Transform your apartment - 7 design ideas to elevate spaces and boost value
What many apartment owners don't realise is that there is a vast amount of hidden potential in every apartment. Even recently built apartments tend to follow a mass-produced, cookie-cutter approach - one size fits all. Therefore, there is potential to refine their design and, with the right approach, you can really maximise value.
We've recently published a blog about renovating within the constraints of the building footprint. This blog was very popular but was specifically written for homeowners. So, we thought: “Which of the principles used in homes can be applied to apartments?”
Here are 7 design ideas to elevate spaces and boost value to transform your apartment:
1. Consider moving things that need to be moved like bathrooms, laundries or walls, it may be easier and less expensive than you think. Typically as a portion of the build cost it’s very marginal but hugely impactful. Having said that, it’s true that moving sewer drainage points can be tricky because it involves going into the apartment below yours - but this can be managed.
And there are other tricks of the trade like running the sewer in a new wall or bathroom plinth. What helps is to have an experienced builder on hand to help you determine what might be involved in moving things so you can provide guidance to the design team.
2. Straighten and align - the way you move through space changes your perception of it. Spaces aligned with each other feel bigger, seeing through the property increases your perception of space.
3. Open and combine spaces - Opening areas means that they borrow space and light from each other making them both feel bigger. This is particularly important when you’ve got limited space to work with. The small the spaces the more focus should be put into borrowing space from adjacent spaces.
4. Redistribute Space to the most important areas. Kitchens and living areas are more valuable than laundries and guest WC’s, it’s like turning copper coins into gold coins. One common example is when a small apartment has a walk in Laundry.
5. Create multi function spaces and joinery, where there simply was not enough width, length or space it’s possible to create a moveable bench, multi use room, cavity doors that provide flexibility.
6. Optimise Storage: Swap cabinets for drawers, and prioritise full-height storage to make the most of vertical spaces. Consider built-in storage or fixed shelving to make the most of wall space.
7. Embrace Deletion: Begin by decluttering. Sometimes, merely reorganising can dramatically transform a space.
We’ve picked out 7 principles we’ve got in our box of tricks for making small spaces feel bigger and become more functional.
Quick note: Apartment renovations are on our mind because Ballast Point is uniquely qualified to complete apartment renovations. Due to recent changes in the law - as a reaction to some well publicised apartment disasters in NSW - Architects and Builders in NSW now need additional qualifications to complete significant renovations to apartments.
Having significant experience in Apartment Renovations Ballast Point is one of just a handful of companies that is accredited as both design practitioners and building practitioners meaning we can deal with the whole project on your behalf, get approvals sorted, complete the work and even help manage your body corporate.
At Ballast Point, we don't just see your apartment; we envision its full potential. Contact us now and let's elevate your apartment living experience together by refining its design and maximising its value.
