The staircase acts as both room divider and main storage. The stair “carpet” is made from the same tough rubber that is used to make tires for semis.

Partitioning small spaces may seem counterintuitive, but when combined with storage solutions, room dividers can make compact homes feel bigger and more multifunctional.

Brad Smith’s compact former coach house, tucked away in one of London’s many hidden cobbled mews, was in need of a radical over-haul when his partner Brian Brennan moved in.