Sofas
A common mistake is to move a large suburban-scale sofa into small spaces where two comfortable chairs might be a more intelligent choice. Failing that, the recamier or the one-armed daybed (from the first quarter of the 14th century) are practical substitutes—B&B Italia and George Smith both have a fine collections.

Dressers/closets
Utilize your pieces in ways for which they were not designed. Avoid sets; mix and match. Think tall and not wide; linen presses were used as closets in the 18th century when it was fashionable to fold rather than hang clothes. File boxes are another alternative—a great place to pick these up is the monthly house sales at Christie's Auction House.

Mirrors
Don’t underestimate the power of mirrors; they quite literally double the space. Mirrors facing mirror unnerve some people, but if they are perfectly aligned, they can create a room that goes on forever. Mirrored ceilings actually lift the lid of your apartment. I would be hesitant in fixing mirror ceilings in the bedroom (for obvious reasons) and living room, since it's more important here to have a sense of repose. They are best used in dining rooms, cool bathrooms and hallways. Mirrored or polished-steel floors are fantastic for creating the illusion of space and are certainly making a comeback.

Color
Another misconception is that intense colors draws the room in; they don’t. Bold colors can actually push walls out, and color on the ceiling can raise the plane. It varies from apartment to apartment, however.

Space-saving tips/mistakes we make
• The biggest mistake is getting thing all out of proportion. There is a difference between overscale (good) and bulky (bad).

Russell Piccione can be reached at 131 E 71st St between Lexington and Park Aves, (212)288-3033.