How I Learned to Make Under 700 Square Feet Work as a Home

Living under 700 square feet didn't feel difficult when I first moved here, mostly because I arrived with very little. I came with just one suitcase, and at the time it felt like a fresh start in the simplest way possible. There wasn't anything to organise, no decisions about storage, no pressure to make a space feel "complete." It was just me, my suitcase, and an empty space that slowly started to feel familiar.

IMAGE BLOCKThe apartment early on, mostly empty
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That didn't last long. I came from a much warmer place, so when I arrived, I didn't even have the basics for the climate. My first few weeks were spent figuring out what it actually means to live in a cold place. I bought my first jacket, then a heavier one, then sweaters that quickly became part of everyday life. It all felt practical in the moment, but in a one-bedroom, even practical things begin to reshape the space.

At the same time, I've always been someone who shops quite a bit, so over time things naturally accumulated. It's interesting how a home can shift without a clear moment of change.

About a year later, my partner moved in with his own belongings and routines. The space shifted from mine to ours, and everything had to be reconsidered. It wasn't just about fitting two people into a small home, but making sure the space could support two lives without feeling chaotic or crowded.

That's when we had one of our first furniture decisions. In a small home, a sofa is never just a sofa. We chose the Araam Sectional because we needed something that could adapt to different parts of daily life without taking over the room. It works as everyday seating, transforms into a sleeping space when needed, and is designed with practicality in mind, with removable covers that make everyday upkeep easier. It also comes in two directional options, left or right facing, which helps it fit different room layouts without feeling limiting.

IMAGE BLOCKThe Araam Sectional in the living area, as sofa and as bed
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What I didn't realise at the time is how much one piece could shape the way we live. The sofa naturally became the centre of the home, where we unwind, where mornings begin with coffee, and where life quietly gathers over time without feeling forced.

Moving has taught me how I think about space. It's less about trying to make everything fit, and more about learning what actually deserves to be there in the first place. Over time, a few things have become clear. One of them is that small homes work better when you stop thinking in terms of rooms and start thinking in terms of how you actually live.

I've also learned that every piece of furniture has to justify its presence. Not in a strict way, but in a practical one. In a small home, something can't just look good. It has to quietly earn its place by doing more than one job, whether that's giving you extra storage, shifting with your needs over time, or just sitting in the room without making it feel crowded.

Storage has also become something I think about differently. The best kind isn't what you notice first. It just blends into the space, doing its job without drawing attention. When storage feels visible everywhere, the room starts to feel smaller than it is.

IMAGE BLOCKA corner where storage disappears into the room
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And then there's empty space, which I used to think I needed to fill. Now I see it differently. In a small home, empty space isn't wasted, it's what gives everything else room to breathe.

More than anything, I've realised that a home like this is never really finished. It shifts as routines change, as people come in and out of your space, and as your needs evolve.