A small condo doesn’t at all times want smaller furnishings. Generally, altering the place you retailer your belongings, opening up a kitchen, or making a separate sleeping space could make a a lot greater distinction.
That can assist you plan your subsequent renovation, we’ve put collectively eight of our favourite small condo design concepts from Sweeten initiatives.
Key takeaways
- Rethink current storage: Relocating closets, including built-ins, and utilizing area beneath raised beds can cut back the necessity for separate storage furnishings.
- Contemplate opening up the kitchen: A pass-through, peninsula, or island can create extra room for cooking and eating whereas connecting the kitchen to the dwelling space.
- Give every space a goal: Sliding doorways, kitchen islands, and built-in desks may help separate on a regular basis actions with out dividing the condo into a number of small rooms.
- Look past the ground plan: Taller ceilings, higher lighting, and up to date finishes can noticeably change how a studio feels with out rising its sq. footage.
- Plan adjustments collectively: Discussing storage, room dimensions, electrical work, and plumbing with an skilled contractor may help determine sensible options earlier than building begins.
1. A intelligent storage swap makes a compact studio extra practical
Lauren’s Brooklyn Heights studio had an uncommon storage association. A big residence workplace occupied area that might have been used as a closet, whereas the sleeping alcove had a small closet and inconvenient storage beneath the raised mattress.
Throughout her studio condo renovation, Lauren and her contractor reorganized these areas. The small closet close to the mattress was eliminated to create a built-in desk nook. Beneath the mattress, the contractor rebuilt the platform and added three accessible storage bays for seasonal clothes and folding furnishings.
The kitchen additionally acquired some cautious changes. Lauren needed to switch her 24-inch range with a normal 30-inch vary, however the current cupboards didn’t go away sufficient room. Her contractor adjusted the cabinetry and turned one part right into a cookbook shelf. New quartz counter tops, a backsplash, and up to date home equipment accomplished the kitchen.
Within the rest room, an ungainly triangular nook grew to become a linen closet accessible from exterior the room. Collectively, these adjustments gave Lauren extra helpful storage with out including furnishings to the dwelling space.
Design takeaway: Earlier than including extra cupboards or shelving, contemplate whether or not your current closets are in the appropriate locations. Rearranging built-in storage could offer you extra usable area with out altering the condo’s total footprint.
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2. Shiny finishes and inventive particulars rework a darkish West Village studio
When Taylor moved into her household’s 320-square-foot West Village studio, she had one main concern: the condo felt unusually darkish. Teal-paneled partitions, distressed wooden trim, and dated finishes made the inside really feel rather more enclosed than she needed.
For her West Village condo renovation, Taylor targeted on brightening the dwelling space whereas giving the kitchen and toilet a extra trendy look. The outdated wall paneling got here down, white partitions changed the darker finishes, and recessed lighting helped illuminate the area. Portray the window frames charcoal added distinction with out bringing again the heavy look of the unique woodwork.
An sudden discovery throughout demolition added character to the renovation. Behind the paneling and drywall, the contractor uncovered arched openings that had been hidden throughout earlier updates. Fairly than overlaying them once more, Taylor integrated these authentic particulars into the refreshed condo.
The kitchen acquired painted cabinetry, new counter tops, ground tile, and a backsplash. Within the rest room, up to date tile, lighting, and a conceit with storage helped enhance the compact area. Taylor additionally used a mixture of open shelving and hid storage all through the condo.
The mission in the end value roughly $70,000, with the renovation balancing Taylor’s private type and her objective of conserving the condo interesting to future patrons.
Design takeaway: Gentle-colored partitions and higher lighting could make a small condo really feel much less enclosed, notably when darkish finishes dominate the area. Eradicating pointless wall remedies can even reveal architectural particulars value preserving.
3. Wall-to-wall cabinetry turns a former rental studio into a cushty retreat
After years of renting out their Higher East Facet studio, Ying and her household determined to renovate it right into a pied-à-terre for visits to New York Metropolis. The condo wanted to accommodate occasional stays with out feeling crowded by storage furnishings.
Ying’s Higher East Facet studio renovation targeted on the doorway, storage, flooring, and toilet. An current closet close to the doorway was eliminated, and the realm was reconfigured to create a small eating nook.
Alongside the partitions, customized cabinetry with rift oak veneer supplied area for hanging garments, shelving, and different necessities. The continual built-ins changed the necessity for separate wardrobes and storage items, conserving the principle dwelling space extra open.
Gentle maple flooring introduced heat into the condo, whereas matte black lighting complemented the present black window frames. Ying additionally gave the toilet a considerable replace, changing the bath with a walk-in bathe enclosed by frameless glass. White subway tile, slate-colored hexagonal ground tile, and a customized self-importance accomplished the design.
