5 Small but Very Cozy Apartments

Designers love working with small spaces — they have their own charm. In addition, each professional has their own tricks that help make the interior cozier. We tell what to focus on when decorating a small apartment.

Light Scandinavian-style Khrushchevka

Natalia Chuvinova rented this apartment a few years ago — at that time, the condition of the Khrushchevka was not great. The girl decided to restore the apartment and keep original details. Natalia did a cosmetic renovation: painted the space white, brought new furniture, and filled the room with pleasant little touches.

Why is it cozy here? The apartment retains the very atmosphere that we love so much in old apartments. Thanks to white walls and no curtains, the room is always bright. Monochrome decor is softened with vibrant posters, a large number of green plants, textiles, and décor. And, of course, cozy glowing fairy lights — take note of this trick, it will come in handy this winter.

Design: Natalia Chuvinova
Small studio in dark tones

For a young client, designer Alexandra Ermilova transformed a small one-bedroom flat into a cozy studio. They chose gray tones — in contrast with warm wooden elements, they don't seem too dark. To add air to the space, they zoned it with a glass partition — an ideal solution for one person or a young couple.

Why is it cozy here? The interior is full of details: decorative figurines, vintage mirrors in the bedroom, planters with plants, and even a mini-wood stove (according to the owner, the logs smell wonderful). In such an atmosphere, it's pleasant to be at any time of day and in any mood.

Design: Alexandra Ermilova
Small studio with a fake fireplace

This small apartment became a continuation of the landscape outside the window — designer Ira Nosova chose white, gray, and fresh green tones for the interior. The space was divided into several functional zones, and furniture-transformers were used so that the client could easily change the setup at any time. Here you can work, entertain guests, and of course, relax.

Why is it cozy here? The client requested a decorative fireplace in the living room, and real fire was replaced with candles. An alternative would have been an electric fireplace — modern models are hard to distinguish from wood-burning ones.

Design: Ira Nosova

Which option to choose?

More and more designers prefer portable electric fireplaces: they are completely safe and can simulate the flame of a fire and the cozy sound of crackling logs.

For example, this feature is available in Electrolux fireplaces. The intensity of the flame and sounds can be controlled with a remote, so you won't even need to get up and leave your warm blanket.

All models come with a heating function, but the fireplace body does not get overheated. Therefore, it is safe to use near furniture and in homes with small children and pets.

Light one-bedroom apartment ready for rent

This apartment will be occupied by different tenants, so the designers at Boomplanner were tasked with making the space functional and beautiful. They chose a light color palette: white, blue, and gray tones. The majority of the single room was dedicated to the living room, and a sleeping area was set up in a niche.

Why is it cozy here? The designers carefully planned the color scheme and maintained the atmosphere with multi-level lighting. Imagine how pleasant it will be to spend time in the apartment in the evening when you can turn on ceiling lights, wall sconces, and ambient lighting. And light candles!

Design: Boomplanner
Small stylish loft

This building used to house a factory, so designer Marina Sarkisyan, without hesitation, chose a loft style for the apartment. Warmth and coziness are added by brick walls — in fact, they're gypsum tiles that look like real bricks. The room was zoned without partitions: furniture, lighting, and textiles were used to keep more open space.

Why is it cozy here? The combination of light and muted tones with bright details evokes thoughts of peaceful rest. A sleeping area was separated by a curtain — this gave the space a sense of intimacy. You can hide from others’ eyes here. By the way, the windows have thick blinds for this purpose.

Design: Marina Sarkisyan

On the cover: Natalia Chuvinova's apartment

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