Renovating a small 30-45m² apartment: smart space design

Renovating a small apartment (30-45m²) into an optimised home rests on three solution groups: (1) a smart layout with open space and movable partitions, (2) multi-function furniture such as sofa beds, ceiling-height cabinets and folding dining tables, (3) light-pulling techniques using pale colours, mirrors and natural light. The key is to make every square metre serve more than one function while keeping the space feeling airy.

Why do small apartments need renovating?

A 30-45m² unit handed over bare or to a developer’s template often wastes area: hard partitions chop it up, furniture ignores the ceiling height, and light is blocked. Renovating well is not about cramming in more, but reorganising so the space “expands” in both function and perception — while steering clear of the common mistakes people make when renovating a home, especially in the kitchen.

Group 1: A smart layout — the foundation

• Open plan: merge kitchen and living room, drop hard partitions so the sightline runs through, creating a sense of space.
• Movable partitions: use sliding screens, curtains or shelving instead of built walls — flexible to open or close as needed.
• Use the height: loft or platform beds with drawers/cabinets underneath turn the underbed into storage.

Group 2: Multi-function furniture

In a small apartment, every piece should carry several roles:

Piece	Dual function
Sofa bed	Seating by day, bed by night
Ceiling-height cabinet	Vertical storage, using the usually-empty top zone
Folding / wall-drop dining table	Open in use, folded to free the walkway
Platform bed with drawers	Sleep + seasonal storage

The principle: favour storage-integrated pieces and folding/retractable pieces to free the floor.

Group 3: Light-pulling techniques for a sense of space

• A pale dominant palette: white, beige, light grey reflect light and make the apartment look airy.
• Minimal patterns: avoid dense motifs and vivid colours that clutter and tighten the eye.
• Mirrors and reflective surfaces: placed right, they double depth and light.
• Light: maximise natural light through large openings and sheer curtains; add indirect light to dark corners.

The renovation order to follow

1. Define your needs and the must-have functions.
2. Reorganise the layout (open/movable) before choosing furniture.
3. Pick multi-function furniture to true dimensions.
4. Handle colour, mirrors and light last to “pull light in”.

With over 10 years in apartment interiors (predecessor Nhan Viet in 2016, AIC founded in 2019), AIC usually advises small-apartment owners — and owners of 2-bedroom apartments for young families — to settle the layout and integrated furniture at the 3D stage, with an itemised BOQ to balance the budget between the fixed joinery and the easy-to-change decorative layer.

Frequently asked questions

For a 30-45m² apartment, what to prioritise first?

Layout before furniture. Reorganise into an open plan and use movable partitions to free the sightline, then choose multi-function furniture and handle colour, mirrors and light to pull brightness in. Doing it the other way (buying furniture first) often leads to pieces that don’t fit and wasted space.

What multi-function furniture suits a small apartment?

The most common are sofa beds, ceiling-height cabinets, folding/wall-drop dining tables and platform beds with drawers. The rule of thumb: favour storage-integrated and foldable pieces to free the floor.

Which colours make a small apartment look larger?

Pale tones such as white, beige and light grey reflect light well, combined with well-placed mirrors and maximised natural light. Avoid dense patterns and vivid colours, which make the space look tighter and busier.