Mastering Compact Luxury: Three Common Apartment Problems Solved by Design
This week, I started an interior styling project in a new apartment development in Carlton. I was reminded, once again, that while apartment living offers unparalleled convenience, it often comes with a few spatial challenges. From cramped closets to dim rooms, these common frustrations can make a space feel limiting rather than luxurious.
Thankfully, interior design can be the ultimate problem-solver for apartment dwellers. By incorporating multi-functional pieces and strategic lighting, you can transform your small space into a serene, high-end sanctuary. Here are three common apartment problems and our design-savvy solutions.
1. The Small Wardrobe Headache
The Problem: Tiny built-in wardrobes can make organisation feel impossible. When every inch of wardrobe space is dedicated to hanging essentials, where do your other belongings go?
The Solution: The key to a small wardrobe is to declutter. Then it’s separating your clothing into winter and summer group.s Storing the clothing that’s not in season. Storing the off season clothing in a gas lift bed or vaccum bags is a good idea.
Also key is offloading non-clothing items (like towels, linens, or books) to other areas of the bedroom. And then look for pieces that offer hidden storage opportunities. For instance, bedside tables or storage ottomans.
Storage ottomans are a versatile accent piece like the providing chic seating and a perfect spot to stow away extra throws or winter boots, freeing up prime wardrobe real estate for seasonal lothes only. When every piece serves two purposes, your space automatically doubles.
2. Battling Poor Lighting
The Problem: Many apartments rely solely on harsh overhead lighting, leading to rooms that feel flat, small, and uninviting. Good design requires layers of light—ambient, task, and accent.
The Solution: Layer Up the Light. Since you can’t change the ceiling fixture, focus on adding stylish table and floor lamps. Utilising fixtures like table lamps on your bedside tables introduces beautiful, soft, ambient light at a mid-level height, creating warmth and depth.
Beyond the fixtures themselves, embrace light-reflecting materials. This doesn’t mean install a mirror in key areas. But consider bright linen in the bedroom as an example.
3. The Challenging Small Bedroom
The Problem: A small bedroom can easily feel squishy or boxy, especially when trying to incorporate a full-sized bed.
The Solution: Go Bold with a Focal Point. Instead of trying to blend in, make a clear design statement that draws the eye upward and gives the room stature. The Button Bed Head is the perfect example. It’s tall, tufted wingback design creates immediate architectural interest. By choosing a substantial, impactful headboard, you signal luxury and depth, rather than dwelling on the room’s constraints.
Another simple trick is using large-scale art. Hanging a commanding piece like the above the bed gives the wall a sense of scale and pushes the visual boundaries of the room, making it feel less enclosed.
Apartment living doesn’t mean compromising on style or function. By choosing multi-functional furniture, layering your lighting, and using bold focal points, you can easily achieve that effortless, luxe coastal feel, regardless of size.
Ready to start designing your perfect sanctuary?
