If you live in a limited space (like an efficiency apartment) you can often make do, but residing in just one room can be particularly daunting.

First, assess how you live: Do you like to throw parties or have regular gatherings? How much storage space do you have available for books, clothing, knick-knacks, etc.? Do you work at home?

Perhaps the biggest factor in one-room designing is the separating of public and private space (bookcases and Murphy beds are good examples for this purpose).

Guidelines for Living In a Small Space:

Items can always be put away and stored in pretty boxes. And the boxes can be “hidden in plain sight” by stacking them in the open spaces at the bottoms of desks and end tables.

“Zones” can be created with lighting. They can also be created well with a L-shaped studio apartment, when divided roughly into thirds: The rear corner, the front space, and the mid-section.

You can indeed put big pieces in a small space.

Select furniture with legs so you can see under the piece (and the room will look less small).

If you’re going to paint, use one color and bring in different textures (your place will appear to have more space). You don’t want 50 different colors fighting with each other in one room; the walls will feel like they’re closing in!

Don’t put all the furniture in the room’s center.

A good sturdy coffee table can double for dining or as a work table.

If you don’t have enough space to go horizontal, consider vertical.

If you have a kitchen and you’re considering painting it, make the color identical to the rest of the room, or paint it to totally contrast.

You DO NOT want a large desk in a one-room place, OK? It should be no more than 48 by 24 inches.

Even with a one room place, you should still be able to seat at least three guests. You’ll want pull-up type seating such as benches, small dining chairs or ottomans (these can all be moved over to the sofa when company comes a-calling).

Multi-task furniture is a godsend. Stools, benches and plant stands can double as bedside tables. Foyer-style chests and dining room sideboards are great buffets for serving guests and can double as dressers.

In a long, narrow room, sitting the sofa (if possible, consider a 72-inch model) on the shortest wall will actually give you more space for other furniture.

When guests have to sleep on the floor, make it more tolerable for them by having the most luxurious linens, pillows and bed sheets you can afford.

Still a little crowded? Get a twin-size inflatable air mattress for those extra bodies.

Even in a one-room place, you will still need a foyer. Create one by installing a shelf or a low bookcase with a little tray on the top for your mail, keys and other small essentials.

I tried the Natural Orange Fruit Spread and Orchard’s Finest Michigan Red Tart Cherry Preserves on some of the Thanksgiving Day meal.

The results: I liked the orange marmalade fruit spread on the turkey stuffing and cranberry sauce; it was good.

But when I added the red tart cherry preserves, that turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce became awesome! (I put the preserves on the turkey, and mixed a little bit of the preserves in the stuffing and cranberry sauce.)

The taste and flavors all worked and blended in perfectly; delicious!

I’m definitely using the marmalades and preserves on the leftovers, including sandwiches.

And I’m still using them on toast-and have recently added waffles!

For more info, check out www.smuckers.com.

Some Culinary Milestones

1902-Campbell’s Soups expanded its product line to 21 varieties-for the next 30 years.

Also, the National Biscuit Company (later better known as Nabisco) introduces Barnum’s Animals (P.T. Barnum had no connection to this product nor did he receive any pay for the use of his name)-those animal-shaped cookies in a box designed to look like a cage. The string attached to the box is intended to make it easy to hang on a Christmas tree.

And in Philadelphia, then New York, the first food automat opened (a self-service eatery).

In 1906, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes were invented.

In 1908, James L. Kraft launched a wholesale cheese business in Chicago.

1916-Piggly-Wiggly, the first self-service grocery store, was founded by Clarence Saunders in Memphis, Tennessee.

Also, fortune cookies are introduced to the world by David Jung,  a Los Angeles noodle maker.

In 1930, The Continental Baking Company changes the course of commercial bread products forever when it introduces loaves cut into slices.

Also, the Birds Eye label appears with the official intro of commercially packaged frozen food, named for scientist Clarence Birdseye, who perfected the method.

1931-Twinkies debuted!

Also, Bisquick.

1933-Kraft Caramels debuted.

1934-Ritz Crackers debuted.

1937-Kraft macaroni and cheese dinners debuted.

In 1941, General Mills launched Cheerioats; four years later, the product was renamed as Cherrios.

In 1942, America’s first yogurt company, Dannon, was founded.

Also, in Jan. of that year, the U.S. government began food rationing.

1945-A patent’s filed for the process of cooking food with microwaves.

1946-The National School Lunch Act is passed to help raise the dietary standards of children, especially those from economically hit families.

Also, the U.S. government lifts restrictions on rationed items.

In 1947, Redi-Whip debuted.

In 1949, General Mills and Pillsbury began selling instant cake mix.

Also, the first Pillsbury Bakeoff “rises” at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. It was originally called the “Grand National Recipe and Baking Contest.”

1950-Earl Tupper decided to sell his plastic kitchen containers directly to consumers by way of “Tupperware parties.”

Also, high school dropout William Rosenberg opened a small doughnut and coffee shop in Quincy, Massachusetts called Dunkin’ Donuts. He licensed the first of many franchises in 1955.

1951-Health officials recommended the fluoridation of public drinking water as a means of reducing tooth decay.

1963-Schlitz  began selling their beer in the new tab-opening aluminum cans.

Also, Ronald McDonald made his first TV appearance (played by Willard Scott).

And the Oscar Mayer “Weiner Jingle” debuted on the radio.

In 1964, the first Arby’s fast-food restaurant opened.

1970-Hamburger Helper debuted.

Also, Eggo Waffles debuted.

Did You Know That…..

Geese are anatomically different from other poultry.

It was Thomas Jefferson who brought the early American forerunner of macaroni and cheese to the U.S.

Okra has always been very popular in the American South and especially in Creole recipes.