The biggest mistake in small apartments is designing for an idealised lifestyle instead of your real one. Start by listing your actual daily routines, then design storage and layout around those — not a Pinterest board.

1. Choose multi-functional furniture — a storage ottoman, a bed with built-in drawers, or a dining table that folds away.

2. Use vertical space with tall wardrobes and wall-mounted units rather than spreading storage across the floor.

3. Built-in wardrobes and under-stair storage make use of space that's otherwise wasted.

4. Avoid bulky floor-standing TV units — a wall-mounted unit frees up visual and physical floor space.

5. Warm neutral tones — beige, taupe, soft browns — read as cosier than stark white and hide everyday marks better.

6. Layer your lighting: ambient, task, and accent. A single ceiling light makes a small room feel flatter and smaller.

7. Mirrors and glass-fronted cabinets bounce light around a room and create a sense of depth.

8. Convert transitional spaces — a balcony or a wide passage — into a reading nook, micro work corner, or plant zone instead of leaving them unused.

9. Choose furniture with softer, rounded edges; it reads as less visually heavy in a tight floor plan than sharp-edged pieces.

10. Resist the urge to fill every wall — negative space is what makes a small room feel calm rather than cramped.