A Small-ish City Flat With a Lush Balcony & Clever Room-Divider

Hi campers! I hope you had a lovely, relaxing easter weekend? I'm feeling all revived and ready for some inspiring Scandi-style home inspiration, I hope you are too? I thought I'd kick off with this charming Berlin apartment. Bang in the centre of the city, it measures a mere 50 metres square (538 foot square), but owners Kateryna Gonchar and her partner have made sure it covers all bases. The light-filled kitchen leads out to a lush, green balcony oasis, while a second room has been divided into a bedroom, sitting room and dining area. Oh, and there's even a small workspace and of course, a bathroom! A perfect oasis for two in the heart of the German capital! 

An extendable balcony table ensures that the balcony can cater for a cosy evening for two - or a party for four or more. Smart!

Notice how the shelving also includes a mirror to reflect the light and visually enlarged the room - a clever small space decorating technique. 

Such a clever use of space - and above all, a lovely place to come home to after a day in the office. 

I can just seem myself on that balcony with a cool glass of rosé on a balmy summer evening, how about you? 

See more of Kateryna's home here.

Would you like to feel inspired by more clever small space design ideas today? Check out: 

7 small space styling tricks to learn from a light-filled Stockholm apartment 

Small space inspiration from Swedish Attefall houses

6 small space ideas to learn from a small Swedish home in blue

Har det så fint! 

Niki

Photography: Kateryna Gonchar shared with kind permission

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6 Smart Ideas To Steal From a Small Danish Apartment

Goddag, goddag! I'm going straight in this week with the delightful Copenhagen apartment of Büsra Demirhan. A student living in a 47 metres square (505 foot square) apartment with her boyfriend, Büsra was selected by Danish magazine Bolig Magasinet as instagrammer of the month thanks to the clever way she has designed her small space on a tight budget, without compromising on style. Here are six very smart small space ideas that make a big difference! 

1. Round table: Round tables have a smaller surface area than square tables and therefore take up less space - and can squeeze into a tight spot. Plus you avoid the risk of walking into a corner with your thigh (winces). 

2. Extra storage: Büsra has used used dead space above the kitchen cabinets to store little used items. A wooden cup holder (this one is by Sætter and is taking the Danish interior world by storm right now) slots in neatly between the upper and lower cabinets. 

3. Think slim: Narrow furniture - like this glass cabinet is ideal for small spaces. 

4. Wall mount where possible: a flat screen TV has been tucked in among frames on the wall of the sitting room, leaving the floor clear. Wall mounted furniture is especially great for small spaces as it helps you to make full use of vertical space and creates a more airy feel. 

5. Wall to wall, mirrored storage: one whole side of the sitting room area has been reserved for much needed storage. Using closed storage not only helps to keep a space looking clean and clutter free - but the mirror helps to visually enlarge the room. Perfect! 

6. Get creative: A cupboard / wardrobe space off the corner of the sitting room has been reserved as a bedroom for Büsra and her husband. A simple curtain across the doorway helps to keep the space private without feeling you're closed in. 

I hope this lovely space has given you plenty of ideas if you're currently furnishing a small space - or have smaller rooms in your home! 

You can see more snapshots of Büsra's home over at @busrademiirham. 

And there is a LOAD more inspiration in the small space archive (if this pops up first just scroll on over!). 

Wishing you all a great start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @busrademiirham, shared with kind permission. 

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Beautiful Small Space Living in a 19th Century Swedish Apartment

Every now and then a real gem comes on the market - like this apartment in a 19th century farm building right in the heart of Gothenburg! Measuring a mere 38 m2 (402 foot square), the living space might be considered relatively small - but it's an absolute dream for a single occupancy or a couple. Think lovely high ceilings, large arched windows and doors and beautiful old beams. In summertime the apartment spills out onto an inner courtyard, extending the living space. All in all, it's a wonderful lesson in organising and decorating a small space - and of course a dream for anyone that snaps it up. Enjoy!  

I'd be so happy to call this space my home, how about you? 

Sadly, but not surprisingly, it's already sold. 

