How to decorate a small 45sqm apartment with rich colors
In Minsk, a designer took on the task of decorating a small 45sqm rental apartment with a pine green color scheme
Are you wondering how to decorate a furnished apartment intended for rent? Should a landlord aim for neutral tones or try a bolder approach? Designer Nadezhda Tabakina took on this challenge in a small 45sqm apartment in Minsk. She transformed the space into a home with a distinct personality.
Her client had previously entrusted her with decorating her country home. At that time, she had opted for a understated atmosphere with subtle choices. This time, the mission changed, and the target became a future tenant. The design needed to be appealing and leave a lasting impression. The designer therefore decided to embrace bolder choices and step outside the expected mold.
She began by choosing a green, but not a bright green, nor a plant-like green. A deep pine tone, and this shade appears in several areas. It’s visible on the lower cabinet fronts in the kitchen and on the hallway walls. You enter the apartment, and it’s already there. This shade sets the tone for the decor before you even go any further. This is the boldest and most effective choice of the project.
The initial layout was open. Only a load-bearing column and the bathroom walls couldn’t be moved. The designer took the opportunity to relocate the kitchen and place it against the living room. As a result, the living space is quite spacious for a small 45sqm apartment. It features a full kitchen setup, a half-bar island with built-in storage, and a sitting area with a sofa.
The black steel glass partition is the most striking decorative element. It creates a clear separation between the bedroom and the rest of the apartment. It allows light to flow freely and lets the eye travel to the far end of the space. When privacy is needed, a thick gray curtain closes off the space.
The designer rejected austerity and clad the window frames in wood paneling. This detail changes everything: it adds warmth to the dark color palette while maintaining chromatic consistency. The backsplash tiles are graphic, the only whimsical touch in this contemporary setting.
Art hasn’t been forgotten. Several pieces have been carefully selected: paintings by Petra Klimovich, drawings by Vasilisa Vasilevskaya, and a piece by Lena Gil. This isn’t IKEA decor (even though we like the brand, the posters sold there aren’t very original). These are genuine works of art, chosen to blend into this sophisticated decor. They make this rental apartment a place with its own identity, not a neutral space waiting for a tenant to personalize it themselves.
This project offers a different vision of rental apartments. The designer rejected a generic style and instead aims to appeal directly to a specific audience. She accepts that some will pass by and focuses on creating a genuine aesthetic connection. This approach results in a memorable and cohesive interior. It supports the idea that a rental property can have its own character and attract people with its personality. Photo: Ekaterina Samoïlovitch | Styling: Lizaveta Daneshchik, Anna Keda
Her client had previously entrusted her with decorating her country home. At that time, she had opted for a understated atmosphere with subtle choices. This time, the mission changed, and the target became a future tenant. The design needed to be appealing and leave a lasting impression. The designer therefore decided to embrace bolder choices and step outside the expected mold.
Color first
She began by choosing a green, but not a bright green, nor a plant-like green. A deep pine tone, and this shade appears in several areas. It’s visible on the lower cabinet fronts in the kitchen and on the hallway walls. You enter the apartment, and it’s already there. This shade sets the tone for the decor before you even go any further. This is the boldest and most effective choice of the project.
Open floor plan, smart zoning
The initial layout was open. Only a load-bearing column and the bathroom walls couldn’t be moved. The designer took the opportunity to relocate the kitchen and place it against the living room. As a result, the living space is quite spacious for a small 45sqm apartment. It features a full kitchen setup, a half-bar island with built-in storage, and a sitting area with a sofa.
The black steel glass partition is the most striking decorative element. It creates a clear separation between the bedroom and the rest of the apartment. It allows light to flow freely and lets the eye travel to the far end of the space. When privacy is needed, a thick gray curtain closes off the space.
The details that make all the difference
The designer rejected austerity and clad the window frames in wood paneling. This detail changes everything: it adds warmth to the dark color palette while maintaining chromatic consistency. The backsplash tiles are graphic, the only whimsical touch in this contemporary setting.
Art hasn’t been forgotten. Several pieces have been carefully selected: paintings by Petra Klimovich, drawings by Vasilisa Vasilevskaya, and a piece by Lena Gil. This isn’t IKEA decor (even though we like the brand, the posters sold there aren’t very original). These are genuine works of art, chosen to blend into this sophisticated decor. They make this rental apartment a place with its own identity, not a neutral space waiting for a tenant to personalize it themselves.
What this project says about the design of rental apartments
This project offers a different vision of rental apartments. The designer rejected a generic style and instead aims to appeal directly to a specific audience. She accepts that some will pass by and focuses on creating a genuine aesthetic connection. This approach results in a memorable and cohesive interior. It supports the idea that a rental property can have its own character and attract people with its personality. Photo: Ekaterina Samoïlovitch | Styling: Lizaveta Daneshchik, Anna Keda
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