Meow Meow

Alright, let’s scrap the usual minimalist playbook. You’re about to dive into a 570-square-foot Stockholm apartment that throws out the rulebook, opting for bold color, ingenious storage, and a whole lot of personality. Forget sterile white boxes; this is a masterclass in living large in a small footprint, courtesy of Christina, the Art Director for Swedish furniture brand Hem.

Breaking the Mold: Big Style in a Small Space
Nestled in Stockholm’s vibrant Södermalm island – a creative hub with new shops, cafes, and restaurants, yet surprisingly close to nature – Christina’s home with her partner Anon is anything but typical. This isn’t just an apartment; it’s a living canvas, reflecting a lifetime steeped in design. Growing up with designer parents, Christina’s childhood was filled with classic pieces and art books, fostering a deep respect for “honoring art pieces and old design pieces” that clearly informs her current space.

Their building, dating back to 1880, was a pioneer in its central neighborhood and offered the perfect foundation: an original two-room and kitchen layout that required “no significant structural changes”. The immediate win? A seamless flow between the living room and kitchen, revealing an expansive wall of west-facing windows that drench the apartment in natural light.

Here’s how Christina and Anon defy tiny-living clichés:

Light Up Your Life (Seriously): Christina embraces a core Scandinavian design theory: “five light sources in each room”. This isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a survival strategy in Sweden, where extreme seasonal light changes demand diverse illumination to combat long, dark winters. Blinds are for summer; multiple light sources are for staying awake in winter.
Color as Command: Forget neutral beige. Christina’s “obsession by the thought of having a bright blue couch” led to a custom upholstery job by Hem, creating a striking focal point that anchors the entire living room. This isn’t just a pretty face; the sofa is fully modular, offering flexible seating and a comfortable guest bed on its longer chaise section.
The “Jewelry” Effect: Christina’s conviction? Adding metal elements is “very essential” to a space, elevating the aesthetic much like “the jewelry of the home”.
Genius Hacks for Maximum Impact
Christina’s home is packed with hyper-specific, actionable ideas for squeezing every last drop of function and style out of compact living:

Stealthy, Dynamic Storage:In the entrance, a small green storage unit from Hem effortlessly corrals everyday essentials like sunglasses, keys, and gloves. The killer feature? It easily turns around to instantly hide clutter when you want a pristine look.
This ingenious turnable design is mirrored in the bedroom, where similar units act as bedside tables, keeping personal items neatly out of sight.
Repurposing with Panache: A vintage magazine rack, originally designed for an office desk, is cleverly hung by the door to store apartment magazines – a smart reinterpretation of its original purpose.
Life-Specific “Nooks”:A dedicated corner for musical instruments. Christina believes “there’s something soothing about the presence of instruments in a home,” so she likes to have them around.
A small office desk in the bedroom pulls double duty: Christina uses it for makeup, and it serves as the apartment’s “only little Nook” for private work calls, ensuring Anon isn’t disturbed.
The Power of Concealment: A “small room going from the bedroom” is shrewdly utilized as a walk-in closet. This space cleverly hides clothes and household necessities like the vacuum cleaner and ironing board. Christina calls being able to close the door and keep everything out of sight a “real blessing,” supporting her love for living tidily.
Kitchen Art is a Thing: Defying convention, Christina advocates for displaying art in the kitchen, reasoning that “you spend so much time in there”. Her kitchen proudly features Enzar Lamela’s “big red apple” art, perfectly sized for the space above the counter.
The Kitchen: Where Function Meets Flair
Christina poured significant time into conceptualizing and designing her kitchen. It boasts a gorgeous custom green color and ultra-durable, practical, and hygienic stainless steel countertops that age beautifully. Even the smallest details are considered, like replacing original knobs with “small shiny ones” from her favorite local hardware store, Big Faison, which add “extra Glitz to the room”. While a large custom-built storage unit by the previous owner is practical for the fridge, utensils, and pantry, Christina is already envisioning a “more modern looking” replacement in the future, showcasing her evolving design vision.

Comfort, Scandinavian-Style
Christina’s apartment is a vibrant rebuttal to the common misconception of stark Scandinavian minimalism. She argues that classic Scandinavian design emerged from available materials and, crucially, the extreme seasons. The long, dark Swedish winters highlight the immense importance of “coziness and surrounding oneself with beautiful things”. This philosophy is beautifully woven into her home, from the large rice paper lamp in the bedroom that provides a “nice even glow,” to the vintage Ikea bed found affordably on eBay. Even the “very small” bathroom, a rarity with a washing machine in smaller Stockholm apartments, is fully functional and stylish, complete with top storage and a vintage mirror.

Christina’s ultimate wisdom for small spaces is both simple and empowering: “keep only what you really need”. She encourages evaluating items for their “most just spot” and, vitally, “making space for nonfunctional items that just give you the good feeling and add personality to your home”. Her apartment isn’t just a home; it’s an inspiring blueprint for living large, colorfully, and authentically within any footprint.