Designing Big in Small Spaces
Small spaces have a way of teaching you the most about design. When you don’t have endless square metres to play with, every millimetre counts. You quickly learn that design isn’t about how much space you have, it’s about how well that space works for you.
Kitchens in Compact Homes
In apartments, the kitchen is often squeezed into the background, functional but rarely inspiring. Yet this is usually the most hardworking zone of the home. When reimagined with intent, a small kitchen can become the heart of an apartment, anchoring the daily rituals of cooking, eating, and gathering.
The secret isn’t in adding more, it’s in making smarter choices. Think joinery that doubles as storage and dining, cabinetry that flows seamlessly into other areas of the home, and finishes pared back to a timeless palette. These aren’t just design tricks, they’re ways of making a small space feel calm, generous, and cohesive.
The Power of Restraint
Compact living strips away excess. You don’t have the luxury of wasted corners or gestures that serve no purpose. That’s actually where the magic lies: restraint forces clarity. Every decision must work hard, whether it’s a banquette seat that hides storage, a wall of joinery concealing the “ugly stuff” like meters and cables, or a carefully planned layout that balances bench space with circulation.
Practical Tips for Small Kitchens
If you’re tackling your own compact kitchen, a few principles go a long way:
Go vertical: Use tall cabinetry and open shelving to draw the eye up and increase storage without eating into floor space.
Choose multipurpose pieces: Banquette seating with storage underneath, island benches with drawers / cupboards on both sides, or extendable dining tables all earn their keep.
Keep finishes consistent: Flow cabinetry into adjoining living areas so the whole apartment feels cohesive rather than chopped up.
Light matters: Small spaces feel bigger with the right lighting. Layer task and ambient lighting, and don’t be afraid of reflective surfaces like glass or stone.
Edit, then edit again: Every cupboard, drawer, and appliance should justify its place. Less really is more when space is tight.
Why Small Doesn’t Mean Compromised
What’s fascinating is that once flow, storage, and light are resolved, the space no longer feels small. It feels intentional. Cohesive. Calm. It becomes a home that supports life rather than one that compromises it.
Takeaway
Designing in small footprints is less about compromise and more about editing. By focusing on what matters most, such as function, flow, and feeling, you can create spaces that live far bigger than their floorplans suggest.
Because great design isn’t about how much space you have. It’s about what you do with it.
If you’re staring at your space thinking “this could be better,” you’re right. Let’s make it happen.
