each section isn't totally focused on the homeowner. The book is divide by types of rooms / spaces (entrances, kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, offices, children's rooms)
The Bad:
Do you think it's really true that all the people who have cool small spaces are artists and designers? The book gave me that impression. I was not sure if mere mortals could aspire to what they had accomplished. Just because you can find a friend who's a carpenter/metalworker/architect/contractor who helped create custom built-in shelving and a lofted bedroom in your warehouse space does not mean that is a realistic budget conscious measure for most people.
But overall, I like this book and thought it escaped some of the more difficult challenges of interior design books.
The Good:
There is a focus on basic concepts in a way that makes them seem accessible. It is not totally dependent on expensive, hard-to-find high design pieces. The rooms are not totally dependent on custom architecture, although some of them do have architect-driven solutions to their space challenges. For example -- if you like the way a room looks, you can identify the key features of that room, e.g. "contrasting paint on the ceiling" or "built-in workspace in a cabinet" or "recessed lighting." If you have a hard time figure out what it is that you like about rooms you're drawn to, this is helpful.
There is a useful index and resource list with sources, shopping resources, and basic pieces. The photos are beautiful, big enough, clear and bright. The accompanying text curates the photos well. Each section isn't totally focused on the homeowner. The book is divide by types of rooms / spaces (entrances, kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, offices, children's rooms)
The Bad:
Do you think it's really true that all the people who have cool small spaces are artists and designers? The book gave me that impression. I was not sure if mere mortals could aspire to what they had accomplished. Just because you can find a friend who's a carpenter/metalworker/architect/contractor who helped create custom built-in shelving and a lofted bedroom in your warehouse space does not mean that is a realistic budget conscious measure for most people.
But overall, I like this book and thought it escaped some of the more difficult challenges of interior design books.
December 31, 2022
This one started really strong. There were a handful of “wow!” small cool spaces. MGR didn’t manage to keep up the quality throughout.
Some of those kids’ spaces squeaked into a city studio—wow, and yikes. You do what you have to, of course, but wow that would be a difficult lifestyle.
There was one room that made me laugh. Someone had installed a wraparound shelf system like you’d use for a desk around a crib, and it was so optimistic and naive. Oh dear. Do you want kids on top of the built-ins? That’s how you get kids on top of the built-ins. Those shelves weren’t even a challenge, just an invitation.
Some of those kids’ spaces squeaked into a city studio—wow, and yikes. You do what you have to, of course, but wow that would be a difficult lifestyle.
There was one room that made me laugh. Someone had installed a wraparound shelf system like you’d use for a desk around a crib, and it was so optimistic and naive. Oh dear. Do you want kids on top of the built-ins? That’s how you get kids on top of the built-ins. Those shelves weren’t even a challenge, just an invitation.
January 9, 2017
I once lived in a 300 square-foot Brooklyn apartment. On a block of ornate brownstones with intricate facades and dramatic stoops, mine was a cereal box of a building. But what my apartment lacked in grandeur, storage and temperature control, it teemed with possibility.
Looking back, I did a meh job decorating it. But at the time, I thought I was an interiors mastermind.
The truth is, we're all just trying to make our homes as livable and lovely as possible for who we are in this moment. I liked looking through this collection of clever, teensy spaces, some of which made my old apartment look palatial. I liked reading about who the people who lived in each place and guessing about why they made the choices they did.
I miss that apartment. I hope it's well-loved and appointed today.
Looking back, I did a meh job decorating it. But at the time, I thought I was an interiors mastermind.
The truth is, we're all just trying to make our homes as livable and lovely as possible for who we are in this moment. I liked looking through this collection of clever, teensy spaces, some of which made my old apartment look palatial. I liked reading about who the people who lived in each place and guessing about why they made the choices they did.
I miss that apartment. I hope it's well-loved and appointed today.
June 4, 2026
yeah THIS is what i'm talking about !! i wanna see real people's actual spaces. I love you apartment therapy
December 31, 2014
Full of advice that is nearly no good to people who rent apartments in my area. With most apartments having no-paint leases and layouts that resemble nothing found in NYC or LA, it's useless. However if you own your condo, go right ahead and read this; it will be useful to you.
July 17, 2010
Needs more pictures per room to accurately show the space.
