6 Ideas for Small Apartments Inspired by Stockholm

The area of this apartment in Stockholm is 47 square meters. Designer Anna Furbaken found a place for a spacious kitchen-living room-dining area and a bedroom with two beds. We explain how to manage space wisely while keeping enough room.

Unified Floor Covering

To unite all rooms, light-colored wood planks were laid on the floor. Visually, they stretch the space and create an impression that all zones flow smoothly into one another.

What other options are there? You can use diagonal laying — this technique helps visually expand a small space.

Smart Zoning

Since the designer had to decorate several functional zones in one room, an improvised entryway was separated using two mini-partitions. They were not extended to the ceiling to allow more light and air.

What other options are there? You can install a louvered or glass partition. Or tile the floor in the entryway to help define space.

Contrast details also work well for zoning. The kitchen zone is highlighted by a black apron and a carpet on the floor in a matching tone. A carpet was also placed in the living room zone.

To prevent all zones in the room from blending into one bright spot, a large wall was decorated with terracotta bricks.

What other options are there? The wall can be painted in a different color or covered with printed wallpaper. Additionally, lighting with varying levels helps with zoning.

Bedroom Color Palette

The bedroom has a large window that lets in plenty of light. However, the designer wanted to achieve a cozy semi-darkness and painted the walls in matte black.

What other options are there? It’s not necessary to go that far. For example, you can get by with heavy curtains.

Way to Hide Layout Flaws

In the bedroom, a narrow “extension” was planned in the layout that was so small it wouldn’t even fit a wardrobe. Anna decided to hide it behind curtains.

What other options are there? A screen can be placed to close the created niche.

Functional Wardrobe

A built-in wardrobe was installed at the entrance to the bedroom, and a loft was created with an additional sleeping space. Of course, good ceiling height played a big role here.

What other options are there? If you have many items and don’t need extra sleeping space, the loft can be used as storage.

Solution for a Small Bathroom

To prevent the bathroom from looking too small, the walls were painted white and a transparent shower was installed that literally dissolves into the space. A wall-mounted sink with a shelf also added lightness to the interior.

What other options are there? A storage cabinet can be installed under the sink, and a shelf can be replaced with a narrow cabinet.