Meow Meow

Step into a masterclass where compact living meets unbridled personality. Forget the rigid rules of stark minimalism; this is about designing with intent, injecting vibrant color, and implementing ingenious solutions to craft a truly expansive feel within a modest 570 square feet. Get ready to explore the stunning Stockholm apartment of Christina, Art Director for the renowned Swedish furniture brand Hem, and discover how she expertly blends heritage with bold, modern flair.

Christina’s innate understanding of design is no accident. Growing up with designer parents, she was immersed in a world where classic pieces and art were revered, fostering a deep appreciation for “honoring art pieces and old design pieces”. Her childhood home, filled with an extensive library of art books, ignited a passion that clearly informs her own carefully curated space today.

Together with her partner, Anon, Christina resides in Stockholm’s dynamic Södermalm island. This location perfectly mirrors their creative spirit: it’s a vibrant hub brimming with “new interesting shops,” “great cafes and restaurants,” yet remarkably close to nature—a true perk of Stockholm living. Their building, a pioneering structure dating back to 1880, offered the ideal architectural foundation with its original two-room and kitchen layout requiring “no significant structural changes”. The immediate benefit? A seamless flow between the living room and kitchen, anchored by an expansive wall of west-facing windows that saturate the apartment with natural light.

Christina’s approach to small-space design is a revelation, built on a few core tenets:

Strategic Illumination is Key: Christina embraces the classic Scandinavian design theory advocating for “five light sources in each room”. This isn’t merely aesthetic; it’s a fundamental survival strategy in Sweden, where extreme seasonal light fluctuations necessitate diverse illumination to combat long, dark winters. Blinds manage summer light, while multiple light sources are essential for maintaining energy and mood in winter.
Color as a Foundational Element: Defying the neutral palette, Christina’s “obsession by the thought of having a bright blue couch” materialized into a custom upholstery job by Hem. This isn’t just a pop of color; it’s a powerful focal point that anchors the living room. Crucially, the sofa is fully modular, offering unparalleled flexibility for seating arrangements and effortlessly converting into a comfortable guest bed on its longer chaise section.
Metallic Accents: The Jewelry of the Home: For Christina, integrating “metal elements to space is very essential”. She views them as “the jewelry of the home,” elevating the aesthetic and adding a crucial layer of sophistication.
Innovative Spatial Solutions for Maximum Impact
Christina’s apartment is a treasure trove of hyper-specific, actionable design ideas for optimizing function and style within a compact footprint:

Dynamic, Concealed Storage:In the entrance, a compact green storage unit from Hem effortlessly corrals everyday essentials like sunglasses, keys, and gloves. Its standout feature? It easily rotates to instantly hide clutter, offering visual calm when desired.
This ingenious turnable design is cleverly replicated in the bedroom, where similar units function as bedside tables, keeping personal items discreetly out of sight.
Reimagined Utility: A vintage magazine rack, originally designed for an office desk, is ingeniously mounted by the door to store apartment magazines – a smart reinterpretation that speaks to Christina’s creative problem-solving.
Personalized Zones:A dedicated corner for musical instruments. Christina believes “there’s something soothing about the presence of instruments in a home,” making their display an intentional choice.
A small office desk in the bedroom serves dual purposes: Christina uses it for makeup, and it functions as the apartment’s “only little Nook” for private work calls, ensuring her partner Anon isn’t disturbed.
The Power of Strategic Concealment: A “small room going from the bedroom” is shrewdly utilized as a walk-in closet. This dedicated space cleverly hides clothes and household necessities like the vacuum cleaner and ironing board. Christina describes being able to close the door and keep everything out of sight as a “real blessing,” supporting her commitment to a tidy living environment.
Elevating Utilitarian Spaces: Defying conventional wisdom, 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 scaled for the space above the counter.
The Kitchen: Where Masterful Design Meets Everyday Function
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, such as 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 provides practical housing for the fridge, utensils, and pantry, Christina is already envisioning a “more modern looking” replacement in the future, showcasing her evolving design vision. The dining table comfortably seats four, with the flexibility to pull it to the center for larger gatherings. A versatile pendant lamp by Hem allows for adaptable styling through interchangeable lampshades.

Comfort, Scandinavian-Style, Redefined
Christina’s apartment is a vibrant rebuttal to the common misconception of stark Scandinavian minimalism. She argues that classic Scandinavian design originated from available materials and, crucially, the extreme seasons. The long, dark Swedish winters underscore 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 (a 1982 K. Hogberry design) found affordably on eBay. Even the “very small” bathroom, a rare find 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.