Tiny Home Inspiration: A Beautiful Swedish Studio With A Great Storage Solution

A tiny, one room studio apartment with lots of storage and a beautiful aesthetic? Yes, it IS possible! if you're dealing with 28 square metres / 300 square feet or less and struggling to find a place for all your things, I have a feeling you'll find this beautiful Gothenburg apartment truly inspiring - and I couldn't resist adding a few more ideas to the mix too. Oh, and I added the floor plan at the end a first from my side, but I felt it could be useful (courtesy of Entrance). Don't live in a confined space? Lots of homes have compact spaces such as a box room - so I have a feeling this tour will come in handy for most of us! 

Unless you're a true minimalist, there's no going for the trendy 'no upper cabinets' look that's so hot right now. Instead, it's all about maximising height and wall space - and in my humble opinion, upper cabinets can look just as good! If you have a lot of kitchen utensils, opt for closed cabinets for a less cluttered look.  

This kitchen could have looked a little cold had it not been for the beautiful warm natural textures seen in the stone worktop and wood dining chairs. 

The stylist behind this apartment hasn't utilised under-the-sofa storage here, but if you need the space, opt for sofas and coffee tables with built-in storage. 

Again, not seen here, but if you are a book lover or would love to display personal items, the enclave in the picture above to the right of the wardrobe (where there painting is) would be a perfect spot for narrow vertical shelling that extends the full height. See this beautiful Stockholm family home for some great 'small space' bookshelf inspiration! 

No matter your ceiling height, the vertical space in a small apartment is one of your greatest assets - use to  the full by ensuring wardrobes extend all the way to the ceiling. You can always hang a ladder on the wall to the side for access. 

The space under the bed is another great place for extra storage. For a neater look, add a bed skirt - it will add a soft touch to the bedroom area and cover up whatever is underneath. 

Wall-mounted furniture and accessories: if your walls allow it, hang lights and other furniture on the wall to clear floor space. 

And in case you're curious - here's the 27 square metre floor plan: 

I hope this has been helpful. A special thanks to all of those who have e-mailed me /  requested inspiration for living spaces smaller than 30 square metres! Please do feel free to email me anytime with ideas and requests, it's really helpful! 

Oh, and for another serene smallish space - did you see Sarah's Copenhagen home yesterday? So serene! And of course, there's always the archive too! 

Wishing you all a great day!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Entrance 

READ MORE...

12

This Tiny Swedish Cottage is a Perfect Summer Oasis!

I can never resist a tiny living space - especially when they are this pretty! This cottage is located in Slottsskogskolonien - Sweden's second oldest allotment! It is a mere 19 m2 (204 ft2) but has everything you might need for the weekends and holidays. In the entrance, simple hooks and shelves serve as a makeshift hallway and a dining space is bathed in daylight. Step into the main living room, and an open-plan kitchen and living room offer a place to chill. At night, it's time to climb the ladder to a cosy nest in the rooftop and snuggle up for the night! The owners also have shared access to an onsite communal bathroom. 

At these allotment cottages, the real magic happens outside though. After all, the purpose of them is to provide a garden in the city for those without. The plot provides a place to grow flowers, fruit and vegetables, as well as dine al fresco all summer long surrounded by the sweet scent of lilac! 

Ready to look around? Välkommen! 

High shelves above the windows provide extra storage space for books and other small treasures. 

Built-in seating helps to maximise space - and can also offer more storage underneath. 

Notice how the underside of the table has been painted Klein blue - this seems to be the theme this week (check out Wednesday's Danish home tour!). I love the idea of using paint to bring in the latest trends, it's a sustainable way of keeping your home upon to date! 

A traditional Swedish sofa and two simple wicker chairs ensure a social area in the main living room area, while a little spot under the roof serves as extra storage. 

A simple wooden ladder leads to the sleep loft. 

It took me several goes through these pictures before I noticed the door above! It conceals a storage cupboard. 

I love the use of two-toned wood panelling in the kitchen! Note how this panelling is beaded for a more traditional look. 

How lovely. I could sit in that spot in the garden all weekend, how about you? 

Here's an idea of the layout: 

Glossary: kök - kitchen, stuga - cabin, förråd - storage. 

