"When you're in tight quarters, it's a lot easier to create a haven for yourself if you have a place for everything and everything in its place," said Anne Evans, a consultant for Linens 'n Things.

The chain is one of many retailers that feature furnishings and accessories designed to make it possible to thrive, not just survive, in small spaces.

"Manufacturers have recognized the demand for furnishings that meet the needs of comfort and function in small living spaces. They've introduced lines that are smaller in scale, lower in price and designed to be multifunctional," said Patricia Bowling, director of communications for the American Furniture Manufacturers Association.

"The main difference in defining the challenges and solutions of furnishing small spaces is the life-stage of the consumer. People have different needs and priorities at different stages in their lives," Bowling said.

Style is particularly important to young adults moving away from home and furnishing a place of their own for the first time. Budget, too, plays a significant role.

"How your room or apartment is decorated says a lot about who you are. Young people especially want where they live to express their individuality and their personality," says Target spokeswoman Laurie Adler. "Going to college or graduating from home to an apartment is usually the first opportunity to have a room of your own to decorate as you choose, but chances are you're on a tight budget."

Modular furnishings that stack, fold, nest and serve multiple purposes are ideally suited to small-space living, and there is plenty to choose. Included are beds for sitting and sleeping; cubes that hold books or clothing but also can be stacked to make a nightstand or room divider; ottomans with storage inside that can be used as a tabletop or for seating and occasional tables that open into dining-room tables.

STUDIO APARTMENT

Most college students plan to take their dorm-room furnishings with them as "starter items" when they graduate to a studio apartment, according to industry experts.

"But there are a lot of home furnishing gaps to fill in when you make that transition," said Bette Kahn, a spokeswoman for Crate & Barrel, a popular source for entry-level home furnishings.

A bed is one of them. A convertible unit such as a sofa bed or a futon that can be used for sitting or sleeping is an ideal, multipurpose solution in a one-room apartment where the bed is in sight. But also consider a trundle bed or a day bed dressed with stylish linens and a colorful comforter or duvet.

Coffee tables with shelves and drawers for storage and a top section that pops up 8 to 10 inches serve as comfortable places for working or dining in front of the TV.

Armoires with fold-out desks double as storage for clothing and work space. A small dresser or chest makes for a bedside table that doubles as storage space for anything from lingerie to books and bed linens.

"Use vertical wall space to the maximum and space behind doors and on top of things that would otherwise be wasted," suggested Janice Simonsen, a spokeswoman for Ikea.

Folding laundry hampers, collapsible lamps, nesting tables, over-door shelving units and free-standing modular bookcase/storage units are a few of the space-saving items offered at Ikea. Free-standing open bookcases double as room dividers and display or storage shelves.

Simonsen likes the idea of bringing color and excitement into a room by hanging textiles on the wall. Hanging fabric creates an accent wall without violating apartment rules against painting.

Lighting is especially important in small spaces, according to Simonsen.

"A multipurpose room needs five or six light sources. You need task lighting for work or study, ambient lighting for relaxing and background lighting to make task lighting easy on the eyes," she said, adding that all of this can be accomplished with portable lamps.

Work stations, entertainment centers and storage cabinets designed for corners make use of what otherwise might be dead space in a small apartment, according to AFMA's Bowling.

"Things on wheels also make a lot of sense in a small apartment. You can get almost anything, from bookcases to coffee tables and chairs, on wheels so you can easily move furniture around to suit your needs," Bowling said.

FIRST HOME

Nearly 90 percent of Americans describe their homes as small to modest in size, according to the AFMA.

Consequently, furnishings from your one-room apartment, or even your dorm room, may work well in a small first home, according to Jackie Hirschhaut, AFMA's vice president of public relations.

"The space-saving furniture that you bought for your first apartment or your college dorm room may serve well in the spare bedroom that doubles as an office and a guest room. Corner work stations are perfect for children's rooms," Hirschhaut said.

After children are grown and their rooms are converted to other uses, these same multipurpose, space-saving pieces of furniture can be used in home offices, recreation rooms, guest rooms and craft rooms.