Small apartment: 10 solutions that make it feel more spacious

In big cities more and more people live in a studio or a one-bedroom apartment. The good news is that floor area isn't everything – a well-designed small home is often more comfortable than a large but poorly organised one. Here are the 10 solutions we use most often in small apartments.

1. A light, unified palette

Light colours reflect light and “push back” the walls. Even more important is that the palette is the same throughout the apartment – when the floor and walls continue from room to room, the eye doesn't stop at boundaries and the space looks bigger. Choose 2–3 main shades (cream, warm white, light wood) and one accent.

2. Storage from floor to ceiling

The most unused space in a small apartment is the upper part of the walls. Wardrobes and cabinets up to the ceiling hold far more and look like a wall, not like furniture. Handleless fronts in the colour of the wall practically “disappear”. This is the strength of custom furniture – it uses every centimetre, including niches and the space above doors.

3. Dual-purpose furniture

• A bed with a lift-up mechanism and storage underneath.
• A sofa bed for guests.
• An extendable dining table.
• A desk hidden in the wardrobe or in the wall.
• A bench in the entrance hall with space for shoes.
• Stools that double as side tables.

4. An open layout

Removing unnecessary corridors and walls between the kitchen and living room gains square metres and light. Zones are defined with lighting, a rug, an island or a low piece of furniture. Before removing walls, however, check whether they are load-bearing – for that you need an architect or an engineer.

5. Mirrors and reflections

A large mirror opposite a window “doubles” the light and the view. Mirrored fronts in the entrance hall or wardrobe make a narrow space feel wider. Glass partitions and glazed doors let light pass from room to room.

6. Curtains from ceiling to floor

When curtains start at the ceiling rather than at the window frame, the room looks taller. Choose light, pale fabrics that let daylight through.

7. Layered lighting

One lamp in the middle of the ceiling makes a small room flat and narrow. Combine hidden lighting in the ceiling or around furniture, wall lamps and backlit niches. Light in the corners and along the walls visually widens the space.

8. Furniture on legs

A sofa, bed or chest of drawers on slim legs shows more floor – and more visible floor means a greater sense of space. Wall-hung furniture in the bathroom and entrance hall has the same effect and makes cleaning easier.

9. Fewer but larger objects

Lots of small furniture and décor makes a space feel cluttered. Better one large rug than several small ones, one large painting instead of a gallery wall and one comfortable sofa instead of a sofa and two armchairs.

10. A compact kitchen and bathroom

In the kitchen – a linear or L-shaped layout with cabinets up to the ceiling, narrower integrated appliances (a 45 cm dishwasher, a combination oven) and a folding or extendable worktop. In the bathroom – a step-free shower instead of a bath, a wall-hung toilet, wall niches instead of shelves and a large mirror. You will find more ideas on the pages for kitchen and bathroom.

The most common mistakes in a small apartment

• Too much furniture, and furniture that is too big.
• Dark, contrasting colours on every wall.
• Buying furniture without a layout plan.
• Forgetting storage – then everything ends up on display.
• Only one central light.

“In a small home there is no room for random decisions. Every centimetre must be thought through.” – Arch. Katerina Taneva

A good interior design project is the biggest difference between a cramped and a cosy small home. See also our completed projects.