As a result of Ying was managing the renovation from Portland, she relied on her Sweeten basic contractor to coordinate the work and maintain her knowledgeable. The outcome was a compact second residence with devoted storage and a extra sensible entrance.
Design takeaway: Wall-to-wall cabinetry will be particularly helpful in studios the place freestanding wardrobes would take up helpful ground area. Planning the cupboards across the condo’s precise storage wants additionally helps keep away from unused compartments.
4. A kitchen pass-through creates more room for eating and dealing
Emily liked the character of older flats, however the kitchen in her 435-square-foot Higher West Facet studio wanted consideration. The slender galley format had restricted counter area and felt disconnected from the principle dwelling space.
Throughout her Higher West Facet studio renovation, Emily labored along with her contractor to open a pass-through between the kitchen and front room. The countertop prolonged by the opening to kind a breakfast perch with stools, giving her a spot to eat with out requiring a separate eating desk.
Contained in the kitchen, an under-counter fridge helped protect counter area, whereas open shelving changed the higher cupboards. The compact format nonetheless accommodated a 24-inch gasoline vary, marble counter tops, and a black-and-white Spanish tile ground.
Emily additionally reconsidered the 2 shallow closets close to the doorway. Eradicating them created area for a built-in desk and customized shelving, giving her a chosen work space exterior the principle sleeping area.
The renovation preserved the studio’s prewar character by new wall paneling, crown molding, baseboards, and marble window ledges. The lavatory acquired complementary black-and-white finishes, together with beveled subway tile.
Design takeaway: A kitchen pass-through can enhance the connection between a small kitchen and the lounge whereas making a handy place for meals. When you’re planning to change a kitchen wall, your contractor may help assess the opening and coordinate the required building work.
5. A two-level studio features new goal with out altering its format
Not each small condo renovation wants a special ground plan. Dianna and Todd needed to replace their 440-square-foot Higher West Facet duplex, however their contractor beneficial conserving the present association and concentrating on the areas that wanted probably the most consideration.
Their two-level studio renovation targeted on the kitchen, rest room, flooring, and finishes all through the condo.
Within the kitchen, the couple retained the present granite counter tops and cabinetry. Their contractor sanded and repainted the cupboards in a lightweight greige colour, added black {hardware}, and put in new home equipment. Handmade Moroccan terracotta tile gave the backsplash extra texture with out requiring a brand new kitchen configuration.
The rest room underwent a extra intensive rework. A glass-partitioned bathe changed the bath, whereas recessed floor-to-ceiling cupboards behind the door supplied much-needed storage.
One of the crucial helpful adjustments occurred upstairs. The couple turned a hardly ever used loft space close to the roof deck into an workplace and library. The suspended staircase additionally acquired a brand new end, with darkened treads and black-painted railings to match the condo’s up to date look.
These enhancements allowed the couple to offer beforehand neglected areas a goal whereas preserving the format they already had.
Design takeaway: Preserving an current ground plan can go away extra room within the renovation funds for upgrades to kitchens, loos, and storage. Earlier than transferring partitions, have a look at whether or not an underused alcove, loft, or nook might serve a greater goal.
6. A kitchen island separates dwelling areas in a studio
Kim and Ian’s 450-square-foot Higher West Facet co-op wanted to accommodate two individuals in a single primary dwelling area. Fairly than creating separate rooms, they needed a format that clearly distinguished cooking, eating, and dealing from stress-free and sleeping.
Their studio co-op renovation concerned intensive adjustments to the kitchen, rest room, storage, plumbing, and electrical methods.
The kitchen island grew to become the principle divider between the 2 sides of the condo. It supplied a devoted floor for meals preparation and eating whereas sustaining an open connection to the dwelling space. This association additionally allowed the couple to make use of their restricted area with out introducing one other everlasting wall.
The renovation revealed an sudden storage alternative. When the contractor found two outdated home windows hid inside a wall, he urged utilizing the cavities for cabinetry and extra counter area. Customized wooden cupboards made use of those areas, whereas an identical garments cupboard close to the mattress helped manage the sleeping area.
The format reveals how a studio can accommodate a number of actions with out requiring a standard room for every one.
Design takeaway: A kitchen island is among the small condo design concepts value contemplating when cooking, eating, and dwelling areas share the identical room. Its dimensions and placement matter, although. There nonetheless must be sufficient clearance to open cupboards, use home equipment, and transfer comfortably across the kitchen.
7. A raised ceiling offers a studio loft extra potentialities
A 500-square-foot Greenwich Village studio already had two interesting options: a sleeping loft and a balcony. Nevertheless, a earlier renovation had lowered the ceiling by a number of toes, limiting the quantity of pure mild reaching the inside.
