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

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.

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.

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.

“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.”

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

The former masculine ambience in this city apartment has been replaced by a softer sophisticated vibe thanks to designer Kimberley-Jade Bawden.

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

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.