27 ways to decorate a small flat
Like all small spaces, smallflat ideas can require a bit of ingenuity to get right, but it's so satisfying when you manage to organise everything to exactly accommodate your requirements. We've gathered together some of our favourite design ideas from the archive, as well as helpful tips from interior designers below.
Daniel Slowik and Benedict Foley's Hackney flat is a lesson in smart small flat ideas; rather than keeping things sparse and shying away from scale, the pair have created a densely decorated and luxurious flat that has more personality than its square-footage should allow. It's not style over substance, however, and the apartment is packed with versatile, multifunctional furniture and space-saving hacks; like the coffee table in the sitting room, which can transform into a higher dining table with the help of adjustable legs. So, what other tips do are archives hold for those of us with modest spaces to work with?
Height and light are vital considerations. In a tiny flat in London, Beata Heuman has positioned bookshelves high up on the walls, drawing attention to the considerable height of the room. “With all that vertical volume, extending details like the artwork and bookshelves draws the eye upwards,” she says. If you have high ceilings and limited square footage, you might build upwards, utilising the vertical space for a mezzanine sitting room, office or bedroom.
Installing custom joinery is a popular decision in small flats. In Irene Gunter's small London flat, the bed in the main bedroom sits against a false wall a couple of feet from the actual wall, creating a useful area of hidden storage behind, and there are floor-to-ceiling wardrobes and window seats with integrated drawers. In the 1960s flat in west London above, the bedroom easily doubles as an office with the help of the retractable bed, which folds up into an alcove in the wall.
Zoning is also an important consideration. It might be tempting to tear down all the walls in a small flat and create open-plan spaces, but Marianne Evennou says she is a great believer in creating a number of distinct zones: “I find you have a much greater sensation of space that way. You have the impression of moving around, rather than being stuck in a box. Plus, it’s more cosy.” Half walls or walls with internal windows can be a helpful way of separating spaces while still allowing the flow of light and air. For a more affordable option, try internal curtains (especially if you're in a truly small space like a studio flat) like Benedict and Daniel did between their bedroom and living room.
When it comes to furniture, Marianne Evennou recommends flexible pieces like folding chairs and bistro tables. “You often need to move things around in small spaces,’ observes Marianne, “so it’s best to stick to furniture that is mobile and flexible.” Don't feel that you have to be confined to modern pieces, however. As our Style Director Ruth Sleightholme points out, " Georgian furniture often has quite narrow proportions and could be brilliantly utilitarian at times." In the kitchen, don't waste space on a draining board, but consider an open storage option like a stainless-steel unit from Stovold and Pogue that doubles as a cupboard and drainer.
27 brilliant small flat ideas
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Simon Brown1/27"You can't be indulgent in this sort of flat," Emma Burns notes of her small London pied-à-terre. "You have to be quite brutal and realistic with what you can achieve." The existing pine, country-style kitchen was swiftly dispatched in favour of sleek flat lacquered cabinets. "From the sitting room, it looks more like a bar than a kitchen," explains Emma. “And the bits where the mess happens are hidden behind the wall, so you don't feel that you're sitting in the kitchen when you're on the sofa.”
Mark Fox2/27In Alfred Bramsen's London flat, there wasn't enough room in the kitchen to house all his things so he installed stainless steel restaurant shelving on the empty wall to add extra storage for pots, pans, plates and ingredients.
Matt Clayton3/27Interior designer Cath Beckett, co-founder of Yellow London, has made her own flat the perfect showcase for her bold, expressive use of colour and pattern. The wallpaper in the cosy dining nook is Pierre Frey's ‘Plein Eté’ and a Sheila Maid on the ceiling allows the room to be used for laundry during the day, adding a multi-use case scenario to the space.
Salva Lopez4/27The ceiling in the kitchen of Sergio Roger's Barcelona apartment is at a 45-degree angle, its thick rafters a particular hazard; spatial awareness is probably one of the most important skills required for anyone cooking in it. ‘It’s completely impractical, but I love it,’ Sergio says. Keen to make the most of the space, the cabinets go all the way to the highest point of the ceiling and there are even cabinets built into the slant, as well as shelves behind the door.