May 2, 2012
I FREAKING LOVE Apartment Therapy :)
August 27, 2023
In my Peace Corps years and during my USAF career, I moved frequently and had few options regarding the spaces in which I lived. I was quite resourceful in finding easy, economical fixes. Books such as this, are a boon to those of us who need to get all the mileage we can from the spaces we are allotted in this crazy life. The images lure one in, and the text provides insights into how to get around the "no painting" clauses (and other limiting factors) found in most rental contracts. The ideas provided stimulate the resourceful reader to explore new options and to orchestrate a design that works with a budget and with limitations.I have happily dog-eared many pages! I enjoy Apartment Therapy's online presence too.
November 27, 2019
Useful book showing small spaces that people actually live in, yea! Such a relief from the overly styled interior design books that I see much more frequently. Glad that the text is secondary, the photos are the thing. My most favorite bit - the homeowner designed and built vertical drawer that houses a TV! And it's fantastic that there is a source list in the back of the book!
October 9, 2021
I'm always interested to see how people decorate a small living space. The disappointment comes from a few things:
1) Many of these home have good "bones" - Show me what to do with a cramped Pittsburgh box built in the mid-1940s!
2) Many of these people are artistic or some sort of designer
1) Many of these home have good "bones" - Show me what to do with a cramped Pittsburgh box built in the mid-1940s!
2) Many of these people are artistic or some sort of designer
April 27, 2023
3.5 stars for me.
I always love seeing how other people decorate their homes. Some of it worked for me, others didn't. Nothing groundbreaking, but I did enjoy seeing different spaces and seeing how people worked with a smaller space.
I always love seeing how other people decorate their homes. Some of it worked for me, others didn't. Nothing groundbreaking, but I did enjoy seeing different spaces and seeing how people worked with a smaller space.
January 29, 2024
I loved this!
The photos and tips made for great design inspiration! Whether you are working with a small or big space you will find these tips and spaces shared offering insight and design that can transform any space.
Enjoy!
The photos and tips made for great design inspiration! Whether you are working with a small or big space you will find these tips and spaces shared offering insight and design that can transform any space.
Enjoy!
February 5, 2018
Lots of great ideas for interior design and a good listing of places to buy items with information on pricing in the back.
October 13, 2020
I love seeing how other people live - especially in small spaces.
May 1, 2021
Apparently "all" you need for your small cool space is money, ownership (of the space) and to be handy in building just about everything. Who knew?
October 18, 2023
The pictures of the apartments were cool, weird, and unique. I liked seeing all the different styles for the small spaces.
May 7, 2026
This book feels very early 00s coded but was inspiring for today's resurgence of maximalism. I found some shelving styling ideas.
March 7, 2017
Tips, layouts, photos.
May 25, 2011
I first heard about "A Big Book of Small Cool Spaces" on NPR's The Splendid Table hosted by Lynn Rosetto-Casper. Lynn interviewed the book's author, Apartment Therapy's Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, about challenges of cooking and entertaining in tiny big city apartments. And while New Yorkers, Bostonians and Chicagoans can get by without cooking due to the abundance of take-out options, according to Mr. Gillingham-Ryan, there was definitely hope for those who wanted to combine city living with culinary fun.
Many of the “small cool spaces” in the book are located in renovated former office buildings, warehouses and factories. While all of them have oodles of character, square footage is definitely at a premium. Instead of giving up and moving into the suburbs, the owners tackle the challenge head-on, resulting in some truly unique, practical yet elegant layout solutions.
Do not be mistaken – we are not talking about movie stars, big-shot lawyers or realtors here. The owners of these fascinating little urban gems range from beginner artists, photographers, graphic designers and architects getting their first “real” place in the city to families with two working parents and multiple children.
The author's own apartment is also in the book, and is just as worthy of admiration as the others. He and his wife lived in a 300 square foot space with their baby daughter for a year (you can almost hear a chuckle as you read, “...you get to know your baby really well that way.”), before their neighbor decided to move and sold his 400 square foot apartment to them, making it possible for the young family to significantly expand their living space and finally create a bit of separation between themselves and their little girl.
Even if you are not scrambling for space, I would strongly recommend this book as a fantastic source of space-saving ideas that allow you to make the most of your square footage without sacrificing style.
Many of the “small cool spaces” in the book are located in renovated former office buildings, warehouses and factories. While all of them have oodles of character, square footage is definitely at a premium. Instead of giving up and moving into the suburbs, the owners tackle the challenge head-on, resulting in some truly unique, practical yet elegant layout solutions.