Other Scandinavian small space inspiration: 

7 small space tricks to learn from a Stockholm home

Clever small space ideas in a Swedish studio

A cosy small Swedish pad with warm tones

Wishing you all a lovely day!

Niki

Photography: Jonas Berg, styling Grey Deco for Stadshem

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Clever Small Space Solutions in a Cool Stockholm Apartment

This incredible apartment is for anyone living in small space, scratching their heads trying to figure out how on earthy they're going to fit everything in AND still achieve a minimalist aesthetic! Occupying a 19th century building overlooking Riddarfjärden, the easternmost bay of Lake Mälaren in central Stockholm, this 36 metre square (387 feet square) industrial style apartment is cool, funky, unique - and above all else practical. Trust the swedes! Scroll on down to get some ideas! 

In small living spaces using the full height of the room is key! These bespoke, built-in units make plenty of room for storage, and help to keep other areas free of clutter. 

Doubling up on space by adding a raised bed with storage underneath makes optimum use of every inch! At night, blackout blinds roll down from the ceiling creating a cosy zone and ensuring total darkness! 

Under-bed railing provides a perfect place for hanging clothes. 

To ensure a more minimalist look, group items and leaving plenty of 'blank space' around the display. 

Bespoke floor-to-ceiling pine shelving in the hallway paves the way for storage space and laundry, while a large mirror helps to visually enlarge the apartment and bounce light around. 

An internal window allows light to flow through to the windowless bathroom and let off some steam! 

I thought it would be interesting to share the floorplan too (courtesy of Historiska Hem) so you can clearly understand the footprint. It's in Swedish - säng = bed, kök = kitchen, rum = room, bad = bathroom.  

What do you think? Have you ever seen a space like this before? 

I absolutely love it! And would be half tempted to move in myself (it's for sale via Historiska Hem), not least for the views! How about you? 

More small space inspiration in this archive (if this pops up first, just scroll on past!). 

Have a great start to the week! 

Niki

PS come here looking for Scandinavian Christmas inspiration? Click here! Plus, I'm planning to share some beautiful ideas with you later on in the week! 

Photography courtesy of Historika Hem with thanks.

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A Small, Cosy Swedish Pad with Warm Tones

It's all very well showing incredible country houses with sweeping staircases or apartments made up of a myriad of large, spacious rooms - after all, I'm a firm believer that you can take inspiration from just about anywhere. BUT, if you are dealing with just one room to live in it can be a little tricker to achieve the look you're aiming for. Fear not, this delightful Swedish studio is proof that sometimes the best homes come in small packages. Designed by Emma Fischer, the Gothenburg living space is a sea of earthy, autumn tones and features an abundance of texture giving the home a lovely, relaxed look. Step this way for the tour!

After my post about round coffee tables last week, I've had many responses from readers saying how much they love theirs. In many ways they are so much practical than a square table: no corners to bang your shins on and they're great for entertaining - but also, from an aesthetic standpoint, the shape helps to soften the look of the room. 

Also, the fluffy rug makes the entire room feel real cosy. 

I love how this sofa has a built in shelf - multi-use furniture is always handy in a small space. 

I'm a huge fan of glass cabinets and this vintage one is a beauty, don't you think? It's important to keep clutter to a minimum in small spaces, and this cabinet helps to maintain a neat and tidy look. I am guessing there's a wardrobe on the hallway for clothes etc. And the bed skirt could also be hiding drawers. 

Book lovers would also need somewhere to store their tomes - I would suggest built in shelves above the sofa or over the bed. 

So pretty! 

I hope you felt inspired by this too! 

See a gazillion more small spaces in this archive. 

I haven't quite decided on the order of my posts this week - but I'm looking forward to sharing a cabin update and my first Christmas post of the year (yes, I know it's a tad early, but it's starting to get very Christmassy around here in Oslo, and it's got me in the mood for some 'Jul' inspiration!). 

Ha en fin dag! 

Niki 

Photo -Anders Bergstadt

Styling - Emma Fischer

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