Small apartment design ideas: 3 reasons to choose us

Key Takeaways

• The only way to create affordable London apartments is to create better designed, smaller spaces that make effective use of the area within them.
• Open-plan design for spaciousness
• Continuous flooring to create a sense of flow
• Neutral wall colours to add light
• Clever storage solutions (built-in wardrobes and high-reaching kitchen cabinets)

• Natural light contributes to a sense of openness, crucial for a small apartment in London.

• When viewing a home, consider how you could use it in different ways in the future. 
• Remove partition walls between bedrooms to open up the space
• Create a small office area in the corner of a living room
• Add extra storage in hallways or on the tops of cupboards

Our approach

That’s why at Barratt London, we work with top architects and designers to ensure your home maximises apartment space. Read on to see how we consider every detail of small apartment design – from the aspects of the windows for light and openness, to the smallest nooks and crannies for clever storage solutions.

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1. Design

Our design teams know that cleverly designed spaces are crucial for small apartments in London, where space comes at a cost.

“The only way to create affordable London apartments is to create better designed, smaller spaces that make effective use of the area within them.”

And to really maximise apartment space, experience is key. Ulrich van Eck, Technical Director at Barratt West London says: 

“Good design starts with a skilled design team. Barratt employs the best people in the country and we have a huge portfolio of experience behind us.”

Each Barratt London home is designed and finished with:

• Open-plan design for spaciousness
• Continuous flooring to create a sense of flow
• Neutral wall colours to add light
• Clever storage solutions (built-in wardrobes and high-reaching kitchen cabinets)

Dawn Kitchener, Managing Director at BLOCC and Interior Designer for Barratt London, suggests that when decorating a small apartment, minimalism is best.

“Simplicity radiates a sense of space and flow within an apartment. Less is more. That’s how we see it.”

2. Light

Natural light contributes to a sense of openness, crucial for a small apartment in London. We design and proportion our open-plan homes to allow light deep into every room.

Attzaz Rashid, Head of Design at Barratt London, and his team believe good lighting design goes beyond the functional.

“I think your world is only as big as the space that you stand in at that time. So the more opportunity you’ve got for views, larger and wider rooms – the bigger your world and the better your state of mind becomes. All these things are considered to help improve residents’ wellbeing”.

Although natural light is key to achieving a sense of space, artificial light can really open up rooms too. As a small apartment decorating idea, Dawn suggests experimenting with the bulbs and placement of your lights.

“I look for dark corners to pop mirrors in to open up a space. I also like to use floor lighting, table lights and pendants, along with different shades of bulbs to add warmth.”

3. Adaptability

Your home will likely be the biggest investment you make in your lifetime. So it’s essential that your apartment can adapt alongside you as your needs change.

Adaptability isn’t always about having lots of extra space, it’s about the potential for change. When viewing a home, consider how you could use it in different ways in the future. For example, could you:

• Remove partition walls between bedrooms to open up the space
• Create a small office area in the corner of a living room
• Add extra storage in hallways or on the tops of cupboards

We know that longevity matters with small apartment design. That’s why Attzaz and his team ensure that each Barratt London home is built with flexibility in mind, from the big decisions such as room layouts, to the smallest of details such as the placement of plug sockets.

“Adaptability is woven into the design process early on. It’s about allowing people to adapt the space over the course of many years to suit their needs.”

Even if you’re house hunting in London where space comes at a premium, it is possible to find your ideal home that ticks all the boxes.

• Look for a place that’s functional so you can both relax and entertain in the same space
• Make sure there’s plenty of natural light to maintain your general wellbeing

If you’re looking for a new build apartment and don’t want to compromise, take a look at our latest London apartments on offer. They’re spacious, functional and lovable and in a variety of different locations including Acton, Upton Park and Hendon.

*A survey of 498 people who either own a London flat or intend to purchase one. Conducted by independent market research agency Walnut Unlimited on behalf of Barratt London, using the Walnut Omnibus in November 2019.