Creating Polished Interior Designs Under 40 Square Metres

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When there’s not a lot of space to work with, putting the creative polish on interior design becomes all the more essential. Each square metre of space must be considered for storage and for style. It becomes imperative to pair back to what is relevant, and what negatively disrupts the sense of space. As we tour these four modern home designs under 40 square metres, it becomes clear that a sleek minimalist aesthetic is useful though not limiting in colour palette. We discover how the neoclassical style translates into compact living spaces and how even the tiniest living quarters can feel like a fresh summer holiday.

Visualizer: JD Architects

Small walls can be transformed to make grand statements with the installation of wood cladding or textured gypsum panels. In this 37 square metre apartment, wood grain has been employed to create the backdrop of a stylish media wall. Ribbed gypsum merges with the folds of plush window drapes.

A white tv unit floats weightlessly above a matching linear media storage cabinet. The modern coffee table offers more neat storage for hand-held devices or magazines.

The kitchen diner stands open to the lounge in the compact living space. A bespoke space-saving dining table wraps the end of the kitchen run, with a linear suspension light striking above its length to strengthen its presence.

A custom wooden ‘block’ has been fashioned to smoothly combine the end of the kitchen run with a bookcase that faces into the lounge. The warm grain provides an integral piece of cosy decor in a predominantly cool grey and white room.

White base units set out an L-shaped kitchen formation, which is topped and tailed in grey countertops and plinths.

A frameless mirror fills the end of the hallway to increase the sense of space and light.

The walls of the hallway are lined with practical storage solutions for coats, shoes and oversized items for the home.

A black front door disrupts the white paintwork and makes a colour link with the shoe storage cubbies along the floor line.

Moving into the bedroom, the expanse of headboard wall gains added interest from panelling cut at different widths.

The modern bedside table lamps are showcased against contemporary wood slats.

A shelf below the TV morphs into a dressing table by the window light.

A small cube vanity stool tucks beneath the floating dressing table. The vanity mirror crosses down behind the shelf, reflecting the room all the way to the floor.

The minimalist bathroom is furnished with linear elements that draw the illusion of a wider space.

Flush-fitting wall panels present a clean and sleek aesthetic.

The interior design moodboard shows how the soft neutral elements of the home are freshened with notes of green, and sharpened with black accents.

Each inch of the small living room is utilised for useful storage, in minimalist cabinet styles that do not overwhelm the space.

Designer: Nataliia Dmytrievna

This 33 square metre studio in Odessa is segmented by sections of golden yellow and wood tone.

An elegant room divider marks separation between the kitchen diner and bedroom area. The lightweight frame communicates the change in zone without severing the space.

Rather than confining the bed quietly to one corner of the room, the bed base proudly takes up centre stage in eye catching yellow upholstery.

Color matched drapes complement the bed design.

Visualizer: Yuliya Chudinovskikh

Our fourth home interior is a 38.2 square metre apartment with chic neoclassical features. Traditional wainscotting builds a sophisticated air for a small living room, where it’s overlaid with modern art.

The round coffee table is the perfect height to be pushed tight into the tiny sofa to free up floor area.

A modern swing arm wall lamp is mounted to wainscotting inside a glass wall bedroom.

A tinted glass vase supports a soft floral arrangement to bring in the natural element. A practical desk skims beneath the TV.

Wooden kitchen bar stools and a bank of coordinated units balance out cool white cabinets, a white island and white marble trimmings. The stylish collection of black kitchen pendants are Beat lights.

A vertical radiator fits narrow wall space by the window.

A volume of closets have been sided with drywall and baseboard to achieve a streamlined finish that balances out the width of the hallway.

Gold bathroom vanity lights bring a luxurious touch to the small space.

The glass wall of the bedroom opens by sliding rather than folding so that the retracted panels take up no floor space.

Visualizer: IvE-interior

In the south of Moscow, this 35 square metre sunny apartment design accommodates a living room, kitchen, bedroom, dressing room, bathroom, hallway and a balcony garden. Yellow accents thread through bright furniture, playful accent cushions, and even a tiny yellow glass vase on a small side table.