Open-Air Furnishings
It's tough to maintain openness in a crowded apartment room, but choosing armless furniture helps create an airy, unfettered look, giving the illusion of more space. Armed with an appropriate sofa, try these room arranging tips to make the most of your space and not limit traffic patterns:
-- Center a rug in the middle of the room. The rug will act as an island, anchoring your furniture.
-- Let the sofa "float" in the middle of the room (front legs on the rug, back legs off) so the room can be accessed from all sides.  



Back Up Your Furniture
"Floating" furniture makes for a great floor plan, but it leaves a wide expanse of boring sofa-back in the open. Use that dead space to your advantage:
-- Slip a slim glass-top console behind the sofa for a small home office area.

"One of the great things about small rooms is that they help us think creatively about the way we live," said Jackie Hirschhaut, vice president of the High Point, N.C.-based trade association. "Furniture is a true complement to a small abode-it helps you maximize your space by providing function, comfort and style."
AFMA suggests the following tips for ways to increase square footage without building on an addition: 

  
Use Your Walls: Add a shelf or rack to display a favourite collection of accessories or photographs.