This Apartment May Be the Best Use of 107 Square Feet We’ve Ever Seen

I have shared a 400-square foot studio apartment with another human and their music studio. I have shared a 300-square-foot apartment that necessitated eating at a fold-down table and sleeping in the closet. Never have I ever lived in a 107-square-foot apartment, especially not one as beautiful, brilliant, and well-appointed as this one, featured on Metro.Mode. Let’s explore and envy:

Let’s start with the combination living room and dining room. A petite bistro table is just big enough for two, and the over-sized lounge chair appears to fold out into a twin sleeping mattress. This compact room is a great reminder that small spaces don’t mean that you have to stick to small accessories. The large-scale photo, the bold mirror, and the floor-to-ceiling curtains all have a big presence without overwhelming the space. Tiny accessories would feel dinky; these larger pieces give each discrete “room” its own personality and independence.

Here you can see the entrance, kitchen, and sleeping loft. The three different floorings—tile for the kitchen, doormat for the entrance, and wood leading to the dining room (the living room has a rug)—delineate each space. A lofted bedroom is an amazing space-saver and makes the most of the high ceilings, but that ladder should strike fear into anyone who has to get up a lot in the night, has physical challenges, or tends to indulge in the liqueurs. Sober or not, navigating that ladder in the middle of the night would be no joke.

But this bedroom is undeniably clever and lovely. The two handles assist in that final hike up the ladder and the low bed makes the most of the low-ceilinged space. Once again, a different type of flooring (carpet, this time) sets this room apart from all the others, and a large work of art creates delicious drama in a small space.

I’ve lived with kitchens so small I could reach both side walls with my hands at the same time, but I think I could touch both sides of this kitchen with my shoulders at the same time. Every inch is exploited, with a space some might consider to have, “like, zero counter space,” divided into a cooktop, sink, and counter. Perhaps there’s not enough space to lay out your tamale assembly line, but it’s not a space in which its impossible to cook. The essential tools are right at-hand on wall racks, storage is maximized above and below, and the overhead oven (or is it a microwave? or combo?) is just big enough for a cake. The high-gloss white surfaces are fantastically easy to clean, meaning this tiny kitchen will always be shiny even if it’s crowded.

I have bathed in smaller—and definitely worse—showers in much larger homes! The high ceilings in the bathroom add a luxurious spaciousness, and everything—shower, sink, toilet, storage—are tucked perfectly into place.

Just wanted to give a shoutout to this teeny sink. Placed parallel rather than perpendicular to the wall, its footprint is practically nonexistent, and the below-sink cabinet adds lots of storage unobtrusively. The cabinet door is cleverly placed perpendicular to the wall, for easy access. If you’re designing a small space from scratch, consider rotating every element 90 degrees to see if you can save space and add function.

Finally, a reminder that living in a tiny space doesn’t mean giving up on little extras. A small shelf or nook reserved for beloved vignettes and knick-knacks can help you feel more at-home and less like you’re living in a human Tetris, with everything slotted exactly into place. A windowsill like this, reserved for whatever prettiness strikes your fancy, also means having a spot to stash little extras — if you live in a tiny home, don’t forget to squeeze in whatever bits of beauty and indulgence you can fit and afford!

This home was sold by Edward Partners and was one of the most expensive, by square meter, in Sweden.

– Re-edited from a post originally published 9/29/2017 – DF