Ever growing populations and limited resources are forcing us to construct smaller buildings, and with smaller buildings come space issues. But small homes and apartments don't have to be doomed from the start. With a bit of creativity and ingenuity, small homes can be transform a few square metres into super functional and stylish spaces.
Today we have gathered together five such examples. These small housing projects are roomier than you would expect, and hopefully you take a few tips away yourself on how to better organise your small space!
Our first home was brought to us by the professionals at Alvarenga+Llacay Arquitetos. This apartment lies within a tower of buildings that functions as family housing, but that doesn't mean that design has to suffer.
We see a great use of space with this breakfast bar. It acts as a regular eating space, making a dining room unnecessary.
Surprisingly enough, this modern apartment comes with a log cabin atmosphere, making it warmer and more welcoming.
Even though the space is thin, we see wonderful furniture arrangement that allows for the existence of a large hallway, thus making the space appear larger.
Next up we have a duplex located in Recoleta. This ingenious design separates kitchen from living room with a roll-away dining room table. Pull it out for big dinners, stash it away for extra living space.
Room dividers are fantastic decorating options. They're even better when they're designed with purpose other than separating space.
Take this room divider, for example–it's a bookshelf. It was designed for storage as well as the creation of different spaces. Isn't that handy?
This apartment in Barcelona is a mere 40 square metres, but that doesn't stop it from having amazing space-saving elements. It's comfortable, warm, inviting, and has a hidden storage secret…
This innovative storage solution helps these residents not only store books and DVDs, but literally anything else they might want, like clothes.
But that isn't the only remarkable thing about this space. The white walls and light brown hardwood floors enlarge and lengthen the area visually.
This apartment is even smaller than the previous–just 18 square metres! Located in Buenos Aires, this little study optimizes all of its space with wall storage and strategically placed furnishings.
The small desk is also a big help, and that it is positioned against the wall and out of the way.
Did we forget to mention that the couch is hiding a fold-out bed? Well, there's another little nifty space-saver idea for you! During the day, you have a totally functional work and relaxation area. At night, you reveal a hidden treasure. What could be better?
Our last project was a remodeling project and is luckily much larger than the last two apartments we visited. This apartment is 56 square metres and uses white to make the space appear larger. The kitchenette with half-sized cook top really saves on space, along with the combination of open and closed shelving.
If you want to know the seven smart items that every small kitchen should have, then check out this Ideabook!
To achieve a greater sense of spaciousness, a sliding door was installed to separate the bedroom door with the adjacent living room. The bedroom is calm and quiet and uses grey and white to create a neutral atmosphere. And even here, space seem much more open due to colour palette and placement of furnishings. So even you can make your small space look like it's twice the size!
If you liked this Ideabook, then you might be interested in taking a closer look at this small home.