A small-space home for big dude and little dude
Step into an imaginative, inclusive home for a single parent and child. See how interior designers used resourceful DIY solutions for play, learning and togetherness in a small city home.
1. Space for playtime
Tucked into an alcove within this open-plan home, a canopy made of metre fabric creates a cosy den to share with cuddly friends. Soft rugs mark out floorspace for playtime, and storage tubs make it easy to tidy toys away afterwards.
2. Compact and cosy
Around the corner, a small living area works for both family time and grown-up time. For a space-saving solution, a compact two-seat sofa is combined with a pouffe and small tray table to make a sociable layout. Lamps create a cosy mood and can also be used as directional light for reading.
3. Learning together
In the same room on the opposite wall, a child’s desk for arts and crafts sits next to the grown-up home office, for more time spent side-by-side. A shared wall of inspiration and homemade artwork sparks big and little imaginations. The sit-stand stool can be tucked under the desk to save space when it’s not in use.
4. Clever kitchen
Look beyond cupboard space to maximise storage in a small kitchen. Utensils and small pans are stored on a long line of wall hooks to save on drawer space. Bulky dried ingredients and cereals are kept in jars on a trolley, freeing up an extra cupboard and making it easy to keep track of what’s running low.
5. Sleeping snug
Hidden behind a curtain during the day, this sleep space for two makes bedtime feel extra cosy, with a handy shelf for story books. There are separate duvets and reading lights for early nights or late mornings without disturbing each other. Cabinets above the bed make use of the ceiling height in a room with little floorspace.
6. Helpful hallway
Limited space in the entranceway is transformed into a functional hallway with the addition of rails and hooks. Coats and jackets are kept down low so little hands can reach them, while extra seating is stashed above. A wall of blackboard paint is handy for writing reminders – and doodles.
7. Smart bathroom
The bathroom is all about space-savers that work for two. A step makes the sink easy to share and kid-friendly items are stored down low in the vanity unit. Slim shelving makes clever use of the space above the toilet and keeps grown-up things safely out of kids’ reach. Hooks behind the door add hanging space for bath towels.
8. Cosy oasis
Growing herbs and vegetables is a great way to eat more consciously and teach kids about where food comes from, however small your outdoor space. Soft cushions and throws are taken outside to extend the main living area on warm days – and brought back inside at bedtime!
Team of two
Space-saving furniture helps pack plenty of functions into this open-plan home. By dividing the apartment into different zones, interior stylists Kerstin Bohne and Therese Eriksson created a clever home for two, with eight hard-working spaces in just one ‘room’.
We love to see our customers get creative with our products. Go for it! But please note that altering or modifying IKEA products so they can no longer be re-sold or used for their original purpose, means the IKEA commercial guarantees and your right to return the products will be lost.
Made by
Interior stylists: Kerstin Bohne and Therese Eriksson
Photographer: Mats Ekdahl