Speaking of small spaces, Per is headed up to our little cabin this evening, while I travel to Karlshamn in Blekinge (it's a beautiful part of the world which I once covered in this travel guide) for my daughter Liv's swimming gala. Fingers crossed for her - I know she's a little nervous! 

I hope you have some fun plans too! 

In the meantime, I'll leave you with some of these beautiful tours from the small space archive: 

This allotment cottage is a true summer oasis

A charming allotment cottage in Malmö, Sweden

A beautiful allotment cottage in summertime

See you Monday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Kvarteret Mäkleri - where it is currently for sale! 

READ MORE...

4

A Fabulous Walk-in Closet Idea in a Norwegian Home

It might not feel like spring in Southern Sweden yet (it snowed in some parts of Skåne yesterday!) but it's on its way, I can feel it! Can you? One of the biggest joys is preparing the home for a new season - which also means storing away heavy winter clothes and making room for pretty spring and summer clothes!  

In my experience, one of the biggest dilemmas is lack of storage space. In 2023 I made it my mission to create organised storage in our home - building a wardrobe and adding shelves to our attic. And our house definitely feels less cluttered as a result (although not always tidier - but that's a whole other issue!). Even so, I am always on the lookout for more clever ideas. And I instantly fell in love with the smart walk-in closet solution in Caroline's Norwegian apartment! 

Caroline is a journalist and editor for Elle magazine and lives in the beautiful neighbourhood of Grünerløkke in Oslo. Read on to feel inspired by her 57 m2 (613 ft.sq) home and clever storage idea, it might just solve a conundrum for you too!  

Carolina has gone for a wonderful palette of blue, dusty pink and brass in her Norwegian home which adds a feeling decadence. I love that it is also filled with one-off pieces, pattern and quirky touches! A Togo sofa is always a comfy addition! 

In the bedroom, a 'sky' headboard adds a wonderfully fun and unique touch to the space - and the blend of new nordic pieces such as the Flos light beside antique finds adds to the relaxed feel. 

And THIS was what I was talking about in my intro: a fabulous walk-in-wardrobe built into the corner of the bedroom! 

The 'wardrobe' is made up of two glass doors which Caroline designed and had made according to the exact measurements of the space. 

Inside Caroline has used the Décor design from Elfa (which I also used for my storage - the entire system is great as it's really flexible and you can personalise the design to work for your needs and the space you have) to create shelving for her shoes and hanging space for clothes and other items. 

What a clever way to transform the corner of a bedroom into storage - do you agree? The frosted glass doors provide a glimpse of the interior of the wardrobe, without allowing the clothes and shoes from taking over the room and making it feel cluttered. 

I have to say, I'm drooling over her clothes and shoe collection too - so many fabulous items! 

I hope this has filled you with inspiration for the weekend! Or maybe just inspired you to pull out those sparkly shoes and hit the town! Follow Caroline's instagram for more interior and lifestyle inspiration. 

Speaking of which, I don't own many pairs of shoes, but last year I bought a pair of gold sparkly ankle boots, and they really seem to bring out the best in people and put a smile on everyone's face. I always make a point of wearing them on friends' birthdays to add some sparkle! Do you have a favourite pair of shoes too? 

Check out these other ways to get organised at home: 

Divide and conquer - ways to make more out of a room

7 simple steps to a tidy home

16 ways to turn a small room into a practical and organised bedroom

Before and after: our laundry room makeover

That's it from me this week folks. Thank you for stopping by - see you Monday! 

Trevlig helg! 

Niki

Photography: Birgit Fauske

READ MORE...

7

The Secret to Creating a Calm & Organised Home, Scandi Style

Paid partnership with Elfa, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love. 

Minimalist, practical, calm, organised. These are just some of the words that people frequently use to describe a Scandinavian home. And they'd be right! Having lived in Sweden for over 18 years I am constantly amazed at just how neat and tidy people's homes are (with the rare exception, of course!). Life is messy, children are messy, so, just how do they do it? Simply acquiring less stuff - or having a good old declutter certainly helps. But there is something more at play. 

I put a lot down to excellent storage. 

Simply put - I've been told that by creating a perfect home for everything - no matter how big or small, keeping your home tidy, neat and organised will be way easier. 

