Article: Why Scandi style is perfect for small space living
Why Scandi style is perfect for small space living
In our Vol 13 Simply Scandi, we showed how to think big while living small (something Scandinavians seem to do so well). We chatted to Vasia Moragianni about her Copenhagen apartment, which is a lesson in small space ingenuity. She's taken just 60sq m and two rooms with a tiny kitchen and made a bedroom each for her and her son, plus an open-plan family space.
1 Rethink the layout
It can be a challenge to design a family-friendly home when the square metres are few and the rooms are small. Vasia turned the floorplan of her tiny Copenhagen apartment on its head to get what she wanted. Originally, the apartment only had one bedroom, a living room, a tiny kitchen and a bathroom; today it has a large and bright all-in-one family room, made by knocking down the wall between the kitchen and the former bedroom next to it, and two bedrooms, carved up from the original living room.
2 Reuse where you can
To keep her budget down, Vasia decided to reuse the apartment’s black kitchen units. By moving them to a new home in the open-plan family room, Vasia can spend time with her son Emil while she cooks. “I love our family room,” she says, “I wanted to be with my son and guests when we have people over.” The apartment seems to naturally expand when Vasia entertains, with a table that extends and a small sofa that moves into her bedroom.
3 Use contrasts
In a small space, the temptation is often to keep things light and bright. The black units of Vasia’s kitchen actually make the kitchen area feel bigger, by visually pushing the units away. Vasia’s added pops of pretty colour though, connecting the kitchen to the living space using ceramics and glassware from House Doctor and Plantorama.
4 Enjoy outdoor space
Vasia loves the balcony, which is the first she’s had in the 15 years she’s lived in Denmark. There are always flowers and plants potted up, according to the season. The balcony creates a natural extension of the family room – the heart of this small home. “When planning a small family space, choose small but functional furniture,” says Vasia. “A pouffe or two can double up as stools or side tables.” Hers are from Woood and Sofacompany, also adding pattern to her family-room scheme.
5 Think multifunctional
Vasia’s light and airy bedroom doubles as a second living space during the day: there’s storage for her work, while Emil plays there when friends come over, and there’s floorspace for her to exercise – all thanks to a very clever design trick. Vasia’s bed slides underneath her son’s bed on the other side of the wall. “This clever solution gives me a bed and an extra usable room,” she shares. “In the morning, I hide the bed away and we can use the room however we need during the day."
6 Let the light flow
In a small space, make the most of natural light, with simple window treatments that can be pulled right back. Another trick is to keep internal doors open, borrowing the light from other rooms. From Vasia’s new family room, you look into her bedroom, which hides a clever feature.
7 Create a cosy hideaway
Emil’s bed might be small, but he loves its ‘cave-like’ atmosphere. Vasia’s bed slides underneath Emil’s from her bedroom, which is the other side of the left-hand wall. There’s also a door to his own storage space. “Emil’s new bedroom is a third of the previous room’s floor area,” says Vasia, “but he’s extremely happy with it. It’s his own room, which at seven, is the most important thing.”
Tell us about your project…
When I got divorced, I needed to downsize. It was more important for me to live in a smaller, more affordable home and be able to fund experiences for Emil and myself than have that large, expensive home. When I first walked in here, I got really good vibes. I could easily see us living here. By rethinking the layout of the two rooms, carving them up differently and creatively, I’ve made the same 60sq m work much harder. We’ve got a bedroom each, as well as a lovely bright family room, where we cook, eat and spend time together, as well as have guests over. While the renovation was exciting and a very creative process, it was tough living there with a small child amidst the chaos and dust!
What are your favourite buys?
With a small space, it’s about choosing smart. You need things that can be adjusted as required. You don’t eat at a big dining table every day if you are a small family, so one that extends is a great choice. My dining table and chairs are vintage, which I found on dba.dk. I also love my small curved sofa, which can be moved easily to my bedroom when we have guests over for dinner.
What would be your top tips for small-space living?
Spend time thinking about what you need and dream of having, without letting yourself be limited. Most of your wish list can be achieved with bespoke solutions, so seek professional help if needed, but remember that you are the only one who knows what you really want. I’m really pleased with the way my bed turned out – it gives me an extra room, which has so many options. And that’s important when you live small; you do need space around you so you don’t feel cramped.
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