Decorate and furnish a small apartment can sometimes be a daily challenge. How can you make the most of every square meter without sacrificing comfort and aesthetics? Whether it's a studio or a one-bedroom apartment, small spaces require a thoughtful approach to design. Our travels around the world have inspired us with ingenious solutions, Scandinavian apartments minimalists to perfectly optimized Japanese spacesLet's see together how to decorate a small apartment intelligently and creatively, by combining clever storage, multifunctional furniture and lighting effects that visually enlarge the space.
Our article in brief:
To be able to furnish a small apartment intelligently, you need to rely on practical solutions that optimize every available square centimeter. Here are some of them:
- Choose dual-purpose furniture like sofa beds and storage ottomans for maximize available space.
- Take advantage of the verticality of the walls up to the ceiling with shelves and hanging storage units to free up floor space.
- Structure the space with light dividers like open bookcases or changes in floor materials.
- Multiply light sources and use strategically placed mirrors to visually enlarge the space.
- Transform nooks and crannies into valuable storage.
In this article
Furnishing a small apartment with multifunctional and retractable furniture
In a small apartment, each piece of furniture must justify its presence by its versatility. Multifunctional furniture is the ideal solution to maximize available space And furnish a small apartment while meeting multiple needs. A quality sofa bed becomes your daily ally, providing a comfortable seating area by day and a welcoming bedroom by night.
Extendable or folding tables adapt to all situations: compact for everyday use, they can be folded out to accommodate friends. We also love storage ottomans that serve as both extra seating and a space to store magazines or blankets. For a small space, choose furniture with clean lines and thin legs which visually lighten the space.
Retractable furniture also helps revolutionize the way wefurnish a small apartmentWall beds free up considerable space during the day, while fold-down desks create a workspace that disappears after use. These solutions allow you to maintain the comfort of a large apartment in a smaller space.
Use height to maximize storage
For furnish a small apartment, don't hesitate to exploit all its verticalityInstall shelves up to the ceiling to store books, decorative objects, or closed storage. For rooms with high ceilings, consider a mezzanine, which will double your living space.
Hanging storage systems free up floor space while providing practical solutions: floating shelves, wall hooks, or kitchen rails transform your walls into functional spaces. In our latest development project, we installed custom-made cupboards using the full height of a Parisian studio, thus tripling its storage capacity.
For items used occasionally, don't hesitate to take advantage of overhead storage above doors or windows. These wasted spaces become valuable storage areas for suitcases or seasonal decorations, freeing up more accessible closets.
Furnishing a small, functional kitchen
Cooking often represents a major challenge when you want to furnish a small apartmentVertical organization is also essential in this space. A credenza equipped with bars and hooks holds utensils, spices and small accessories while freeing up counter space. Narrow sliding storage between the refrigerator and the wall provides additional space for bottles or cans.
To save space, opt for equipment designed for small spaces: a compact refrigerator, a slim dishwasher, or a two-burner stovetop. Wall units that reach all the way to the ceiling provide ample storage, while hanging baskets under the shelves make the most of every available centimeter.
Maximize your countertop space with ingenious solutions: a sink-mounted cutting board, a removable stovetop, or a wall-mounted folding side table. These simple tricks transform a tiny kitchen into a practical space where preparing delicious meals remains a pleasure.
Storage tips for a small kitchen
Here are some tips for a small kitchen and furnish a small apartment without taking the head:
- Use the inside of cupboard doors to attach flat storage (spices, aluminum foil)
- Install open shelves for glasses and plates used daily
- Choose transparent stackable boxes to easily view their contents
- Hang your most used utensils within easy reach on a wall bar
Define spaces without partitioning your small apartment
In a small apartment, partitioning traditionally reduces the light and accentuates the feeling of crampedness. light separations that structure the space without weighing it downAn open bookcase effectively separates the living room and bedroom while providing ample storage. Curtains create temporary privacy, while studio windows add an industrial chic touch while still allowing light to filter through.
