Spacious living in a small apartment

Lily Cichanowicz Lily Cichanowicz
Rénovation d'un appartement, EK Architecte EK Architecte 모던스타일 주방
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When a couple marries, there are a lot of new milestones on the horizon. It’s a very exciting time in their lives. Perhaps they consider having children in the near future or they decide to buy a new home together. No matter what the future holds, a couple needs a home that is malleable to the different forms it could take. Alternatively, as a single, owning your own space is always a great form of freedom and security in itself. It’s something for just about anyone to celebrate.

Yet real-estate prices are rising all around the world, and space is not so easy to come by.  Therefore, we must rely on creative designs to best maximise space. You may find it surprising that even a small studio apartment can be highly stylish and accommodating to the needs of a newlywed couple, young business professional, or student. With the right tips and tricks in mind you can certainly do a phenomenal job at making a small apartment into a distinguished and homey space. Here is some advice to help get you started.

Make a budget

A fundamental element of any design undertaking is to set a budget. This is especially true for a young person who is just starting out their adult life. Within a small apartment space is important to keep practicality in mind. It will help you to make the most function space possible while also keeping your focus away from superfluous expenditures like fleeting seasonal trends. Opt for antique and vintage furnishings as there are often many aesthetically pleasing finds for a discounted price. Also, consider going small and versatile with your furniture choices. A set of shelves will be able to house more of your clothing, books, and papers than a bulky armoire. Additionally, a smaller loveseat and vintage chair will make the space more dynamic than attempting to cram an oversized sofa in it instead.

Start with the entranceway

A great spot to add some extra pizzazz and personalisation that you might be inclined to overlook is the entryway. With the addition of a colourful doormat and by giving the doorframe a new paintjob, this corner of the home is bound to give the entire studio apartment a facelift. This cheerful green glass door and accompanying tiling by ArchedDesign add a striking touch to the overall aesthetic of the small entryway. To add space, feel free to hang a mirror here, too. Plus, it will serve the practical purpose of giving you a spot to check your appearance before heading out the door. Installing lighting at the base of the wall, as we see in this example, will also help to make the entryway appear wider. Adhere a few knobs to the wall for hanging coats in place of a coat tree to save space.

Configuring space

Now that we’ve made it to the main area of the small apartment, we must be very strategic with the way we configure our furniture within the space. If we are careful, we will be able to incorporate a kitchen, dining area, study, living room, bathroom and sleeping area all within the confines of even a small studio apartment. To help make the apartment feel unified and keep it from becoming chaotic, we suggest picking a colour scheme or overarching style of design that you’d like to cultivate. Combined with the fact that you already have to adhere to specific spatial constraints, choosing a theme to follow will make it easier to select furniture and décor. To separate the sleeping area from the main living areas, try situating a bookcase, desk, or large chest in between the two parts of the apartment. Alternatively, you can also go with a low wall partition between kitchen and living area like we see in this example.

Space-conscious bathroom

Creating a pleasant and functional bathroom is often a challenge in a small apartment. It is certainly not impossible to pull this off, however. With a standing shower and the right storage strategies, you will have a nice bathroom in no time. One easy way to stow items is with the help of a built in shelf in the shower area like the one we see in this apartment. If your shower isn’t endowed with such a feature, simply purchase a shower rack for holding your most commonly used cosmetics. For less used items, you can always install a shelving system like the one residing just outside the bathroom in this apartment. Other alternatives include installing some floating shelves inside the bathroom itself. Go with a clear shower door or curtain to enhance the feeling of spaciousness in the small bathroom.

Creating a kitchen with character

Each apartment is unique, and small studio apartments are no exception. It is completely up to you how you’d like to divide the kitchen, living room, dining room, and bedroom in your small apartment. Perhaps uniting the bedroom and living room together and keeping the kitchen and dining room as one will best suit you. In this case, choosing a kitchenette that extends to include counter space for eating is a great way to maximise space. In this kitchen, the chairs could even be removed to allow for increased room for cooking. Incorporating some colour with a feature wall near your kitchen area will also give it some added definition. This area is also an excellent spot to add some décor. In this kitchen for instance, the 3-D animal heads, statue and visually stimulating graphic art add flare and help to better incorporate the blue feature wall. Plus, the single yellow chair brings out the similar shade present in the wall art.

Combine the bedroom and living room

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If you chose to combine the dining room and kitchen that means that you’re probably likely to use the remaining space in your apartment for the living room and sleeping area. Choosing a daybed is a convenient means of maximising space most efficiently. Another useful trick is to get a bed that comes with built-in drawers beneath or one that can accommodate storage underneath the mattress. A wardrobe with a mirror front like the one featured here will help to create the illusion of space. Add another chair to make the living area more dynamic, and you’ll have a fully functional living and sleeping area all rolled into one! Pick a bright colour like this chair to add some style. A cosy rug like the one in this room will also help make the area more comfortable. Going with light colours on the walls will also help to make the bedroom-living room feel larger.

Add some accessories

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Though it may feel like your options are limited as far as large-scale furniture and design goes, the right accessories can go a long way in making the apartment look the way you want it. From wall art, to plants to candles to sentimental mementos and souvenirs, these are really the things that will give the apartment that personal, homey touch we all seek in the place where we live. These items will help set the right tone and will ultimately be the thing that makes this space your own. If you aren’t sure where exactly to come by such items, spend an afternoon at an antique shop or flea market, display a gift from a family member or friend, or you can even make your own DIY crafts. There’s no right or wrong answer in how you choose to accessorise, but it can always be fun to make the decorations a bit eclectic. For example, this bulbous jar with a shapely branch in it, vintage washboard, little clock and DIY flower vases go swimmingly together while their differences also make this arrangement dynamic and visually stimulating.

If you found this Ideabook useful, check out this guide to making small changes that will completely transform your apartment. Happy decorating! 

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