Small apartments are often the choice of students, young couples, and single individuals. And for good reason—buying and furnishing a compact home is much simpler and faster than saving up for a more spacious and luxurious one.
So how do people in Scandinavian countries design their studios and one-bedroom apartments? Are small spaces like these common? And what kind of layouts do they usually have?
To find out, we visited a 35 square meter (about 376 square feet) studio located on the outskirts of Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city.
At first glance, it looks like a typical studio—bright, neat, with furniture from IKEA. Nothing extraordinary. But there’s one standout feature that makes up for the small size: a large private terrace that can be accessed directly from the living room.
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This is the neighborhood where the apartment is located. Low-rise buildings—most are 3–4 stories high—stand near a small harbor for private boats. A bit further away is an industrial port that currently serves as a transfer hub for container ships.
Despite being on the outskirts, the area is considered upscale. It takes just 15–20 minutes to reach the city center. The neighborhood has everything needed for daily life—restaurants, shopping centers, schools, and high schools.
The apartment is on the ground floor of a building constructed in 2006. Its biggest asset is the large patio—a private outdoor space perfect for picnics and gatherings with friends.
Not much is known about the apartment’s owner. She’s in her late 30s and works as a manager at a leasing company.
Here’s the layout of the apartment:
The patio area is nearly as large as the apartment itself.
Though the apartment is tiny, the owner managed to fit in a small double bed in an alcove and a sofa for when guests visit.
Right across from the two-seat sofa—extendable if needed—there’s a small dining nook.
Having two windows is a luxury in such a compact space.
A round dining table turned out to be a smart solution for this layout. It looks compact, but it easily fits four people.
This is the view of the makeshift bedroom. The bed fits snugly into the alcove. For privacy, the sleeping area can be separated from the living space with a curtain or screen—guests won’t be able to see the bed.
Art prints and posters on the walls add depth to the simple Scandinavian interior. Without them, the white walls would feel a bit too bare.
The bedside table is from the New Zealand furniture brand Lime and Co. The print on the wall is titled “Abstract Art Collection. Japanese Ink on Paper.”
The bathroom is quite spacious by Scandinavian standards. There’s a real shower and even room for a washing machine. That’s a luxury in this region—most apartment buildings have shared laundry rooms where residents wash, dry, and iron their clothes.
The most unusual feature of this studio is the patio, which faces the street and a nearby marina.
You can step out directly from the living area. Even though the studio is on the ground floor, the patio is private and only accessible to the apartment’s resident.
Wicker outdoor furniture—sofa, two chairs, and a coffee table. Potted plants and flowers. An electric grill for cooking sausages, meat, or vegetables outdoors… A perfect setup.
There is one downside: the patio faces a road, and the residents aren’t allowed to alter the building’s exterior, so putting up privacy screens or tall plants isn’t an option.
A spacious terrace attached to a small apartment.
Here’s how the patio looks in the evening, lit by string lights and lanterns:
String lights and safe LED candles are the simplest way to make any balcony, terrace, or patio feel a thousand times cozier.
If you look at the windows across the way, you’ll notice no one uses curtains. At most, people lower blinds at night. This is another reflection of Swedish lifestyle—a love for open balconies, terraces, and patio spaces.
