How to Make a Small Apartment Spacious and Cozy?

We asked our designers about their favorite tricks for decorating small apartments that help make them visually more spacious. We also found examples from our foreign colleagues. The result is a convenient checklist that can be used by all owners of small apartments.

Inessa Teranova: "Transformative solutions help"

"When I was first asked to design the interior of a small studio with an area of 20 square meters, I decided: first and foremost, it should be comfortable, cozy, and spacious.

For creating such an interior, I used transformative solutions—custom-made. Light interior finishing. And color accents."

Nikita Zub: "You need to find a place for a full-size bed even in a small studio"

"I always try to find space for a full-size bed even in a small studio. I think it's practical to place it near the window—source of fresh air and natural light in the morning. Quality sleep is the key to health.

Also:

• I give the living room a darker zone—bedroom is more important for natural light;
  
• I try to keep the washing machine in the bathroom or hallway, not on the kitchen."

Anna Kovalchenko: "I use vertical space for storage systems"

"Usually, I use the following techniques:

• For narrow spaces with insufficient natural light (e.g., hallway), I choose dark colors to divert attention from the small area;

• I avoid heavy multi-layered curtains—opt for Roman blinds and light flowing fabrics;
  
• I try to use vertical space as much as possible: instead of traditional shelves, I install hanging shelves in unused corners of the room (e.g., above a door frame)."

Checklist: How to make a small apartment spacious and cozy? Use furniture-transformers. A bed in a wardrobe or a fold-down table. Zone the space. Visually separate zones with finishing or use partitions. Don't give up on a full-size bed. Place it near the window so you wake up to sunlight and fresh air. Choose light finishes. But in very small spaces, for example, in a hallway, you can go for dark colors—this diverts attention from lack of space. Don't be afraid of bright accents. They add life to the interior. But avoid complex patterns—they only clutter a small room. Hang light curtains made of flowing fabric or Roman blinds. Multi-layering is not needed. It's easy to overdo the decor in small apartments. Use unobtrusive posters and paintings.

Design: Nikita Zub

How do Western designers work with small apartments?

They use large rugs

Neila Deen, founder of a design studio in New York Urban Casa, believes that large rugs visually expand the room. In contrast, small rugs that can only be placed under a coffee table have the opposite effect.

Design: Urban Casa

They prefer monochromatic interiors

Gill Richardson, co-founder of Goodchild Interiors in Bristol, sticks to one color in various shades for small apartment designs. She is convinced that this visually makes the room deeper and expands the space.

Design: Goodchild Interiors

They choose reflective surfaces

To add airiness to this apartment in Mainz, western Germany, designers Lea Korzeczek and Matthias Hiller from STUDIO OINK installed a light reflective floor and completed the interior with light furniture and shiny accessories.

Design: STUDIO OINK

On the cover, a design project by Nikita Zub.