How To Make Beautiful 24 m2 Apartment For Rent?

If you have bought apartment for yourself or for rental purposes but don't know where to start or what to buy for its interior, this article is perfect for you. Here, we will explore how to choose suitable wall colors, customize the existing builder's finish, and how an interior designer can assist with these aspects and much more. Discover what questions to ask a designer and the steps they take to transform your apartment into an appealing and comfortable space for you or potential tenants.

Article Summary

The client initially faced the challenge of mismatched furniture and color choices provided by the builder. The designer explores various furniture layouts, considering the needs of potential tenants - young working men. Special emphasis is placed on creating separate zones for work and relaxation, offering different bed placement options and space organization.

A client approached me to decorate her studio apartment for rental purposes. While seemingly straightforward, she had already ordered furniture – a kitchen set, a chest of drawers, and a wardrobe – before receiving the keys. However, upon delivery, she noticed that the chosen color combinations didn't complement the builder's finishes. The kitchen had lower cabinets in black laminate (wenge) and upper cabinets in oak color. The wardrobe was oak, and the black wenge chest of drawers didn't match the usual light color scheme of apartments from the builder. When doing a DIY renovation, I always recommend lighter colors as they are less likely to go wrong. Additionally, the client requested a bed. Initially, she wanted a single bed for her 24 sq. m. studio, but I found this idea rather gloomy. We live in a metropolis where loneliness is more prevalent. This challenge motivated me to fit a double bed, as young working professionals like her typically come home to rest, making sleep the primary means of rejuvenation. The TV also needed a suitable spot. The only space the client wanted to remain unchanged was the bathroom with a shower corner, toilet, and sink provided by the builder.

Identifying the Target Person

I started the process by arranging the furniture, first gathering information about the client's potential tenants. This involves understanding the target audience and creating an interior that caters to their needs. Tailoring the design to a specific person's preferences can lead to quicker rental and even higher rates. The client intended to rent to a young male professional, a financier or consultant from KPMG, Mackenzy, JLL, or similar firms. Individuals like these usually come home solely to sleep as their demanding jobs require rest as the sole means of rejuvenation. Hence, a comfortable bed was crucial.

Furniture placement affects everything in an apartment - walls, lighting, and outlets. If you place the TV on a different wall, you'll need to arrange the electricity accordingly, and this applies to all appliances, even the garbage disposal unit in the kitchen sink.

Layout Solutions

I offered various possible layouts for this studio apartment.

Option 1 involved placing the dining table at the entry, the bed with a "G-shaped" backrest near the window, and the rest of the ordered furniture opposite. The drawback here is that you'd need to watch TV at an angle. Why not swap the wardrobe and chest of drawers? Dressing up in the kitchen is not the best idea when other furniture arrangements are available.

Option 2 had the dining table near the window, next to the bed. While this involves watching TV at an angle, the wardrobe acts as a sort of shield, covering the headrest.

Option 3 divided the apartment into two zones: a cooking/work zone and a relaxation zone with the TV. This layout included a P-shaped kitchen with a table that could function as a workspace or a dining area. There would be no upper kitchen cabinets behind, which is a significant advantage if the tenant chooses to work remotely from home and receives a Skype call. Initially, the kitchen cabinets were planned along the long wall of the room. An openwork partition-shelf separated the kitchen zone from the sleeping area.

Option 4 differed from Option 3 in the bed placement. I opted for the smallest double bed, the same size as in the previous options (1400x2000mm). However, in this layout, the bed had a short headboard against the wall, and it was accessible from three sides.

The client chose Option 1, as she found it the quickest to implement, and she wanted to rent the apartment as soon as possible. It's interesting how you buy an apartment with a builder's finish and then spend two or more months completing it.

The entire process of transforming the property with the builder's finish is referred to as customization.
Customization, derived from the English word "customization," is the process of altering or adjusting something to suit individual needs, preferences, or requirements of a specific user or group of users.

Customization allows users to obtain a unique and personalized experience, enhancing the functionality and effectiveness of products and services. It becomes particularly crucial in catering to diverse customer needs and preferences, aiming to meet individual demands to attract and retain customers.

Then I overlaid the furniture plan with the measurements and lighting placements provided by the client. It turned out that the electrical outlet for the wall sconce was located above the TV, so it needed either to be disabled or have an additional outlet installed. However, in Variant 3, the wall sconce ended up above the headboard, making it a functional bedside reading light as well.

Variant 3 was selected for further work on the project, where I started selecting furniture and lighting. In the article, I included pages from the presentation for the client with the furniture and materials selection. The positions are accompanied by active links where they can be ordered, and I worked with the budget, which is usually limited in rental properties.

Material and Furniture Selection

In the hallway, a perfect shoe rack fits into the niche, which also serves as a shelf for keys or gloves. Above it, a picture or photo in a frame can be placed to create a composition. A large mirror in the floor size is hung on the opposite wall, next to the open wardrobe. Unfortunately, the dimensions of the hallway did not allow for a closed wardrobe for outerwear. I also added a footstool for putting on shoes. It can also be used to place a bag or backpack.

