Introduction: Small Spaces, Big Ideas
Ah, apartments – the glamorous 3000 sq ft penthouses that we all dream of owning… until reality hits and hands us a shoebox with barely enough space to do some yoga in. If you’re an architect or design enthusiast (which, if you’re reading this, you probably are) you’ve probably daydreamed about creating the perfect living space but your current space potentially feels like a draft of the final layout. But we are here to help you with your apartment interior design.
There’s no need to call the council for a demolition permit just yet. Designing small spaces shouldn’t be seen as a punishment; it’s a challenge that can flex your architectural / design muscles. Limited space, awkward floor plans, zero storage and landlord rules stricter than the building regulations – you name it, apartment living comes with it. But guess what? Those very constraints are the very thing that make it fun (or at least that’s what we tell ourselves.)
In this post, you’ll navigate through clever spatial hacks, layout strategies that’ll impress even the snobbiest of your architect friends, and even ways to inject a sense of you into your space. All ideally without ending up on an episode of hoarders. Ready to transform your humble home from ‘studio flat disaster’ to a compact architectural masterpiece? Grab your coffee, put down the overpriced mechanical pencil and let’s get going!
1. Understanding the Apartment Context: Not All Boxes Are Created Equal
Apartments can be seen as the architectural equivalent of flat-pack furniture, on the outside of the box they look simple and charming, but open the box and you soon realise someone forgot the instructions and trying to make everything work together can be painful. Whether you’re wrestling a studio the size of a piece of paper, a loft with an identity crisis or are sharing a flat with a flatmate who has a “chaotic maximalism” (messy) design philosophy, the apartment feels less like a creative dream and more like an existential nightmare.
As architects we love context, right? Site plans, sun paths, historic references etc… well apartments have context, although instead of sunlight and landscapes, it tends to involve bad plumbing, thin walls and landlords who give you a curfew after painting over the dead fly on the wall to “refresh the apartment”. Every inch counts, each nook is a potential storage goldmine, and every decision must be as precise as the drawing in your portfolio that took hours that probably no one even looked at. The key is to embrace the constraints that you are working with and use its quirks to your advantage.
2. Core Principles of Apartment Interior Design: Tiny Spaces, Big Architectural Moves
Let’s talk about the core principles of apartment design. Yes, principles. Those magical rules we architects pretend to follow but then break when nobody’s looking (we see you, structural beam turned ‘feature’) Like this kitchen “feature in a San Francisco apartment.
Apartment interior design isn’t just about choosing what Ikea furniture you want, although this is about half the battle. It’s about working smarter, not harder and actually pretending you learned something useful from designing those pretend buildings in Uni.
1. Space Efficiency: The Tetris Method
Apartment design can almost be seen as a game of tetris. Maybe more like a 3D Tetris if that even exists. The key is to design vertically, horizontally and diagonally – not just chaotically.
- Multi Functional Furniture
- Think along the lines of sofa beds, tables with hidden compartments or even those fancy folding dining tables that might actually be a transformer. Something that can be used and then stored away or used for another purpose. (Although aesthetics are still a must!)
- Vertical Storage
- Walls are good for more than structural integrity; They can be used for shelves, cabinets and making your apartment feel larger than your student debt (I know, crazy.) It’s important to take advantage of this, just need to make sure you don’t turn it into your great granny’s antique maximalist house style (unless that’s what you’re into)
- Open Layouts
- Defining zones in an open plan space is a great idea, use rugs, lighting and furniture placement to section off your space. You would tend to have warmer lighting in a living room vs a kitchen for example.
2. Light & Brightness: Let There Be Space
Even though you have probably drawn it 400 times you can’t control the sun or its path. But you can make choices to trick it into your apartment.
- Maximise Natural Light
- Mirrors, sheer curtains and reflective surfaces will become almost like a photoshop tool and seem like you’re painting light into the room and will help create the illusion of spaciousness.
- Smart Lighting Layers
- You couldn’t possibly just rely on that one ceiling light bulb for your lighting. (If you do, I have no words for you) although it’s probably not as bad as the people I know that only use the “big” light in their living room even at night watching TV. (I know, MAD.) Moral of the story have multiple light sources including ambient, task and accent lights.
- Reflective Finishes
- Glossy or semi-gloss surfaces bounce light around your space allowing light to get further in making it brighter and feel bigger. It is an architectural cheat code. Large mirrors also do this very well.
3. Smart Storage Solutions
Apartment Interior Design is all about Smart storage solutions, using these to your advantage can really impact the look of your space.
- Hidden Storage
- Built in storage is always a great solution, under-bed compartments and seating with built in storage like a storage ottoman, everything should store something (or someone, if your flatmate gets too annoying)
- Modular and Flexible
- Flexible furniture and storage should adapt to your needs, It could be a nesting stool, which can expand from a stool into multiple seats for when you have friends over. It is to help your space stay functional, not frustrating.
- Declutter Ruthlessly
- You need to be very decisive with your belongings, the ones that you have on display as well as the stuff you shove in that one drawer that has everything and anything in it.
4. Personal Style Without Clutter: Express yourself
Your apartment isn’t just a box to throw everything and anything you buy into and never get rid of anything. That’s a one way ticket to starring on hoarders. Not everything should make the cut.
- Curated Statements
- Choose a couple of statement pieces, something like a replica Eames chair, or the real thing if you have a few thousand lying around somewhere. The aim is to give personality without overwhelming the room.
- Neutral Base with Pops of Colour
- A minimalist backdrop can make your questionable taste in bright neon accessories seem almost like an intentional choice (not that I am judging), but it gives brighter, bolder pieces their chance to shine and let your personality through.
- Texture and Fabrics
- Incorporating textiles add some warmth and depth to a space, allowing a balance between your inner minimalist and the human need for comfort.
3. Sustainability & Budget Friendly Apartment Interior Design
Let’s be honest everyone (especially architects) loves throwing the word sustainability about, normally before showcasing a concrete and steel temple. But designing your apartment sustainably (without breaking your non-existent budget) is easier than you probably think it is. And thankfully for you, I’m not talking about building furniture out of recycled cereal boxes.
- Upcycling Furniture
- Second hand / charity shops and online marketplaces can be a great place to score what can be seemingly new furniture for a great price. As long as you make sure its clean and in good condition it can be a great addition.
- Green is the New Black
- Nothing screams “I’m an architect” like a well placed fiddle leaf fig tree or monstera plant. But houseplants aren’t just decor, they boost air quality, look great and offer you something nice to look at after your tutor rips your latest project apart.
- Energy-Efficient Lighting
- Something that will always help with the bills is changing your lighting to LED lighting. It is far cheaper than your standard bulbs. (Make sure to stick the what I talked about lighting wise in the lighting section earlier.)
4. Common Mistakes to Avoid: Apartment Interior Design Crimes
Making sure you don’t make these mistakes will make your toughest critic jealous. Or at least they will hopefully stop laughing.
- Overfilling Your Space
- Neglecting Lighting
- Ignoring Scale
- Clashing Styles
- Forgetting Storage
The Handover
Well done, although tempting, you’ve made it through this guide without demolishing your entire apartment. Remember, Designing small spaces isn’t a punishment but your creative playground where your architectural skills get to be shown off, think of it as your mini masterpiece, a perfect blend of efficiency, style and that small touch of design ego us architects thrive on.
Ultimately, good apartment design boils down to this: Work with what you have; Add personality without creating chaos and prioritise being comfortable over making an instagram photography studio. Now you can go forth and transform your tiny abode into a big statement. Because as designers we don’t wait for a bigger space, we create bigger ideas.
