Imagine a space the size of a standard bedroom. A total of 14 square meters is not much. But what if you turn these meters into a full-fledged home with space for everything: sleeping, working, relaxing, and storing things?
Today we will take a look at one such project. This is not just a matter of arranging furniture in a small room, but a design that has been thought out down to the smallest detail. Here, every centimeter works for the owner, and flexible solutions make it easy to change scenarios throughout the day.
This approach proves that even the most modest space can be comfortable, functional, and stylish. The main thing is smart planning and attention to detail. Let's explore together how this was achieved.
General information
City: Krasnodar
Area: 14 square meters
Rooms: 1
Bathroom: 1
Ceiling height: 2.5 meters
Client and requirements
The client purchased the apartment as an investment property to rent out: it was necessary to create a neutral interior and stay within a fairly modest budget. However, the owner did not specify any clear preferences in terms of style and design and relied entirely on the professional's taste.
“In this project, we only encountered the problem of convenient planning: it is not so easy to place all the vital areas in a small space,” recalls the designer. “The main task was to organize the bathroom correctly, find a place for a mini-kitchen and sleeping area, and think through a storage system.”
Living in 14 square meters is not a sentence, but a challenge that can be won with intelligence. The main secret is not to cram in as much furniture as possible, but to make sure that every item contributes to comfort: a fold-out sofa, hidden shelves, a multifunctional area by the window, and a minimum of unnecessary items. When every centimeter is thought out, even a small studio becomes comfortable, bright, and a real home.
Redesign
With the existing walls, it was simply impossible to organize the space properly—demolition was unavoidable. “I suggested about 5-6 redesign ideas with different layouts for the necessary functional areas. After weighing all the pros and cons, we chose the option that best took into account all the technical nuances of the room and best suited the task at hand,” recalls Ekaterina.
According to the new plan, the bathroom had to be slightly enlarged at the expense of the kitchen-corridor, and the doorway and the wall between the corridor and the living room had to be dismantled to accommodate kitchen furniture and equipment. "It would be unreasonable to install a full-fledged door or doorway there. A door needs space to open, which is not available here. And a doorway would visually ‘cut off’ the room, making it look even smaller,“ says the designer. ”We decided to hang a decorative curtain: if necessary, it can cover these functional areas, and when pulled back, it gives a feeling of lightness and relative spaciousness."
Finishing
The focus was on brickwork, and since new walls needed to be built, the designer decided to make them from natural material and paint them. “This way, the texture of the brickwork will be preserved, the feeling of a street wall will disappear, and most importantly, such a wall does not need additional finishing. This will save money,” comments Ekaterina. However, it was decided to make one side wall out of artificial brick to make the interior appear softer.
The other walls were left to be painted, and only the surface at the head of the sofa will be covered with wallpaper. Their function is to give the room coziness and volume.
The ceilings will be covered with decorative plaster with a slight worn effect. “We need this solution to complement the brick walls so that the interior looks harmonious,” explained the designer. Europlast cornices will be used around the edges of the ceiling. An interesting lattice between the hallway and the living room will be made of plywood, with the pattern cut out using a laser.
The parquet flooring was inherited from the old premises. The designer decided not to throw it away, but to use it to finish the kitchen backsplash. It just needs to be sanded down and recoated with a protective layer. To save money, they decided to lay laminate flooring on the floor.
We chose mosaic tiles for the bathroom—they give a feeling of spaciousness in small areas.
Storage
“For storage, we have provided a spacious built-in wardrobe in the living room. It will be ceiling-high and approximately one and a half meters wide. There will be a shoe cabinet and a coat rack by the front door,” Ekaterina shares her plans.
Additional storage systems will also be added to the apartment. For example, there will be a storage box in the sofa, and decorative boxes with lids will be placed in the free space under the armchairs. “We deliberately made the armchairs without built-in boxes to maintain a feeling of lightness in the interior,” explains the designer.
Light and color
“The wiring in the apartment did not comply with safety standards, so we will install additional lighting points at the same time as replacing it,” says Ekaterina.
The kitchen area will have several spotlights, and the kitchen countertop will be illuminated by an additional light fixture for convenience when preparing food.
In addition to the chandelier, the common room will have spotlights as a second lighting option. There is also a third option: a wall sconce near the sofa for evening or night lighting.
As for the color palette, the designer preferred a soft, natural range: the calm gray color of the walls is complemented by the warm shade of wood. The white color and accents in the form of bright pillows and greenery perfectly refresh the space.
Furniture
Almost all of the furniture will be custom-made, as the room is extremely small. The design of the chairs and the transforming table requires special attention. When disassembled, its lid is attached with a wooden element facing up and serves as a full-fledged table. If necessary, it can be turned over with a soft element and lowered to the level of the armchairs. This creates an additional couch for sleeping. I got the idea and mechanism from a train carriage," says Ekaterina.
Decor and textiles
There is not much decor in this project. The eco style does not involve excessive ornamentation. “We will have the coat rack at the entrance custom-made and painted to look like aged metal. We will most likely choose Scandinavian-style cushions made of linen: it is important for us to use only natural materials in the project,” explains the designer.
Style
Since the clients are renovating this apartment to rent it out, extravagant design solutions would be out of place: the space should be neutral and comfortable for as many people as possible. As a result, the designer opted for an eco-style. “I chose a light, natural motif with calm shades and natural materials. And the mirrored surface of the wardrobe will add visual space to the room and create a play of reflections in it,” comments Ekaterina.
Complexities and deadlines
“The most difficult part of the project was to find the only correct layout solution: to take into account the technical features of the room and place the maximum number of functional areas in a tiny space,” says Ekaterina.
In terms of timing, work on the project took a total of four weeks, and it will take three to four weeks of active work to complete.
Room dimensions
Total: 14 sq. m.
Kitchen-hallway: 3.5 sq. m.
Living room: 8.5 sq. m
Bathroom: 2 sq. m.
Layout
Tips for InMyRoom readers: how to create a similar interior
1. An eco-style interior involves natural materials and soft, natural shades. Stretch ceilings, for example, are not suitable: their composition is far from the philosophy of naturalness. Cork flooring or light parquet would be appropriate for the floor. If we are talking about laminate, it must be of very good quality, and in this case, its price will be almost equal to that of parquet flooring. It is up to you to decide what to choose.
2. This style loves lots of light and rejects cluttering up the space with furniture and decorative elements.
3. A brick wall or a wall covered with natural stone would look good. The main thing is to choose high-quality materials to create the right atmosphere and not spoil the feeling of lightness. You can use wall panels with live flowers or, as an option, a decorative waterfall on glass.
4. Most importantly, both furniture and wooden decor will look great in such an interior. Without it, it is difficult to create the desired style.
As you can see, even the most modest square footage can be turned into a comfortable and functional living space. The key is not in the number of square feet, but in their smart organization. Competent zoning, built-in and transformable furniture, light colors, and thoughtful storage work wonders.
This approach to planning teaches us to value not the size, but the quality and practicality of each item. This is a story about how conscious choices and good design can overcome cramped spaces. The result is not just a room, but a real home with everything you need to live.
Ultimately, this project proves that comfort and convenience depend on our decisions, not on the size of the apartment. It inspires a more thoughtful approach to your space, where every detail works for your well-being.
