Furnishing a small flat: 5 principles that make rooms feel bigger

Small flats are not the exception in Tyrol – they are the rule. Whether a period flat in Innsbruck or a holiday apartment in a mountain village: with clever planning, you can get far more out of 50 m² than first appears.

Principle 1: light is the most powerful space enhancer

No furnishing trick works as reliably as good light. Light-coloured walls and ceilings reflect light and make rooms appear wider. Mirrors positioned strategically – opposite a window – can double the amount of light in a room.

More important than decorative mirrors: the size of the windows. Anyone converting a flat should consider whether existing windows can be enlarged. A wider window has more effect than any colour on the wall.

Principle 2: furniture that does more than one job

In small flats, every piece of furniture has one job too many to do. Built-in furniture up to the ceiling uses the full room height and avoids the “dust-collecting” gaps. Benches with storage underneath, extendable dining tables, wall beds with integrated desks – the market now offers mature solutions here.

In the project Conversion of Flat S in Fulpmes, we fitted out a 48 m² flat entirely with built-in furniture – despite the small floor area, the result feels not cramped but precise.

Principle 3: using colour correctly

Light colours make rooms bigger – that is true, but it is not the whole truth. A small room kept entirely in the same light colour (walls, ceiling, built-ins) actually appears larger than a room with colour accents. This is called “tone-on-tone” and is one of the most effective techniques for small spaces.

Dark colours on a single wall – the so-called accent wall – can actually make a room appear deeper. Used deliberately, not as a fallback.

Principle 4: storage that stays invisible

Visible storage – open shelves, baskets, hooks – makes rooms smaller because it creates visual clutter. Invisible storage, on the other hand – behind flush fronts, under stairs, in wall niches – keeps the room calm and uncluttered.

The rule: everything used daily may stay within reach. Everything else disappears behind doors.

Principle 5: zoning without walls

Open-plan layouts feel generous – but without zoning they can become chaotic. Different functions (living, dining, working) can be clearly separated by changes in flooring, rugs, different light sources and the arrangement of furniture – without building a single wall.

This saves not only floor space but also conversion costs.