In the bathroom provided by the developer, there was clearly a lack of storage systems. Where to store household chemicals, hygiene products, a razor, or a hairdryer? I always recommend installing something like a modern "moi-dodir" (a piece of furniture with a sink and a mirrored cabinet or tall cabinet) in the bathroom. It would be more convenient to wash in a larger sink. I selected a compact "moi-dodir" with storage for this particular apartment. The cabinet under the sink hides the unsightly plastic siphon.

The client had purchased a small shelf for the bathroom along with the kitchen order and placed it along the wall next to the toilet. Open storage in the bathroom is always messy, especially if it's for a man, as men may have a unique philosophical attitude towards cleanliness. Therefore, I find it essential to have a handheld bidet sprayer in the toilet. It's not only about hygiene but also about cleaning the apartment, including the bathroom. There are models of faucets to which a handheld bidet sprayer can be connected without additional hot and cold water outlets and construction.

The living space featured a P-shaped kitchen or a kitchen with a peninsula, which was achieved by adding a table. The table can either be a custom-made standalone one due to its non-standard size or be a table with an acrylic stone kitchen countertop. In this case, an additional leg or support would need to be ordered.

I suggested making the color scheme of the apartment neutral with bright accents. The neutral color should be present in the kitchen backsplash and merge with the pearly-gray color of the walls. I used two contrasting colors, dusty sapphire and marsala (dusty red). I found burgundy-toned curtains in an online store that matched the strip of marsala color behind the dusty blue bed. The color of the sofa draws attention away from the kitchen, where the lower cabinets are in wenge laminate and the upper cabinets are in oak. All the furniture is arranged in a way that creates a balanced composition with the addition of the marsala strip. I proposed painting the window wall with this color as well to create a complete background for the bed and divert attention from the contrasting kitchen. In the hallway, I repeated this technique by using the color of the bed. The same dusty blue color was used to paint the walls the same width as the shoe rack niche and the ceiling.

The client asked not to change the lighting, i.e., not to add any additional electrical outlets on the ceiling or walls. Lighting in interior design is like design within design. For this apartment, I would have recommended installing stretch ceilings and wiring them to place lights where they are compositionally necessary. I would have also designed curtain backlighting as it adds to the beauty and positively affects the emotions of the resident. Additionally, I would have added a couple of wall sconces in the hallway and near the TV in the living area. However, I had to discard these ideas. The developer had two ceiling outlets in the living area, so I proposed either a four-lamp ceiling fixture or a round ceiling chandelier (optional) in the seating area and a spider chandelier in the kitchen area, suspending three lamps from a single point directly above the table. In the hallway, I suggested a three-lamp ceiling fixture. Three lamps would be enough to illuminate the 3-square-meter area.

Working on these tasks took a week. Various furniture layouts were developed, and the final version was refined with the overlay of lighting placements. Furniture was selected and presented in collages along with budget-based options for the client. Hypermarkets, stores, and showrooms were suggested where the items could be purchased or ordered. I call this service "completing with extended consultation."

For more details about my services, read HERE.

Customizing and decorating a 24 m2 studio apartment for rental can present certain challenges, but with the help of interior design and thoughtful selection, you can maximize the space's potential, making it functional and attractive to potential tenants. Here's how a designer can assist you with the customization and decoration of the studio:

1. Furniture Layout Options: The designer will provide you with various furniture layout options to maximize the use of space and create cozy and functional areas. They will consider your budget and the needs of potential renters.

2. Material Selection: For a rental apartment, the designer will help you choose practical and cost-effective materials that look beautiful and are durable, minimizing expenses for future repairs.

3. Store References: The designer will provide links to stores where you can purchase the necessary furniture and interior items, considering your budget and preferred style.

4. Space Optimization: When every square meter counts, the designer will help optimize the space to accommodate everything necessary without creating a sense of clutter.

5. Accent Selection: To make the interior appealing to renters, the designer will help choose stylish accents that highlight the apartment's uniqueness and add individuality.

6. Lighting: The designer will suggest optimal lighting for the apartment to create a cozy and comfortable atmosphere while highlighting its advantages.

7. Budget Consideration: Decorating and customizing the apartment for rent should be done within the budget. The designer will help you find optimal solutions and propose alternatives to reduce costs.

By ordering a free consultation with the designer, you can discuss all your wishes and requirements, as well as learn more about the possibilities of customizing your studio and optimizing the space for rental. The designer will help you create an interior that is attractive to tenants and brings you a stable income.

If you have similar issues as this client of mine and don't know where to start with renovations, customization, or purchasing items for your interior, fill out the CONTACT FORM to get a cost estimate or get in touch with me. Everything is solvable!