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In mega cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, the price per square meter is equivalent to an ordinary person's three months' salary. Recent data from real estate agents shows that the number of home buyers choosing apartments under 60 square meters has increased by nearly 40% compared to five years ago. Faced with this reality, how to extract the value from every inch of space has become a necessary lesson.
I remember helping a friend renovate an old and broken apartment last year. We discovered that after removing non-load-bearing walls, the entire living room suddenly felt breathable. Although open layouts are transparent, we must avoid turning them into clutter exhibitions. In the end, we used custom cabinetry to create invisible partitions that divided areas without affecting lighting.
Last month at a furniture exhibition, I saw a sofa bed that left a deep impression on me—it’s an L-shaped sofa during the day that transforms into a double bed at night, with four drawers hidden on the side. This three-in-one design saves at least 5 square meters of space, making it especially suitable for single white-collar workers who often work overtime. Nowadays, many brands are introducing modular furniture that can be freely combined like Lego.
During my last trip to Tokyo to inspect guesthouses, I noticed that they don’t even overlook the ceiling. In a 15-square-meter loft, we saw built-in storage extending from the floor to the ceiling, with a folding ladder hidden inside a cabinet door, and surprisingly, even room for a suitcase at the top. The three-dimensional storage system combined with sliding rail design makes accessing items much more convenient than traditional hanging cabinets.
I recommend trying the gradient color method when painting the walls: using a dark color at the bottom to create a solid feeling while gradually lightening the color as it goes up visually raises the ceiling height. This technique is particularly effective in loft-style apartments, especially when combined with spotlight lighting, which instantly enhances the sense of space.
Once, while helping a client choose wall paint, she insisted on a dark green bedroom. We conducted an experiment: first using VR equipment to let her experience the effects of different colors. Light gray-blue made the room appear 1.5 times larger than it actually is, while darker colors, although luxurious, left the space feeling cramped. Ultimately, the compromise was a dark green accent wall on one side, with the other three walls in off-white, satisfying her individuality without feeling constricted.
The choice of curtains matters too: cotton-linen materials have good light transparency. Paired with a double-track system, when fully opened during the day, they look as if no curtains are installed. I remember using rainbow gradient sheer curtains in a children's room, which cast colorful spots on the floor when sunlight filtered through, and the kids loved it.
In a recent case, we installed a retractable chandelier in a 3.6-meter-high living room. Lowering its height during gatherings created a cozy atmosphere, while it can be retracted to the ceiling during regular times, combined with wall-mounted wash lighting, the overall space feels exceptionally transparent. The smart home system can also automatically adjust the color temperature according to the day-night rhythm, with refreshing cool white in the morning and warm yellow in the evening.
When designing a TV background wall for a client, we created an entire wall of velcro corkboard. It typically serves as a minimalist decorative wall, but when needed, they can stick children's artwork or travel postcards on it, transforming it into a family memory wall. Hidden on the side is a pull-out magazine rack, which is practical and doesn’t disrupt the overall aesthetic.
The kitchen storage is even more interesting: spice racks are hidden beneath the upper cabinets and can be pulled down when in use, remaining completely invisible when not needed. This embedded design keeps the countertop tidy, which is especially suitable for young couples who love cooking but are afraid of mess.
The recently popular platform bed design is indeed a boon for small apartments. There are three large drawers hidden under the bed, and the steps are converted into flip-top storage boxes. One client even designed the stair railing as a bookshelf, with each step serving as a storage box with sliding rails. This design won a newcomer award in interior design.
Last week, while inspecting a project, the client transformed a sewing machine left by their grandfather into a washbasin. A cast-iron frame paired with a marble countertop created a unique beauty from the juxtaposition of old and new. This heritage design not only saves money but also fills the space with a sense of story. I suggest that during old object renovations, retain at least 30% of the original features for a sense of dialogue across time and space.
I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon: nowadays, popular furniture also starts to play disguise tricks. What looks like a decorative painting opens to reveal an electric meter box; a common mirror is actually a hidden medicine cabinet. We designed a shoe-changing bench in the entryway, and it turns out that lifting the cushion reveals a compartment for umbrella storage, while the perforated board on the side can hold keys.
Last year, I helped a client renovate his 38-square-meter old apartment while cutting the budget by 30%. The secret lies in investing heavily in key areas while cleverly substituting in secondary areas. For example, using brand materials in kitchen and bathroom; selecting project leftovers for bedroom flooring; and painting the walls with environmentally friendly paint ourselves. In the end, the results exceeded expectations, and the client remarked that the money was well spent.
I remember a painful lesson: a client sought out a roadside construction team to save money, and when the tiles were laid, they discovered the floor drain was at the highest point. In the end, it had to be torn out and redone, doubling the budget instead. Professional matters should be left to professionals, especially for hidden works, as saving a small amount could lead to big losses.
Recently, I have become fascinated with modular soft decoration; for example, the living room carpet consists of six puzzle pieces that can be changed to different patterns according to mood. The curtains are designed with magnetic snaps, making it easy to switch to thicker ones in the winter in just ten minutes. The choice of greenery also matters; fiddle-leaf fig trees are suitable for high-ceilinged rooms, while monstera plants thrive in dark north-facing rooms.
Lastly, here’s an interesting piece of trivia: lemon yellow throw pillows can make a space appear 10% larger. This is based on the theory of advancing colors in color psychology, which works best in entryways or corridors. However, pay attention to the proportion of colors; it is recommended that the main color account for 60%, the secondary color for 30%, and the accent color for 10%.