Do not be mistaken – we are not talking about movie stars, big-shot lawyers or realtors here. The owners of these fascinating little urban gems range from beginner artists, photographers, graphic designers and architects getting their first “real” place in the city to families with two working parents and multiple children.
The author's own apartment is also in the book, and is just as worthy of admiration as the others. He and his wife lived in a 300 square foot space with their baby daughter for a year (you can almost hear a chuckle as you read, “...you get to know your baby really well that way.”), before their neighbor decided to move and sold his 400 square foot apartment to them, making it possible for the young family to significantly expand their living space and finally create a bit of separation between themselves and their little girl.
Even if you are not scrambling for space, I would strongly recommend this book as a fantastic source of space-saving ideas that allow you to make the most of your square footage without sacrificing style.
April 11, 2011
This book is filled with beautiful photos and design ideas that got me excited about decorating my next apartment. The tips are useful and the way these people have customized their homes is amazing. It offers suggestions on how to camouflage elements you don't like (I particularly liked the photo of the buzzer panel surrounded by similarly-sized artwork), and how to enhance elements you love. I wish there were more of every section--more examples, more tips, more ideas. I feel completely out of my depth when it comes to decorating--I can tell if a space is beautiful, but have no idea WHY it works so well--so having the copy to explain what worked about each room was really helpful.
It does frustrate me that there are so many apartments with modifications added, like loft beds or walls torn down, because most people can't do that in a rental. This book isn't exactly written for the average person in a cheap apartment they can't do very much to. That's why I ultimately stopped reading the AT blog, as well. It's not great at acknowledging that many people don't have anywhere near the budget for the kind of things they promote.
Some of the copy referred to design elements that can't be seen in the photos, which is annoying, like it wasn't proofread enough before going to press.
You know what I'd really like to see? Apartment Therapy: Ugly Apartment Makeover Edition. Like, take a crappy carpeted apartment with ugly doors and horrible "bones" (like the one I live in now), that you're not allowed to make major modifications to, and make it something gorgeous. That's something I could really appreciate and learn from.
It does frustrate me that there are so many apartments with modifications added, like loft beds or walls torn down, because most people can't do that in a rental. This book isn't exactly written for the average person in a cheap apartment they can't do very much to. That's why I ultimately stopped reading the AT blog, as well. It's not great at acknowledging that many people don't have anywhere near the budget for the kind of things they promote.
Some of the copy referred to design elements that can't be seen in the photos, which is annoying, like it wasn't proofread enough before going to press.
You know what I'd really like to see? Apartment Therapy: Ugly Apartment Makeover Edition. Like, take a crappy carpeted apartment with ugly doors and horrible "bones" (like the one I live in now), that you're not allowed to make major modifications to, and make it something gorgeous. That's something I could really appreciate and learn from.
June 17, 2010
I'm fascinated by small living spaces that are cleverly designed. I watch a lot of HGTV and love to see the creative ways that people use their space. I saw this book at the library and was immediately hooked just by looking at the picture on the cover! I am please to say that there are tons more gorgeous photos inside as well.
The book is divided into chapters which focus on different living areas (Quick Entrances, Cozy Kitchens & Dining Rooms, Compact Living Rooms, Miniature Bedrooms, Smart Home Offices, and Petite Children's Rooms). Each chapter also contains a "Thoughts On..." section to go with that chapter's theme. For example, the living room chapter contains "Thoughts on Bookshelves" and "Thoughts on Televisions and Stereos." There are a lot of great tips on making the most of these living spaces, and there are a lot of details on the homes shown in the photos. In the back of the book are more resources and tips for small living spaces.
I was really impressed with this book, and I enjoyed reading the tips as much as I enjoyed looking at the pictures. I recommend it to anyone who has a small apartment or house and is looking for creative ways to maximize their space!
The book is divided into chapters which focus on different living areas (Quick Entrances, Cozy Kitchens & Dining Rooms, Compact Living Rooms, Miniature Bedrooms, Smart Home Offices, and Petite Children's Rooms). Each chapter also contains a "Thoughts On..." section to go with that chapter's theme. For example, the living room chapter contains "Thoughts on Bookshelves" and "Thoughts on Televisions and Stereos." There are a lot of great tips on making the most of these living spaces, and there are a lot of details on the homes shown in the photos. In the back of the book are more resources and tips for small living spaces.
