13 Australian Apartments under 30 Square Metres: Design Tricks to Maximise Function and Aesthetic in Micro Spaces
There are small apartments, and then there are extra small apartments. Regularly referred to as micro apartments or micro flats (depending on the preferred local slang), these homes tend to be anywhere between 14 to 32 square metres – or 150 to 350 square feet (also depending on the preferred local slang) – and offer us some of the best examples of innovative solutions for making a small space not only liveable, but stylish too. We’ve gathered 13 of such micro homes that have been featured across Never Too Small episodes; they are all under 30 square metres, they are all in Australia, and they all illustrate unique approaches to making extra small feel not too small at all.
Concealed Kitchens
The key to a successful micro apartment lies in maximising functionality without sacrificing visual appeal. Yet, many homes of this size lack the space to divide or separate different functions from one another. The kitchen, for example, may very well be the bedroom as well. To solve this, designs may conceal "service" elements so that they can be hidden away when not in use, allowing the user to feel as though they are in a true bedroom or living room without the kitchen clutter. Two great examples of this are seen in Boneca by Brad Swartz Architects, where a sliding slatted wood panel doubles as a cover for the kitchen as well as the bedroom, and in Cairo Studio by Agius Scorpo Architects, where the yellow kitchen is concealed behind a swinging door. This gives the owners the option to choose how they’d like to use the room at any given moment.
Storage is another critical concern in small spaces, and designers have mastered the art of efficiency. Many micro apartments such as Darley Studio by Eleanor Peres of Mone Studio and Nano Pad by Studio Prineas feature built-in storage under the bed or within the floor on raised platforms. These hidden compartments allow for ample space to stow away belongings without compromising the apartment’s appearance. Naturally, floor-to-ceiling shelving units are also used to maximise vertical space and keep clutter off the floor.
Furnishings that are Ready to Roll (or Adapt)
The simple feeling of openness can go a long way in making a small space more liveable and one great way of achieving this is by incorporating moveable furniture. For example, a dining table on wheels like the one in 5S by Nicholas Gurney can be rolled to the side when not in use, freeing up precious floor space. X applied this logic of not fixing things to only one set place to the TV as well, which they mounted on a swinging door so that it can be used from the living room couch or the bed depending on whether the door is open or closed – also eliminating the need for another piece of furniture to hold the TV.
Multi-use areas, furniture, and well anything are also hallmarks of micro apartment design because why use it one way when you could use it two (or more). In George Street Apartment, a 28 sqm apartment by j-in, they created a Japanese-inspired platform that serves as both the sleeping and dining area. During the day, a low dining table and cushions can come out for dining or relaxing, while in the evening, a tatami mat can be unrolled for sleeping. Another common trick is turning the living room into the bedroom via a Murphy bed. In both Bayside and Tara both by Nicholas Gurney, the sofa is used as the support for the bed, meaning there is no wasted space even when the bed is in the folded up position. A true living room by day and bedroom by night.
Coherent Material Choices
Less of a space-saving trick and more of a trick of the eye, designers will often use a single material throughout to make small spaces feel larger as it creates visual cohesion and a sense of openness. Itinerant by T-A Square, for example, illustrates this beautifully through a single wood applied on all surfaces in a minimalistic design full of clean lines. To the opposite end of the spectrum, there are certain small spaces, especially some with limited natural light like Microluxe by Studio Edwards, that benefit from dark, luxe materials like marble and steel. The dark palate helps to enhance the sense of space and introduces a sophisticated, cave-like feel.
Micro Manoeuvres
Watch the complete compilation of 13 Australian apartments under 30 square metres for elegant design solutions, whether the space is micro or just regular ol’ small.