Milo Brown5/27Given this apartment's footprint, the main living space needed to accommodate eating, relaxing and entertaining. “The room had to work really hard,” says Lonika Chande, who was called in to design it “so we had to be quite clever with the layout.” And clever they were: the fireside chairs were custom made at the perfect height for pulling up at this banquette to create extra seating, and set on castors for added manoeuvrability. “We also did a lot of opening up. We took down the wall between the sitting room and the kitchen, which meant both rooms got a lot more light thanks to the dual aspect," Lonika notes. In fact, it is the banquette that creates the perfect through-thread between the comfortable living space and the practical kitchen area, gently bending the eye around the corner.
Milo Brown6/27The theme of charming practicality continues upstairs in the spare bedroom, which houses a pretty box bed. “We positioned the bed underneath the sash window to maximise floor space, because we couldn't afford to lose any space around the bed. We also created a shelf behind the headboard which actually lifts up to reveal storage for clutter or extra books.” In the same room, Lonika designed a wardrobe that “appears to be freestanding, but has decent drawers and the depth of something built-in.”
Sarah Hogan7/27Jane Taylor's flat is full of brilliant ideas but the bedroom is the shining light, with wardrobes concealed behind the panelling to create a simple line for the eye to rest on. This design gives the room a feeling of spaciousness and calm despite its relatively small size.
Boz Gagovski8/27Daniel Slowik and Benedict Foley's flat features a bedroom and sitting room that can be used together as one expansive space or screened off with curtains to create two different rooms. This strikes a balance between open-plan living and separation.
Boz Gagovski9/27Smart design can make the most of limited space and in Daniel and Benedict's flat, they have thoughtfully designed furniture to have multuiple uses. A versatile convertible table can shift from dining table height to coffee table height by simply removing a segment of the legs. The custom-made sofa, inspired by one that Nancy Lancaster had at Ditchley Park, sits at dining height, allowing the sitting room to seamlessly transform into a dining area when needed. With storage space beneath and the ability to serve as a slender single bed, this sofa is a masterclass in multifunctional design.
10/27The storage in Richard Collins' kitchen is worth noting for those living in small flats as absolutely no space has been wasted while still keeping a sleek finish. There are clever added cabinets above the extractor fan, slim designs on either side of the oven as well as below and everything runs the full height of the space. The use of light oak for the joinery keeps it feeling airy and not too crowded.
Simon Bergström11/27When Sebastian Bergstrom moved into his flat, there was no kitchen. In order to fit one into the tiny space, he “decided to split my bedroom and make half of it into a kitchen, and so I put in a door to the bedroom part from the living room.” The bedroom now has just enough space for a bed, but the kitchen, with its glorious new window into the bedroom, is big enough for two people to cook in.
Simon Bergström12/27In the bedroom, a clever shelf behind the bed and deep windowsills provide space for plants and to set down a cup or glass. The walls are painted in Celestial White by Little Greene, further enhancing the space, and the fabric on the headboard in Sebastian's favourite red-orange is a Laura Ashley fabric he found in a vintage shop.
Paul Whitbread13/27To add a sense of gravitas without overwhelming the compact rooms in this London flat, Anna Haines installed cornices and deep skirting boards throughout. In the kitchen, deVol's ‘Sebastian Cox Kitchen’ offers a contemporary contrast to the flat's more traditional Georgian features, helping to define the space without crowding it. The carefully chosen marble table from Battersea's Decorative Fair, paired with the clients' existing chairs, adds a sense of openness, while the walls painted in Atelier Ellis's ‘Bright Star’ further brighten and expand the small spaces, making the entire flat feel more airy and inviting.
Christopher Horwood14/27This small flat, under 50 square meters, could have easily felt claustrophobic. However, under Carlos Garcia's expert guidance, it has been transformed into a cosy, characterful, and much-loved home for its owner. The bedroom exemplifies how maximalism can be effectively embraced in a smaller space. The pattern drenching here not only enhances the flat's unique personality but also elevates the bedroom, making it a vibrant and inviting retreat.
Alexander James for Studio Peake15/27A galley or narrow kitchen is often a hallmark of a small flat but there are ways to make them sing. Here, in a flat by Studio Peake, Sarah wanted something ‘Tiffany blue' to bring brightness. The wallpaper, by Antoinette Poisson, decorated with a selection of chopping boards from Daylesford Organic, adds an intriguing touch enhancing the space.
16/27Morgane Sézalory, the founder of French brand Sézane made the most of the cubbyhole-sized office space in her small Paris flat, which she painted the greenish-blue shade Laque from Farrow and Ball. It was just roomy enough to fit a vintage wood desk—atop of which she keeps a balloon-like Les Composantes table lamp.
