I spent the weekend attending two sessions at Melbourne Design Week 2026. Both were on apartment living and, more broadly, about small space living. Generally, I think we understand that apartment living is a viable home for many people—a choice rather than a compromise. So while I didn’t hear anything completely ‘new’ at these talks, there are a few takeaways, more like reminders, that I want to share.
Whether you are looking to buy, renovate, or furnish your space, here are my key reminders from the sessions.
1. The Realities of Buying Off-the-Plan
The share by Milieu Property about buying off-the-plan caught my attention, as I once paid a sum of money to secure an apartment off-the-plan in the Coburg Collective on Sydney Road, Coburg.
I subsequently didn’t go ahead with that purchase as I realised during my due diligence that the developer was unlikely to complete construction on time. Luckily, I got a refund for the apartment I secured, but it was a massive reminder of the homework required.
Key takeaways for buying off-the-plan include:
- Researching the Developer: Thoroughly investigate the builder and ensure they have a good, proven track record in residential apartment construction.
- Researching the Designers: Look closely at the architects and interior designers to ensure the selections—such as finishes, fixtures, and fittings—are good quality but not overly hyped for marketing purposes. At the end of the day, there are other priorities that make apartment living successful, such as good heating, cooling, and proper soundproofing.
- Speaking to Residents: If possible, speak to people who live in other apartments built by that specific developer to get their honest, lived-in experience and feedback.
2. Buying and Renovating an Older Apartment
An architect talked about his experience in looking for and settling on an older apartment building in North Melbourne. He explained that the size, northern orientation, double-brick construction, and the walkable neighbourhood all contributed to his decision-making.
Before renovating, however, he lived in the apartment for 12 months to truly understand how the space feels in different seasons, assess the natural light the space receives, and so on.
Interestingly, this architect was a proponent for broken living, as am I. This completely contradicts a widely held belief that an open-plan layout is the only way to create a sense of space in apartment living. Cleverly defined zones often make a small footprint feel much larger and more functional.
3. Buying Once and Buying Well
My final takeaway from this year’s Melbourne Design Week sessions on apartment living was provided by another architect, which was to ‘buy once and buy well’. Again, this contradicted the notion that you can’t buy good quality furniture for apartment living, especially if you rent.
Good quality furniture can and should move with you. Rather than filling your space with temporary, budget-friendly pieces because you think it’s not worth it, it’s much better to buy quality furniture you love.
This mindset resonated with me as, of course, this is the exact mindset I’m in when I create my affordable, curated apartment furniture sets. It is quality over quantity, rather than fast furniture. Good quality furniture means less is more. And less is more means less visual clutter, which compromises the flow of movement, cohesion, and happy apartment living.
What’s your apartment strategy?
Are you team open-plan, or do you love the idea of cosy, broken living zones? If you are ready to ditch the fast furniture and invest in pieces that respect your footprint, explore our curated collections today.