The house owner noticed a chance to reclaim that top throughout her studio loft renovation. Working with a Sweeten contractor, she raised the ceiling to roughly 16 toes, opening up the principle dwelling space and making a stronger connection to the loft above.
With the extra top, she was capable of enclose the sleeping space utilizing sliding glass panels. The enclosure supplied extra privateness whereas permitting mild and air to cross between the loft and the room beneath.
Storage was one other precedence. A wall of built-in shelving and cupboards supplied room for belongings with out counting on a number of separate furnishings items. A library ladder made the higher storage accessible.
The kitchen additionally gained a bigger peninsula for cooking and consuming, whereas the toilet and staircase acquired updates as a part of the renovation.
Though the ceiling change required substantial building, the mission demonstrates how wanting above eye degree can reveal alternatives that aren’t apparent from the ground plan alone.
Design takeaway: In flats with unusually low ceilings or current lofts, vertical area could supply alternatives for higher storage, lighting, or room separation. Ceiling alterations require cautious planning, together with a assessment of structural situations and constructing approvals.
8. Sliding doorways flip an open studio into a versatile junior one-bedroom
Claire and Dan needed their 500-square-foot Decrease East Facet condo to really feel extra like a junior one-bedroom than a standard studio. Their largest precedence was separating the sleeping space from the lounge with out giving up the openness of the condo.
Throughout their Decrease East Facet studio renovation, the couple realized that constructing necessities prevented them from putting in full partitions to divide the area. Their architect and Sweeten basic contractor developed another utilizing customized sliding doorways.
The doorways enable the sleeping space to stay linked to the lounge throughout the day. When privateness is required, the panels can near create a extra distinct bed room space. Getting the scale proper and accounting for an uneven ceiling required further planning.
The couple additionally eliminated the wall between the kitchen and dwelling space, renovated the kitchen and toilet, and put in new purple oak flooring all through. White cabinetry and tile, black {hardware}, and restrained finishes helped set up a constant look throughout the completely different areas.
For Claire and Dan, the sliding doorways supplied the privateness they needed whereas preserving flexibility in a small condo.
Design takeaway: Sliding room dividers will be helpful when a studio wants a separate sleeping space, however everlasting partitions aren’t sensible. Contemplate how the panels will open, the place they’ll sit when not in use, and the way a lot pure mild will attain either side.
What to contemplate when planning a small condo renovation
The initiatives above present that a greater small condo format doesn’t at all times require intensive demolition. The fitting adjustments rely on the condo’s current configuration and what you want from the area.
Earlier than deciding on a design, contemplate these components:
- Prioritize the areas that want enchancment: Establish what makes every day actions troublesome, corresponding to restricted kitchen counter area, inadequate storage, or no devoted workspace. Focus your renovation on adjustments that handle these wants.
- Test furnishings and cupboard clearances: Measure the area round kitchen islands, cupboards, home equipment, and furnishings to make sure there’s sufficient room to maneuver comfortably. Even a number of inches could make a distinction in a small condo.
- Plan storage earlier than selecting finishes: Contemplate built-in closets, under-bed storage, or customized cupboards to scale back the necessity for separate furnishings. Account for electrical shops, lighting, and heating or cooling tools when planning storage.
- Evaluation your constructing’s renovation necessities: Co-op and condominium buildings could have restrictions on structural adjustments, plumbing, and building hours. Test these necessities with constructing administration earlier than finalizing your plans.
- Work with an skilled basic contractor: Residence renovations usually contain coordinating a number of trades inside a restricted area. Sweeten can join you with vetted basic contractors who may help plan and handle your renovation.
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Often requested questions
How are you going to make a small condo really feel extra spacious?
Begin by wanting on the format, lighting, and quantity of furnishings occupying the ground. Eradicating pointless partitions, bettering lighting, and changing separate storage items with built-ins could create a extra open inside. Nevertheless, the appropriate adjustments rely on the condo’s dimensions and current options.
What are some helpful storage concepts for a small studio condo?
Constructed-in closets, wall-to-wall cupboards, storage beneath raised beds, and cabinets fitted into unused alcoves are value contemplating. Customized storage will be notably helpful when customary furnishings doesn’t match the room’s dimensions or leaves awkward gaps.
Are you able to flip a studio condo right into a one-bedroom?
In some instances, a studio will be reconfigured to create a separate bed room. Nevertheless, a legally acknowledged one-bedroom may have to satisfy particular native necessities. Sliding partitions can present privateness when everlasting partitions aren’t permitted, however they don’t mechanically change the condo’s authorized classification.
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