The problem 

Now, I'm going to fess up. The Brantmark family home is messy. It's shamefully messy. Organisation is neither Per nor my strong point. Someone is always tearing around the house looking for something they've lost (is it just me or are children particularly bad at finding things?). And it's embarrassing. Is there anyone out there who feels the same? 

The solution

This year everything's going to change! Why? Because I approached global Swedish storage experts Elfa - who happen to be based locally here in Malmö - and asked them to help me organise my home, room by room! And I hope, by sharing the knowledge and various solutions with you - you'll also pick up some great tips and tricks too. Unless of course, you've already got a wonderfully organised home - in which case, please do share your tips along the way! 

Who is Elfa? 

If you've been following My Scandinavian Home for a while, you'll most likely be familiar with Elfa already. Their fab storage systems pop up in homes I feature time and time again (take this, this, this and this!).  The Swedish company was founded in 1948 and prides itself on providing a sustainable, functional and high-quality storage system and doors for just about anything and anywhere in your home including the bedroom, children's room, living room, kitchen, garage, attic, hobby rooms, home office and laundry space. Think flexible shelving, drawers, hooks, baskets, dividers and more which will give even the tiniest and most awkward items a home. 

And they also offer planning help and great online tools. 

Most importantly, I love the Elfa ethos: it's not only about providing a perfect place for everything in your home, but also about creating more space for you, and making your home a better place to be. 

That's me sold! But where to start? 

Home Edit

The best way to get started, I learned,is to take stock of existing storage and 'problem areas' in the house. Have you noticed; some parts of the home feel way easier to keep tidy than others? It might be a load of small items collecting on a side table in the hallway, heaps of clothes in a corner or a cupboard stuffed to the brim with clobber.  

I pinpointed four areas in my home: my wardrobe (still in one of my girls rooms), Allie's bedroom (going from tween to teen!),  the laundry room (enter at your own peril), and the attic (don't get me started!). I'm looking forward to sharing my room by room plans, and all the details (including before and afters - no matter how embarrassing!) over the coming months. 

Do you have any specific places in your home? If so, I hope you'll enjoy the forthcoming series. 

Right, time to get planning, I've got a house to organise! Watch this space! 

Wishing you all a lovely weekend, 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Elfa. 

READ MORE...

10

7 Styling Tricks To Learn From a Serene Swedish Apartment

While yesterday's home tour was all about colour and playful elements, this Swedish apartment is all about serenity. When I pour over the pictures of the milky white tones, minimalist decor and soft touches of light wood I feel my shoulders instantly relax. So, what's the trick to creating an oasis of calm for one? Here are seven clever styling elements at play: 

1. Keeping key furniture white helps to keep the look uncluttered, while mixing and matching different designs helps to keep the look interesting. 

2. A very large white fluffy, shag-pile rug adds texture and warmth as well as helps to dampen sound. 

3. Playing with scale immediately adds interest to a space. In the main living room / bedroom a large pendant lamp floats in the centre. 

4. Elfa storage is hugely popular in Sweden as it's really practical and can be tailored to the space you have. These shelves maximise storage by extending all the way up to the ceiling. And great storage also means a clutter-free room. I'd love to see a little more this space, preferably with some closed storage to hide a load of stuff! 

5. A mirror doubles up as a 'looking glass' but also as a tool to reflect light inwards, visually enlarging the room 

'You' print by Sofia Lind*

6. Bucket storage is ideal for storing books and magazines (I also love to use it in children's rooms as it's so easy to find what you're looking for!). This one is the Douve by Bloomingville*. 

7. Soft earthy colours help to break up the white look while keeping the aesthetic calm and natural. 

Arum wall lamp* by Ferm Living (I have the same one in my bedroom but in beige). 

Beautiful! I could totally imagine rocking about here, could you? 

It's a bit small for my family, but if you're interested, it's for sale here. 

On a different note - I'm not sure if you noticed my announcement the other day - but I'll be blogging four days a week for the time being, with Fridays off. So on this note - I'll leave you to have a fabulous weekend and see you on Monday! 

Niki

Photography: Alvhem

*This post contains affiliate links.

READ MORE...

2