Furniture is a great way to delineate functional areas. Place your sofa at right angles to define the living room area, or use a low piece of furniture as a divider between the kitchen and dining room. Colonial furniture with its elegant lines and warm woods brings an exotic dimension while serving as a natural separation.
Changing floor materials clearly define different areas without walls. A rug visually delineates the living room, while a change in floor color or different tile subtly marks the passage to the kitchen or entryway. These visual boundaries organize the space without compartmentalizing it.
Maximize brightness to visually enlarge the space
Light is your best ally in a small apartment. Natural light visually pushes back the walls and creates a feeling of space. Choose light, clear curtains that filter light without blocking it. Strategically position mirrors opposite windows to increase brightness and create the illusion of depth.
Artificial lighting plays a crucial role in small spaces. Combine multiple light sources: wall sconces that don't take up too much space, recessed ceiling spotlights, and accent lamps. This approach creates a variety of moods while illuminating every corner of your apartment.
Light colors visually enlarge a space. Neutral tones like off-white, beige, or pale gray reflect light and open up rooms. To avoid monotony, add pops of color with accessories that are easy to change as you wish. Painting a narrow hallway with bright hues can transform this often dark passage into a welcoming space.
Optimizing the bathroom in a small apartment
The bathroom often presents the greatest design challenges. Start with favor equipment suitable for small areas : a walk-in shower instead of a bathtub, a wall-hung toilet that frees up floor space, or a narrow, shallow sink. These choices save a few precious centimeters while maintaining functionality and aesthetics.
Wall-mounted storage radically transforms a small bathroom. Wall-mounted units free up floor space and create a sense of space. Niches built into shower walls elegantly hold shampoos and soaps without cluttering them. For smaller items, take advantage of vertical storage options: narrow shelves, shallow columns, or door organizers.
Don't forget the potential of wall-mounted accessories like heated towel racks that dry your laundry while saving space. *Well-placed hooks and wall bars multiply your options without sacrificing a square inch.* Even in a tiny powder room, smart organization can create a functional and soothing space.
Furnish a small apartment by exploiting nooks and crannies and wasted spaces
In a small apartment, some spaces go unnoticed even though they contain unsuspected potential. The nooks under the stairs can be transformed into custom-made bookcases or clever storage spacesThe space above the doors accommodates discreet shelves for decorative objects or books. These often overlooked areas offer valuable additional square footage.
| Forgotten space | Possible use |
|---|---|
| Under the stairs | Custom-made closet, compact desk, bookcase |
| Above the doors | Decorative shelf, storage for rarely used items |
| Hard-to-reach corners | Corner unit, triangular shelf, seasonal storage |
| Space between furniture | Narrow sliding storage, rolling shelf |
The vertical spaces between the units accommodate narrow rolling shelves, ideal for storing spices or cleaning products. Behind the doors, hanging storage systems exploit space that would normally be wasted. *These creative solutions optimize every square inch of your small apartment while preserving its visual harmony*.
Create a small, modular and comfortable bedroom
Sleeping space is a particular challenge in a small apartment, especially in a studio where the living room and bedroom share the same space. Murphy beds offer an elegant solution to this dilemma. : Comfortable for sleeping, invisible during the day. Quality sofa beds with thick mattresses guarantee real nighttime comfort while also serving as comfortable seating during the day.
Storage solutions around the bed
- Choose a bed with built-in drawers to store sheets, seasonal clothing or shoes
- Install a headboard with built-in niches to replace traditional bedside tables
- Opt for hanging shelves above the bed for books and decorative objects
- Use the space under a loft bed to create an office or dressing area
For those who benefit from generous ceiling height, the mezzanine bed Frees up floor space for an office area, dressing room, or living room. In very small spaces, vertical or horizontal Murphy beds can be hidden in a closet or against a wall during the day.
Despite the limited space, your sleeping area deserves a cozy atmospherePlay with indirect lighting, soft textiles, and a soothing color palette. Light curtains around the bed create visual privacy without physically dividing the space. These delicate touches can remarkably transform even the smallest sleeping area into a peaceful haven.
