Small home design: 20 compact dwellings that are big on style (2024)

More people than ever are downsizing to smaller abodes. Living in a petite space can present challenges when it comes to design, however melding clever spatial planning with a unique mix of furniture, art and decorative details can result in a beautiful space that feels anything but unstylish and cluttered.

The below designers utilise an elegant, pared-back approach to transform these ultra-chic abodes, proving that you can downsize without compromising high-end style.

‘Small is beautiful’ is the mantra here, where the essence of stylish living has been distilled into petite packages.

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black kitchen

Employing walls and shutters painted in a light-absorbing flat black to give depth and blur the boundaries of this small harbourside apartment Kurraba Point, designer Pamela Makin of Les Interieurs cleverly created the illusion of more space.

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Only one street back from the beach, this modern apartment has a 130-square-metre footprint. A banquette was cleverly added so the dining table could be shifted to one side, enhancing the sense of space and widening the walkway through to the kitchen and terrace.

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It was an exercise in removing rather than adding to enhance a sense of space in this minimalist apartment in Sydney. When the down-sizing couple first saw it, it was a “cacophony” of finishes, including yellowing timber floors and joinery, plain plasterboard walls, frameless glass doors, and a heavy burgundy marble fireplace.

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“I was very aware that the apartment didn’t have particularly high ceilings,” says interior architect Phoebe Nicol of this refined top-floor apartment. “It was imperative that every architectural detail exuded the illusion of space. The wall and ceiling junction throughout the apartment is square set and this detail encapsulates a crisp edge, plus the illusion of a higher ceiling. The internal timber doors span from floor to ceiling.”

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Complete with a folding down Murphy bed, bi-fold doors and a hidden bathroom, this one-bedroom apartment in Sydney has a luxurious sense of space and can cleverly adapt to the needs of its owner.

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Clever layering and use of different textures and finishes throughout this reconfigured apartment create interest and balance in the small spaces.

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Layering soft-edged appointments in enveloping shades with moments of sculptural flair, this 120sqm harbourside bolthole is a neat encapsulation of Meryl Hare’s elegant MO. The round table doesn’t define the dining space too clearly, making it a fluid layout.

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Old and new came together in a harmonious manner in this Sydney terrace by William Smart of Smart Design Studio. The rear elevation of this house shows the fluid connection between inside and out.

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A triangular-shaped home in Sydney’s Darlinghurst was given a modern-industrial, café-style makeover that respects the home’s layered history and unique mix of Victorian and Federation style architecture. “It feels relaxed and easy and has a nice flow across each level and into the courtyards,” says designer Richard Stanisich.

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Conceived by Poco Designs, this luxe Sydney apartment embraces natural materials and vintage furnishing that have been paired against contemporary architectural elements.

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Interior designer Yasmine Ghoniem of Amber Road was entrusted to revamp this North Bondi apartment, incorporating hints of unexpected, playful artwork.

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A compact yet elegant space designed by Sarah Wolfendale boasts an aesthetic mix of Scandinavian, French and Belgian design elements.

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Interior designer Melissa Koch took the reigns in refreshing this Federation townhouse in Sydney with modern furnishings while retaining the original character of the home.

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This traditional terrace house in Sydney’s Woollahra, updated and filled with collected treasures, is home to art lover Patricia Roberts.

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Giving this tired mid-century home in Melbourne a polished revamp proved to be an incredibly rewarding project for interior designer Tamsin Johnson. A custom-designed bench upholstered in Ralph Lauren Home­ fabric anchors a pair of Bill Henson artworks in this cafe-style setting.

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Therese Carrodus of Full of Grace Interiors transformed this small 1940s home in Melbourne’s South Yarra into a sleek, high-end pad that now embodies a sense of spaciousness.

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Belle style director-at-large Steve Cordony imbued his former apartment in Sydney’s Surry Hills with a relaxed elegance and globetrotting eclecticism. “The interior is a dichotomy between traditional European detailing and classic American styling, with Italian mid-century accents,” explains Steve.

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The former masculine ambience in this city apartment has been replaced by a softer sophisticated vibe thanks to designer Kimberley-Jade Bawden.

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A beachside apartment with a simple aesthetic embraces the Danish concept of ‘Hygge’ courtesy of interior designer Alexandra Kidd.

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Interior architect Phoebe Nicol took a bespoke and functional approach to reconfigure the layout of this terrace in Sydney’s Paddington that doubles as a business headquarters. The house combines playfulness with sophistication, and artistry with purpose.

PhotographerFelix Forest

Small home design: 20 compact dwellings that are big on style (2024)
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