Turning a Compact Flat into a Proper Home

Small apartments ask a lot of their rooms. A living space that relaxes you, a kitchen that works harder than its size suggests, and a bedroom that shuts the world out. Here is how a few well-chosen pieces can make that happen.

A living room built for slowing down

A deep, comfortable sofa changes how a room feels. Add a HAVBERG swivel armchair that turns to face whoever is talking, or away from them when a book is more appealing, and the seating arrangement stops feeling fixed. A STOCKHOLM nest of tables slots a surface wherever a cup of tea happens to land, while an EKET cabinet keeps the clutter of daily life out of sight without needing a spare room to do it.

Small touches finish the look. A SOLKLINT table lamp gives a corner its own soft glow for evenings, and a BLÅVINGAD soft toy or a SMYCKA artificial flower adds colour without asking for any upkeep. An AGEN chair pulled in from elsewhere means there is always one more seat when friends drop by unannounced.

AGEN chair, rattan/bamboo, 58x79x56 cmSMYCKA artificial flower, cherry-blossoms/pink, 130 cmSMYCKA artificial flower, eucalyptus/pink, 30 cmBLÅVINGAD soft toy, octopus/yellow, 50 cmEKET cabinet, brown walnut effect, 35x25x35 cmSTOCKHOLM nest of tables, set of 2, walnut veneer, 72x47 cm

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A kitchen that keeps worktops clear

In a compact kitchen, every centimetre of worktop matters, which is why storage does so much of the heavy lifting here. A HEJSTA glass door on a wall cabinet lets you see what is inside without opening it, and a FÖRBÄTTRA cover panel helps units look built in rather than bolted on, a useful trick in a galley kitchen where every surface is on show.

Inside the cupboards, a VARDAGEN loose-base cake tin and a set of VARDAGEN jars with lids mean baking ingredients are measured and ready rather than scattered across three different shelves. A VISPNING mixing bowl and an OMBONAD bowl handle the mixing, and a VARDAGEN serving bowl takes whatever comes out of the oven straight to the table, with a SOLKLINT pendant lamp lighting the whole process.

VARDAGEN serving bowl, clear glass, 20 cmVARDAGEN jar with lid, clear glass, 1.9 lFÖRBÄTTRA cover panel, matt anthracite, 62x80 cmHEJSTA glass door, anthracite/reeded glass, 30x80 cmSOLKLINT pendant lamp, brass/grey clear glass, 22 cmNICKEBO door, matt anthracite, 60x80 cm

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One table for homework, dinners and everything between

A dining table in a small home rarely gets to be just a dining table. Pair it with BALTSAR swivel chairs, whose see-through backs stop the room feeling boxed in, and keep an AGAM junior chair nearby for younger family members who want to be part of things at the right height. An AGEN chair or two can be added when the table needs to stretch for guests.

Above the table, a MELLÖSA picture ledge holds drawings, photos or whatever this week's school project happens to be, swapped out as often as needed. It is a simple way to let one table do the work of three rooms, moving from homework to supper to a slower weekend breakfast without anyone needing to rearrange a thing.

MELLÖSA picture ledge, transparent, 60 cmAGAM junior chair, black, 41x79x43 cmAGEN chair, rattan/bamboo, 58x79x56 cmBALTSAR swivel chair, white, 58x85x56 cmURBAN junior chair, white, 45x79x48 cmVILDGÅS junior chair, white/white, 46x79x49 cm

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Glassware you actually get to look at

There is little point keeping good glassware boxed away for occasions that rarely come. A glass-fronted display near the dining area, finished with GRADVIS and KONSTFULL vases and a scattering of OMBONAD plates and side plates, turns everyday items into something worth looking at. A TILLAGD 24-piece cutlery set sits ready for whenever it is needed rather than waiting in a drawer.

BALTSAR swivel chairs pull double duty here too, turning easily from table to cabinet when someone wants to admire what is on display. A small UNDERHÅLLA abacus adds a playful, tactile detail to the shelf, proving that storage does not have to mean hiding things away.

UNDERHÅLLA abacus, multicolour, 39x33x18 cmKONSTFULL vase, green-brown, 16 cmGRADVIS vase, pink, 21 cmOMBONAD side plate, dark grey, 20 cm, 2 packTILLAGD 24-piece cutlery set, brass-colourBALTSAR swivel chair, white, 58x85x56 cm

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A quieter bedroom for switching off

Bedrooms in smaller homes benefit from a calmer palette and fewer distractions, and a SAGESUND upholstered bed frame sets that tone immediately, giving the room a soft, solid anchor. An ODGER chair in the corner holds tomorrow's outfit without cluttering a wardrobe rail, while a NYMÅNE wall or reading lamp means one person can read in bed without disturbing the other.

A KAPPELAND pendant lamp shade softens the overhead light for evenings, and YTBERG cabinet lighting adds a gentle glow inside wardrobes or shelving, handy for finding things in the dark without flicking on the main light. A SMYCKA artificial leaf tucked on a shelf finishes the room without adding anything that needs watering.

KAPPELAND pendant lamp shade, rattan, 45 cmNYMÅNE wall/reading lamp, wired-in inst, anthracite, 7 cmYTBERG cabinet lighting, white/dimmable, 36x6.8 cmSAGESUND upholstered bed frame, Diseröd brown, 160x200 cmODGER chair, white/beige, 45x81x51 cmSMYCKA artificial leaf, eucalyptus/green, 65 cm

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A bathroom made for lingering

Not every bathroom needs to be about speed. A SALUDING laundry basket keeps washing contained rather than piled in a corner, freeing up floor space in rooms that are rarely generous with it. Nearby, a SKOGSVIKEN towel rail keeps towels within reach of the bath or shower, drying them properly in between uses, which matters during Malta's humid summer months.

With storage handled, what is left is space to actually enjoy the room, whether that is a long soak or simply a slower start to the morning. Small additions like these do not take up much room themselves, but they make a noticeable difference to how calm the whole space feels.

SALUDING laundry basket, handmade bamboo, 50 lSKOGSVIKEN towel rail, black, 60 cmSLIBB flexible laundry basket, green, 24 lJÄLL laundry bag with stand, white, 50 lSKUBB laundry bag with stand, white, 80 lTORKIS flexi laundry basket, in-/outdoor, green, 35 l

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Maltashopper brings these IKEA pieces to homes across Malta and Gozo, making it easier to furnish a small space without ever setting foot in a large store.

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