Boz Gagovski17/27Small space ingenuity meets theatrical design in Lucy Mayers' London flat. The kitchen was designed to resemble a bar, with a glamorous splashback in tiles that appear to be brass but are actually porcelain. The kitchen is painted in ‘Du Cane’ by Papers and Paints. The tiles are Fameed Khalique's ‘Urban Gold’ design.
STEPHAN JULLIARD18/27Take inspiration from Marianne Evennou’s creative use of colour and choice of flexible furniture to enhance the proportions and maximise space in this Paris apartment. A pair of foldable ‘Pliante’ chairs from Maison Gatti flank a French bistro-style dining table from the same company in the kitchen.
Simon Brown19/27Small London flats require a clever use of space, which Beata Heuman has achieved wonderfully here. An open plan kitchen-living room has plenty of storage, but building a banquette onto the kitchen counter allows for a dining space that doesn't take up too much room. The custom-made banquette, covered in ‘Heritage’ leather in mustard from Yarwood, and an oak and powder-coated brass table – both by Beata Heuman Studio – are teamed with ‘Vilda 3’ bentwood chairs by Gemla. The ‘Hackney’ floor lamp in a bronze finish is by J Randall Powers for Visual Comfort
Paul Massey20/27When it came to decorating her small south London flat, designer Irene Gunter said ‘One of the key things I wanted to achieve was to create plenty of storage without feeling compromised on space.’ The bed in the main bedroom sits against a false wall, behind which is a useful area, and there are floor-to-ceiling wardrobes and window seats with integrated drawers.
James McDonald21/27Rients Bruinsma built every part of this studio flat in Shoreditch himself, creating a seamless open plan living space that combines the kitchen, dining room, living room and bedroom in one. Part of the genius of the design is the compact, sleek kitchen. "It looks almost like it could be a bar," says Rients, "but I cook huge meals here and I manage perfectly well." The walnut kitchen was built onto the outside of the marble bathroom. Although it takes up little space, it includes a dishwasher and washing machine hidden behind the cabinets.
Alexander James22/27Landscape architect Kim Wilkie has furnished his flat in a way that perfectly complements architect William Smalley's quietly austere design, with a collection of pictures, ceramics and furniture that reveals a deep interest in craftsmanship.
Alexander James23/27In the same flat, architect William Smalley 'wanted the interior to look massive but simple at the same time,' William explains. 'Almost as if it had been carved out of a single space. The flat is also divided by two substantial walls, and I wanted the whole design to share that feeling of solidity and weight.' The effect is achieved by matching the depth of the solid walls throughout with sturdy detailing, keeping each surface as simple as possible. The bathroom is a wonderful example of this aesthetic - it is built around clean lines and fitted with taps from Vola and a matching bath and basin from Holloways of Ludlow.
Alexander James24/27Kim's flat is flooded with light, thanks to five large south-facing windows, left uncurtained apart from discreet white-linen blinds. The study is no exception - at one end there is a glass-topped 'Dublin' desk from Habitat and a Seventies Perspex and steel chair provide a small workspace. The adjacent door leads into the sitting room.
Paul Massey25/27Designer Harriet Anstruther kept the colour palette pared back in this South London flat, but there are a few well-placed hits of bold colour - the most dramatic of which is the wet-room tiles. 'I loved the idea of my client waking up to this rich blue, which is offset perfectly by the glamorous gold fixtures and fittings,' she says. The electric blue tiles used to inject a pop of colour are by Bisazza.
26/27The bedroom in Patrick Williams' former flat is entirely painted in Farrow & Ball's 'Lamp Room Grey'. It is a haven of calm watched over by a stone statue of the Virgin Mary. Patrick enclosed the bed, hiding the original chimney breast and cleverly making use of the voids either side for a bedside shelf and walk-in cupboard.
Taran Wilkhu27/27Zoe Zimmer has used mirrors as a smart way to expand the space of her small Notting Hill flat. ‘Because of the mirrors,' she says, ‘you’re always part of the action. So even if I’m stuck in the kitchen, I can see what’s going on.’ The kitchen has a mirrored wall, which bounces back into the living and dining space, all of which have lacquered black floorboards. It’s a dramatic choice but it really works to expand the feeling of the room.
