How to Fix a Poor Apartment Layout?

Want to find space for a living room, dining area, and bedroom in a studio? Check how designers solve this problem in their projects. Even with the most unfortunate layout, you can still work with it.

A small Stalin-era apartment with a kitchen-living room

Small rooms and low ceilings were the starting point for Irina Krivtsova when she began decorating a 1953 Stalin-era apartment.

The designer removed all partitions and only separated the 'dirty' zone of the entrance hall — this added air to the cramped space. Glass sliding doors were installed between the living room and kitchen. The small bathroom was combined with the main bathroom and storage room to fit everything needed.

View full projectA small two-room apartment with a walk-in closet

In a two-bedroom apartment, there was originally a narrow corridor where even a wardrobe wouldn't fit, and an inconveniently narrow kitchen. These spaces were combined, and space was immediately found for a small living room.

The second room was adapted into a bedroom with a full-size bed and walk-in closet. The living room and bedroom were separated by a solid glass partition that allows natural light to pass through.

View full projectA typical three-bedroom flat in a block building

Designers were asked to make the rooms more functional and raise the door frames. Ludmila Danilovich proposed combining the kitchen with the living room. The gas stove issue was solved with sliding doors.

The hallway was isolated by a partition — now it’s the son’s bedroom. In addition, niches were made in the entrance hall for wardrobes so a separate walk-in closet wasn’t needed.

View full projectAn apartment with a small living-dining room

Designer Ksenia Konovalova immediately suggested knocking down the wall between the living-dining room and entrance hall, replacing it with a ventilated partition made of vertical laminated strips — this added space and air.

But that wasn’t all: the opening to the kitchen was enlarged, and the kitchen window block with a door to the balcony was replaced with a glass sliding door.

View full projectStudio with functional zones

To add more light to the long seven-meter room with one window, designer Andrey Rybakov closed one of the door frames and supplemented the other with pockets for sliding doors.

The bedroom zone was isolated using vertical slats — they allow enough natural light and provide privacy.

View full projectStudio with a bedroom instead of storage

As in most cases, the partition between the small kitchen and living room had to be removed. Where a storage area was initially planned, a bedroom zone was created. The storage problem was solved with built-in wardrobes.

Also, the bathroom was combined in the apartment to accommodate a washing machine and wardrobe.

View full projectStudio with a dining area on the balcony

Designer Julia Telnova combined the kitchen and living room into one space, separating them with an open shelf. The balcony was attached, insulated, and the dining area was moved there. Radiators were replaced with vertical ones, and windows — with panoramic sliding partitions.

Part of the living room was isolated by a partition and decorated as a small bedroom. The partition was partially glazed to ensure the room is always bright.

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