Scandinavian

The biggest challenge has been navigating the different stages of a family living in a small space (and accommodating all the kid gear!).

Apartment Therapy's Small/Cool contest grand prize winner has an Oakland apartment featuring smart small-space ideas. And one of the most organized pantries we've ever seen!

Name: Mina, Sumit, Alec, Louis & Léonie Location: Bromma, a suburb to Stockholm, Sweden Size: 168 square metros square feet Years lived in: 1 month In the suburban neighborhood of Bromma, outside the city of Stockholm, Mina and Sumit have created a beautiful space for their young family in their newly built home. Mina loves this home’s large windows and open concept floor plan, and her minimal, casual approach to design maximizes the airy feeling of this home.

Jennelle Mendes' 450-square-foot Brooklyn rental apartment came with absolutely zero closets — so she had to get creative with storage solutions in her small space. And she created an incredibly cozy bed cocoon, too!

In just 500 square feet, painter Josh Ayala created a warm, stylish space that’s part art studio, home, and place to show off personality.

A couple and their baby call this converted school bus home when they are on the road having adventures.

This $5500-a-month West Village rental apartment of herbalist and floral designer Emily Swarts is only 550 square feet, but feels a lot larger, thanks to it being spread across three floors.

Erin Kerr's style can best be described as: "Like if a Danish Grandpa and Primary School Teacher Grandma had a grandkid who loved Memphis Milano."

It also has Scandinavian finishes, light wooden floors, and modern appliances coupled with a soothing color palette of creams and terracotta.

There's so much character in this cozy home.

Adam and Alexa focused on “maximizing storage with smart layouts and full-height cabinetry rather than expensive finishes,” and were able to keep Chicago apartment renovation “practical and budget-conscious.”

This creative couple turned their first apartment into a warm and custom home, all without adding any square footage to the 710 square feet.

It’s not a style for everyone, but for two introverts who work from home (and three bunnies), this beautifully minimal and meticulously organized condo in Richmond, VA, “feels like a giant exhale.”

The home is so colorful, too!

This art-filled apartment is bursting with a colorful, creative spark, thanks to an eclectic collection of paintings, textiles, and photography.

The decor is a testament to the renter’s background.

The design of this 765-square-foot apartment in Mumbai “revolved around having the sophistication of modern and contemporary styles with a touch of European elements.” There are tropical details in the kitchen, and the balcony is a must-see.

This renovated 1952 house in the San Fernando Valley was transformed for around $100K, and hides two bold color surprises: a red and a green bathroom.

This houseboat was originally a chaotic mix of styles and elements thanks to previous owners and different remodels in the ‘80s and ‘90s. “The kitchen used to feel like a bit of a cave, with minimal windows, grubby cabinetry, and huge appliances.”

This apartment built in 1894 was outdated, worn, and lacking in personality. But now it’s a mix of old charm and modern touches, with bold colors, vintage details, and art.

In just 484 square feet, designer Nataliia Lymar created a space that feels calm, spacious, and deeply personal — complete with mirrors that multiply natural light and a dining table made from a tree that once grew in her family’s yard in Uman.

This 675-square-foot Los Angeles apartment is warm and moody, and proves even renters can have designer-level lighting.

Hee Yeon Hwang loves the colors lavender and green, art, trinkets, daisies, and her dog, Doo Yoo. And she’s managed to showcase all of these elements and more in her tiny rental on the Upper East Side.

Despite being built in the 18th century, this rental apartment feels fresh thanks to clean lines, art, light, plants, and vibrant statement pieces.

This builder-grade new build in Oslo had white walls, a gray kitchen, and 0 character, but the owners added warmth and personality to the 475-square-foot apartment with incredibly cool custom plywood furniture.

The bedroom is giving serious magazine vibes, thanks to green limewashed walls and a six-foot-tall DIY mirror. And the owners made a design choice that everyone (even the painters!) was skeptical about at first.

This 650-square-foot loft in Hancock Park demonstrates how “design can be both personal and practical without compromising aesthetics.”

It was important to Serena to create a home that was calm but could also “easily host up to 10 people because I love having my friends around me in this place.”

Ben and Leon “have intentionally curated a space that feels calm and cohesive.”

Each time, sound musician Jackie Cantwell has transformed small rental apartments with color, cool vibes, and style.

"My client dreamed of a space that felt cozy, livable, and truly hers, so we transformed every corner with intention," writes interior designer Audrey Mae Montalban Letada.

Discover how this family of four turned a "plain white box" into a lived-in, warm, and cozy rental home.

Caitlin Maestrini is the curator of Teak New York, a Scandinavian design store in Brooklyn, and has styled her rental apartment according to “Scandinavian design principles and aesthetics."

“Overall, regardless of style, my goal was always to make my home a place I can come back to and feel at peace. I work a relatively stressful job and wanted to ensure that I go home to a peaceful, warm, and welcoming environment where I can relax and de-stress,” this nurse practitioner writes.

Christine and Nik have spent the last two years making renter-friendly adjustments to their small Bed-Stuy loft to create an incredibly dreamy, DIY home.

Cylia had only known white walls in previous rental apartments, so this unique unit's stunning exposed brick walls were one of the first things she noticed about this small-but-stylish space.