I was really impressed with this book, and I enjoyed reading the tips as much as I enjoyed looking at the pictures. I recommend it to anyone who has a small apartment or house and is looking for creative ways to maximize their space!
February 14, 2017
Makes me want to do some decorating and make some art.
June 15, 2010
Ever since someone introduced me to the website, I've been a fan of the tips, photos, personal stories and solutions featured on the site. The first book, Apartment Therapy, was a neat compilation of selected apartments highlighting individual features in each residence . This book takes that format but has additional tips for decor and organization for small, some tiny, spaces. Even though some of the furniture/fixtures cannot be easily purchased (i.e. where I live in central BC), many of the apartment owners/renters found their goods uses at markets, Craigslist, recycling stores. This book has lots of ideas, lots of photos, and a room-by-room organization that makes sense. A plus is the compact size for a hardcover design book. I am a fan and believer of the lifestyle "therapy" that Gillingham-Ryan preaches and am working on de-cluttering and streamlining our small place likewise.
October 16, 2013
In his introduction, the author says he's "convinced that there are basic lesson and common elements that make a room great-lessons that are not hard to learn and that don't require a substantial amount of money to implement".
Think a little outside of the box here. I don't live in an apartment, but I do own a small two bedroom/1 bathroom house. All the ideas for small rooms apply to me, and my budget it tight so I devour books and magazines with these kinds of inspiration.
Yes, it requires imagination and adaptation. What utilization of your living space wouldn't do so? Look past the décor choices and focus on the arrangement of the furniture pieces, and you'll find ideas you can use in your place.
Think a little outside of the box here. I don't live in an apartment, but I do own a small two bedroom/1 bathroom house. All the ideas for small rooms apply to me, and my budget it tight so I devour books and magazines with these kinds of inspiration.
Yes, it requires imagination and adaptation. What utilization of your living space wouldn't do so? Look past the décor choices and focus on the arrangement of the furniture pieces, and you'll find ideas you can use in your place.
September 18, 2013
i'm not a big reader of home-decorating books/magazines (lucky enough to have a partner with pretty good design sense, and i do ok!), but i saw this while wandering the library and thought it would be fun to have a quick glance through. no big breakthrough ideas for me, as most of the best ideas were more practical if you owned your apartment and/or had a decent chunk of change to spend on renovations, but it was still cool to see some of things people were doing (i do love seeing inside other people's small city apartments!) and incorporate that into our thinking when we feel like changing things up, or when an inevitable move comes...
January 22, 2013
The most useful thing in this book was the list of links and reviews at the end of the book. Home decor is not like clothes fashion, in that if you want a look in clothes, you can probably cobble something together, just probably not with expensive fabrics and accoutrements. With furniture and fixtures, there are VERY few things you can buy that mimic the big-ticket items.
There are tons of great looks and I take my hat off to some of these spaces, but saing a doc of some of those links to online purveyors of art and frames and furniture is the REAL entertainment.
There are tons of great looks and I take my hat off to some of these spaces, but saing a doc of some of those links to online purveyors of art and frames and furniture is the REAL entertainment.
July 8, 2010
Loved the fresh and fun take on home design featured here - great ways to maximize a small space. It is amazing to see what clever design can do to make a small space functional and beautiful. I dislike large homes (too much work to keep clean!) so the townhomes, lofts, studios, and apartments featured are great inspiration for me.
November 28, 2010
This book is filled with great inspiration. There are pages after pages of ideas for small spaces. The notes to go along with the photos gave me some ideas to create a space unique to us but with a bit more creativity. If you're looking to redo a small space, or really any space, this book is filled with ideas to get you started.
November 25, 2010
I have the ultimate small space....I've managed to clean it out and now I think I'm ready to move forward & decorate it a bit more. Finding my style has been tough...I like so much. But I think a mix of farmhouse, vintage and a touch of modern is what I am.
Great ideas...can't do most of them on my budget. But fun to read anyway.
Great ideas...can't do most of them on my budget. But fun to read anyway.
May 2, 2012
I have visited Apartment Therapy's website and came across this book while at the library. I am in this home buyer mode and have been looking at decorating books. I really enjoyed seeing different things that can be accomplished with small spaces. When I do purchase my first home, it won't be a huge house as it is just me and my daughter.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews