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      Eight decadent living rooms with 1970s-style furnishings

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight living rooms that incorporate retro 1970s-style fittings and decorative accessories to create decadent textured interiors with rich, vivid colours.

      The nostalgic interiors, which range from a townhouse in Cork to an apartment in São Paulo, highlight a number of lavish designs that embrace each individual occupier’s love for mid-century extravagance.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring tactile interiors with natural materials and coloured, patterned bathrooms.
      Photo by Michael SinclairHelios 710, UK, by Bella Freud and Maria Speake
      This lavish London penthouse apartment, designed by architect Piercy & Company with interiors by creative duo Bella Freud and Retrouvius co-founder Maria Speake, is situated in the former site of BBC Television Centre.

      Looking to the glamour of the 1970s, the pair decked out Helios 710 in striking hues. The living space features glossy black sofas with contrasting burnt orange seat cushions and an emerald-green carpet.
      Find out more about Helios 710 ›
      Photo by Félix Dol MaillotUnivers Uchronia, France, by Julien Sebban
      Oversized flower-shaped cushions and gaudy low-slung coffee tables anchor this predominantly pink Paris apartment, designed and owned by Uchronia founder Julien Sebban.
      This interior captures the eclectic essence of the Uchronia architecture and interiors studio, and is defined by bold shapes, loud colours and shiny reflective surfaces.
      Find out more about Univers Uchronia ›
      Photo by Pedro VannucchiOscar Freire apartment, Brazil, by Claudia Bresciani and Júlia Risi
      Reconfigured for a São Paulo-based illustrator, this open-plan space suited to both living and working utilises signature hallmarks of 1970s interiors.
      Architects Claudia Bresciani and Júlia Risi incorporated black-and-white geometric flooring and orange-hued furniture to bring light to the newly integrated kitchen, lounge and studio.
      Find out more about this Oscar Freire apartment ›
      Photo by Ruth Maria MurphyLovers Walk, Ireland, by Kingston Lafferty Design
      Blue velvet sofas and a green swirly book-matched marble wall characterise the living room of this renovated Cork family townhouse, originally built in the 1970s.
      Danish designer Verner Panton’s playful shape and strong clashing colour works informed Dublin studio Kingston Lafferty Design.
      Find out more about Lovers Walk ›
      Photo by Francis MaraisMossel Bay home, South Africa, by Yvette van Zyl
      Creating a home for herself and her husband in the seaside town of Mossel Bay, South Africa, architect Yvette van Zyl used a curved, sculptural approach for the tactile 1970s-style interior design.
      Alongside custom-framed glass louvres and paper lanterns, orange seating once again completes this modernist-informed space.
      Find out more about this Mossel Bay home ›
      Photo by Mariell Lind HansenZero House, UK, by Ben Garrett and Rae Morris
      Recording artists Ben Garrett and Rae Morris honoured their home’s mid-century roots with a dark red and brown colour palette paying nod to director Stanley Kubrick’s films, whose credits include 1971’s A Clockwork Orange and 1980’s The Shining.
      Other period details include a geometric maze-patterned rug and reeded 1970s-style glass, which was used for some of the home’s windows.
      Find out more about Zero House ›

      Club Unseen, Italy, by Studiopepe
      During Milan design week in 2018, Studiopepe opened a temporary private venue in a 19th-century warehouse – creating an immersive installation across seven distinct rooms.
      Combining graphic shapes, grid patterns, pastels and metallic finishes, three chic living spaces aimed to capture the spirit of 1970s nightclubs.
      Find out more about Club Unseen ›
      Photo by Mariell Lind HansenPrimrose Hill townhouse, UK, by Studio Hagen Hall
      Before Zero House’s Kubrick-inspired transformation, architecture office Studio Hagen Hall adopted a 1970s California modernism approach for the north London townhouse’s prior refurbishment.
      This open living area showcased classic 1970s materials, from a raised conversation platform of bespoke velvet sofas with hidden storage to a custom-made elm recess.
      Find out more about this Primrose Hill townhouse ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring tactile interiors with natural materials and coloured, patterned bathrooms.

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      Cutwork designs co-living developments for single-parent families

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      Parisian architecture studio Cutwork has unveiled plans for housing designed to allow single parents and their children to live more closely together.

      Rental housing provider Commune commissioned Cutwork to design co-living specifically for single-parent families.
      The design includes private living spaces that cater to both adults and children, plus communal spaces where families can spend time together and support each other.
      Commune offers co-living for single parentsThe concept puts a new spin on co-living, a type of housing that typically offers residents smaller homes but instead gives them access to a range of shared amenities.
      Co-living is typically marketed to single people, but Commune founders Tara Heuzé-Sarmini and Ruben Petri believe it is equally desirable for people navigating the challenges of single parenthood.

      A study by the British Red Cross found that 83 per cent of mothers aged under 30 experienced loneliness, while 43 per cent said they felt lonely all the time.
      The private units each include a bathroom and kitchenette”Commune and Cutwork are convinced that we need to put human relations and interactions back at the core of the places we evolve in and that buildings need to serve our basic need for connection,” said Heuzé-Sarmini.
      “Spatially and architecturally, we have translated this into living spaces that encourage encounters and break the vicious circle of loneliness, while preserving the privacy of single parents and their children.”
      A unified colour and material palette features across shared and private spacesCommune opened its first location in Poissy on the outskirts of Paris in late 2023, describing it as “the first co-living in the world dedicated to single-parent families”.
      The building, which accommodates 14 families, is now being renovated in line with Cutwork’s concept.

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      The scheme extends to both the building’s layout and the interior fit-out, with bespoke furniture designed for both the private and communal living spaces.
      The architects aimed to create three types of space. These are referred to as “a world for the children without their parents”, “a world for the adults without their children” and “a world for all of the families to meet collectively”.
      Communal areas include a playroom”At Cutwork, we envision a world where shared architecture and design inspire us to think differently about being together,” said Kelsea Crawford, co-founder and CEO of Cutwork. “Our partnership with Commune perfectly encapsulates this mission.”
      “We’ve considered the design for each part of the Commune experience, integrating compact living spaces designed to host parents and children with shared communal areas that promote a strong sense of community and support for single-parent families.”
      The design includes both adult- and child-specific featuresAvailable for one- and two-child parents, the private units each include a bathroom and kitchenette, with distinct design elements for adults and children.
      The communal areas include a shared kitchen, a living and dining room, a playroom, a co-working space and a garden.
      Child-focused aspects of the design include “doors placed low down and often hidden away or disguised as other things such as a wardrobe or TV cabinet”.
      For adults, spaces include reading nooks and a “speakeasy-style” bar, accessed via a fake fridge door.
      Commune’s first location in Poissy is currently under renovationCutwork aimed to create “an environment that feels both modern and comfortable with child-friendly designs that sit alongside a sleeker aesthetic suited to parents”.
      A unified colour and material palette is intended to make all areas feel homey, rather than emphasising the divide between shared and private spaces.
      “This design strategy extends the notion of ownership of all spaces and subsequently the feeling that the entire house/building belongs to each user and is a stable environment within a dynamic experience,” said the design team.
      A range of different unit sizes are availableCutwork specialises in co-living and co-working, with previous designs including social housing that can turn into emergency housing and co-living flats at Paris startup campus Station F.
      With this project, the designers hope to highlight how housing might adapt to the reality that the nuclear family is no longer the norm for many.
      In France, one in four families is a single-parent unit. This is not just due to high divorce rates, as research suggests that more individuals are consciously choosing single parenthood.
      “This changing dynamic calls for a new and sustained approach to housing,” Cutwork said.
      The design is set to be applied to future Commune properties. The company plans to open its second location for 28 families in Roubaix, Lille, later this year.

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      Shovk completes Japanese-infused renovation of Dzen House near Kyiv

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      Elements of Ukrainian and Japanese architecture combine at this pared-back residence on the outskirts of Kyiv, which local architecture studio Shovk created for a client with a passion for Japanese culture.

      The project involved the transformation of a basic bungalow built in 2010 into a two-storey dwelling that makes the most of its picturesque setting in a garden lined by conifer trees.
      Charred wood was used to clad the exterior of Dzen HouseShovk lead architect and partner Anton Verhun oversaw the design, which was informed by the owner’s travels to Japan and his respect for the aesthetic simplicity and practicality of traditional Japanese interiors.
      “Dzen House was conceived as a place where the client and his family could feel in harmony with themselves and the world,” Verhun told Dezeen.
      The two-storey home was originally a bungalow”They wanted somewhere they could simply watch the rain outside the window, warm themselves by the fireplace and practice yoga on the tatami mat near the round window,” he added.

      Shovk implemented several references to Japanese architecture in the project, including a large roof with overhanging eaves and an exposed wooden structure.
      A wood-fired oven features in the living roomThe exterior of the first floor is clad with Japanese-style yakisugi charred wood that provides natural weatherproofing. The blackened timber contrasts with the traditional Ukrainian mazanka plaster finish applied to the ground floor’s internal and external surfaces.
      The house’s entrance leads directly into a kitchen and dining space at one end of the largely open ground floor. A functional core at the centre of the plan separates this space from a lounge at the opposite end.
      Shovk’s interior scheme was informed by traditional Japanese designThe volume containing the staircase, utility room and shower room delineates the communal areas while allowing free-flowing circulation that helps to create a feeling of spaciousness.
      Throughout the building, large openings including frameless floor-to-ceiling windows on either side of the living room provide a strong connection to the gardens.

      Modektura adds sand terrazzo flooring to Kyiv apartment

      A fireplace located near the centre of the living area creates a focal point within this room. Its stainless steel chimney passes through the bedroom above, helping to warm the spaces on both floors.
      The new first floor was constructed from timber to minimise loading on the existing walls and foundations. Its interior is lined with birch plywood that has a similar thermal expansion coefficient to the pine frame, thus helping to prevent any cracks caused by movement.
      One room was dedicated to meditation and tea ceremoniesA simple plywood staircase ascends to a sequence of low, attic-like spaces including two bedrooms, a study, bathroom, utility room and a Japanese-style room with tatami mat flooring.
      Verhun added a circular window as an expressive element that “brings softness and naturalness” to the space, used for tea ceremonies, yoga and meditation.
      The compact main bedroom features a podium bed set next to a large frameless window that looks out onto the nearby trees. Built-in wardrobes provide discreet storage, while the exposed chimney adds a distinctive feature.
      A plywood staircase leads up to the second floorAccording to Verhun, the house’s owner has temporarily moved to another Ukrainian city for his own safety due to Russia’s invasion of the country.
      The project was completed despite long power cuts, air raids and missile attacks that forced the builders to spend hours in shelters.
      Birch plywood lines the upper-floor interiorVerhun also said that Shovk has begun taking on more projects abroad due to a decline in its Ukrainian work resulting from the ongoing war.
      Other recently completed projects in Kyiv include an apartment renovation by Modektura and a dance studio that was furnished using materials sourced from around the city in the face of wartime shortages.
      The photography is by Yevhenii Avramenko.

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      Tabitha Isobel gives London townhouse a “surprising and bold” makeover

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      Designer Tabitha Organ combined natural materials with metal details to transform this London townhouse into a home with a “slightly futuristic” feel for a client who loves entertaining.

      The five-storey property on St Pauls Road had recently been renovated by a developer using poor-quality finishes, so the client – a young tech entrepreneur and first-time homeowner – asked Organ’s studio Tabitha Isobel to create a more bespoke interior.
      The brief called for a scheme that retains the Victorian house’s original features, whilst layering vintage pieces and contemporary design to create spaces with a distinct character.
      Tabitha Isobel transformed the Victorian north London townhouse”The client wanted a home that would be surprising and bold but also timeless,” Organ told Dezeen. “Amongst his peers, he is a frequent host of parties so he wanted an interior that would be a backdrop to these and bring a certain entertaining ‘vibe’.”
      Some of the original details that survived the previous renovation included detailed mouldings and the wooden window shutters in the living areas.

      Organ sought to emphasise these elements by introducing a carefully chosen palette of complementary colours and materials. Other spaces received a more expressive treatment, including the golden-toned cinema and DJ room in the basement.
      The five-storey property’s renovation adopts a “slightly futuristic” feelThe main architectural interventions occurred on the first floor, where previously disjointed spaces were reorganised to create a large bedroom with an adjoining bathroom and dressing area.
      The bedroom, which has windows on two sides due to the property’s end-of-terrace location, is connected to the bathroom by a walk-through wardrobe containing bespoke cabinetry built from naturally patterned burr walnut.
      New bespoke features include an adjoining walk-through wardrobeThe house’s main living areas are unified by the consistent application of green hues and metal details, which featured in an image of a kitchen given to Organ by the client as inspiration at the beginning of the project.
      “As the living and dining area is open plan with the kitchen, we introduced a Verde Guaco Green fireplace surround that sits on the same elevation as the kitchen so the tones speak to each other,” Organ explained.
      “We also chose a green velvet sofa from Maison Dara that is positioned in line with the kitchen, helping the spaces to feel connected.”
      Green hues and metal details inform the house’s living areasThe designer added that the combination of natural materials and metal surfaces contributes to the scheme’s sense of timelessness while creating a juxtaposition of textures and finishes that adds visual interest to the design.
      “As part of the concept, we wanted the spaces to have a slightly futuristic feel to them,” she pointed out. “Metals are timeless materials and I find they lift palettes, bringing them to life and creating a richness through reflection and depth.”

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      Metal and wood combine in a bespoke solution designed to conceal the television above the fireplace. Eight hand-carved wooden panels are set within a brushed aluminium frame that incorporates bi-fold doors that open to reveal the TV.
      Throughout the home, textiles provide a further textural contrast to the hard metal surfaces. This approach is encapsulated by a vintage metal-framed armchair in the living room that was reupholstered in a boldly patterned fabric by UK brand Schumacher.
      A reupholstered metal-framed armchair provides textural contrastWhile the living area and bedroom are predominantly monochrome, there are moments of bright colour elsewhere in the home – particularly in the en-suite shower room.
      Organ chose terracotta tiles with different scales to bring a sense of richness and warmth to the space. The walk-in shower is lined with cobalt blue tiles intended to introduce a surprising element.
      Terracotta tiles in the en suite shower room provide a sense of richness and warmthA cinema room located on the basement level was designed to resemble a moodily lit members’ club, with a cotton moire wall covering matched to a high-gloss painted ceiling and mid-gloss cabinetry.
      The room is used for hosting parties and includes a concealed home bar with stainless steel shelves set in front of a bronze-tinted mirror.
      Marble and metal wall lights illuminate the textured walls as well as a velvet sofa with oversized cushions, a vintage coffee table and a bespoke walnut DJ console crafted by furniture maker Spinback.
      The cinema room conceals a stainless steel home bar in front of a bronze-tinted mirrorOrgan founded Tabitha Isobel in 2023 after working for a decade as an interior designer for London-based studios Conran + Partners and Sella Concept.
      The designer’s approach focuses on combining historical and contemporary elements to create timeless spaces driven by authenticity rather than trends.
      Other creative townhouse transformations include a Brussels home with a skylit atrium and a London home that was given a 1970s-style makeover.
      The photography is by Genevieve Lutkin.

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      Eight dining rooms and kitchens where natural materials create tactile interiors

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight dining rooms and kitchens characterised by their use of natural materials to create tactile interiors with earthy hues.

      With an ever-growing focus on sustainable materials, the use of locally sourced natural materials offers an appealing and low-carbon solution for home interiors.
      Ranging from rammed-earth walls and woven ceilings to terracotta floors and wooden tabletops, these dining spaces draw on traditional crafts and local building techniques to create rough, smooth and patterned surfaces that complement the home.
      These dining rooms showcase the potential of natural materials to create enticing and textured home interiors within a contemporary setting, effectively bridging the gap between tradition and modernity.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring compact micro interiors, kitchen design ideas and interiors with pyramidal ceilings.

      Photo by Lorena DarqueaEspacio Kaab, Mexico, by Di Frenna Arquitectos
      A combination of natural materials including stone floors, wooden cabinets and woven carrizo ceilings were used within the kitchen of this home in Mexico by local studio Di Frenna Arquitectos.
      Designing the home to appear “as a volume that emerged organically from the ground”, the studio used a raw material palette that directly references the site and ultimately requires less maintenance.
      Find out more about Espacio Kaab ›

      Photo by Helen LeechTaper House, UK, by Merret Houmøller Architects and All & Nxthing
      This London home by architecture studios Merret Houmøller Architects and All & Nxthing features clay-plaster walls, exposed brickwork and tile floors inspired by traditional Moroccan homes.
      The natural earth-based materials used for the project include handmade brick flooring, timber joinery and patinated copper.
      Find out more about Taper House ›
      Photo by Salem MostefaouiCasa Franca, France, by Déchelette Architecture
      A large rammed-earth wall fronts this home in Paris by French studio Déchelette Architecture, which is defined by its use of natural materials.
      Panels of travertine stone and birch wood feature throughout the interiors and are contrasted with sleek metal countertops, shelving and accents in the kitchen and dining space.
      Find out more about Casa Franca ›
      Photo by Rafael GamoCasa Cova, Mexico, by Anonimous
      Architecture studio Anonimous drew on pre-colonial architecture to design this holiday home made from concrete, local ‘parota’ wood and dried palm leaves in Oaxaca.
      The spacious dining room is topped with a 30-metre-long thatched roof made from dried palm leaves that draws on the local vernacular.
      Find out more about Casa Cova ›
      Photo by David GrandorgeForest House, UK, by AOC
      A combination of tactile materials and clashing colours were used to add character to the kitchen and dining area in this extension in north London completed by architecture firm AOC.
      Informed by its location close to Epping Forest, the studio designed the extension to “invite the wild in” – using various types of wood, woven hazel and other textured materials throughout the home.
      Find out more about Forest House ›
      Photo by Pol ViladomsHouse Renovation, Spain, by Hiha Studio
      Hiha Studio renovated this family home in Spain, which was originally organised as two separate houses connected by rammed-earth party walls.
      The studio retained the rammed-earth walls in order to “recover the essence” of the home, as well as regulate the moisture, temperature and acoustics of the interior.
      Find out more about House Renovation ›
      Photo by Purnesh DevHybrid House, India, by Sketch Design Studio
      Vernacular building techniques from the north and south of India were used to construct this home in Rajasthan by Indian firm Sketch Design Studio.
      Materials and artisans were employed locally to build the home, which features pink-toned rammed-earth walls and terracotta floors created using rice flour.
      Find out more about Hybrid House ›

      Photo by Imagen SubliminalAnother Seedbed, USA, by Ignacio G Galán, Jesse McCormick, Khoi Nguyen and Julie Tran
      This renovated loft apartment in Brooklyn was designed to double as a performance space to host public events – with a large central space and smaller internal volumes.
      One volume features a red-stained pine exterior while another is clad with an earthen clay plaster, bringing earthy tones to the open-plan kitchen and dining area.
      Find out more about Another Seedbed ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring compact micro interiors, kitchen design ideas and interiors with pyramidal ceilings.

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      Modektura adds sand terrazzo flooring to Kyiv apartment

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      A balcony-turned-conservatory features in an apartment renovated by architecture and interior studio Modektura in Kyiv, Ukraine.

      Kyiv-based Modektura designed the interior to reflect the history of the apartment block, which was initially constructed in 1900.
      The one-bedroom apartment was renovated by Modektura”We wanted to tie it back to the house itself,” Modektura founder Maksym Dietkovskyi told Dezeen.
      “Colours and textures were chosen to create an interior that feels like it has a history – one that has been waiting for its owner for a long time.”
      The studio added sand to the terrazzo flooringThe studio refurbished the flooring of the apartment incorporating sand into the terrazzo as part of several material experiments undertaken by the studio during this project.

      Additionally, marble chips were embedded within the mineral plaster on the walls.

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      “The idea to experiment with materials was inspired by old decorative techniques, blending them with a modern approach” Dietkovskyi explained.
      “Using sand and marble chips not only combined their decorative properties but also created a unique, aesthetically pleasing effect.”
      The open archways feature an inner wooden frameToned-oak, marble, stainless-steel and brass was used throughout the rest of the apartment.
      The material palette was chosen to “cultivate a sense of stability and tranquility”.
      Doors were swapped for open archways that feature a decorative moulding with an inner wooden frame.
      A balcony was turned into a conservatoryA corridor, described by the architect as a “central artery”, extends through the entire length of the flat leading from the kitchen to the bedroom and living area.
      A balcony attached to the kitchen was turned into a conservatory. The studio added underfloor heating to ensure a comfortable temperature for the plants.
      Paintings and sculptures are displayed throughout the apartmentTo accommodate the client’s art collection, the space includes a library and pedestals for displaying art pieces.
      Artworks on display include sculptures by Ukrainian artist Dmytro Hrek, paintings by Kristina Otchych-Cherniak and a diptych by Rostyslav Zavhorodniy.
      A pair of Cassina tilting back chairs are placed in the living roomThe studio, working with the owners, decided to keep the building’s classical elements, notably the decorative cornices.
      Mid-century design pieces such as Cassina tilting back chairs, Louis Poulsen glass pendants and Snoopy table lamps from Flos were selected to “collectively evoke a nostalgic retro atmosphere.”
      The living room includes a small library areaModektura completed the project during the ongoing war in Ukraine. The team described having to deal with unforeseen circumstances due to the wartime context.
      The reduced number of workers necessitated more extensive supervision and power supply issues and obstacles related to the conflict “significantly complicated the project implementation process,” the studio told Dezeen.
      Other projects in Kyiv recently featured on Dezeen include a fitness studio lined with curtains, a laser clinic with futuristic interiors and a holistic healing centre by Ukranian designer Olga Fradina.
      The photography is by Yevhenii Avramenko.

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      Alarquitectos lines Lisbon apartment with colour-blocked walls and pine wood

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      Portuguese studio Alarquitectos has used walls of pink and blue to brighten São Sebastião 123, an apartment converted from a 20th-century office in Lisbon.

      Tasked with revitalising the old workspace’s dark and poorly ventilated interiors, Alarquitectos opened it up by removing the existing partitions and adding a courtyard.
      Along with an existing outdoor space that has been reorganised, this courtyard doubles as a lightwell for the 167-metre-square apartment.
      Walls of pink and blue decorate the São Sebastião 123 apartmentSão Sebastião 123 is organised with a series of “fluid” living spaces at its front and more private spaces, including the bedrooms, at the rear.
      Narrow corridors brightened by the colour-blocked walls lead into the airy, open-plan living area that is illuminated by a window and full-height opening connected to a slim balcony.

      In the living area, a shelving unit runs the length of the room and is paired with pine flooring and grey-toned furnishings.
      A sliding door connects the living space to the kitchenA sliding door leads from the living space into a kitchen “box”, which is enclosed on both sides by deep-blue cabinets topped with metal counters, and complemented by terrazzo flooring.
      Bronze detailing is used for lighting fixtures, mirrors and door knobs throughout the home.
      The kitchen features deep-blue cabinets and terrazzo flooring”We envisioned the kitchen as a vibrant focal point, hence the striking colour of the kitchen box,” studio co-founder Mafalda Ambrósio told Dezeen.
      “We sought cool colours that contrast with the warm tones of the pine wood,” she continued.
      “This colour palette was inspired by the aggregates in the kitchen terrazzo, resulting in a deep blue with green pigments and a light pink.”
      There is a dining room with an oak table and three pendant lightsAdjacent to the kitchen is a dining area with an oak dining table and three pendant lights. Further counter space and shelving are provided along one side.
      To the back of the dining area, a full-height door opens up to the new enclosed courtyard, which is lined with ceramic-tiled walls and terrazzo flooring and decorated with black-steel furniture and leafy plants.

      H3O creates “unpredictable” zigzagging interiors for lightning-struck home

      A glazed opening onto the courtyard draws light into a bedroom, while a smaller circular opening illuminates the adjacent corridor – operating as a “physical bridge between the interior and exterior”.
      “We extended our focus to the exterior space, not merely as a source of natural light and ventilation but also as an extension of the living experience,” Ambrósio said. “The materials for the patios were meticulously chosen to create a sense of refinement and tranquillity.”
      Ceramic-tiled walls and terrazzo flooring features in the courtyardSão Sebastião 123 is complete with two small workspaces beside the living area and a shared bathroom lined with ceramic tiles and terrazzo flooring matching the external courtyard.
      Other recent projects defined by colourful interiors include a playful seaside hotel that uses colour blocking to distinguish different areas and a residential conversion with jagged walls that reference a lightning bolt.
      The photography is by Do mal o menos.

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      Eight compact micro interiors that make the most of their small space

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight micro apartments and micro homes that use clever solutions to fit the most into a single room, which often functions as both the living room and the bedroom.

      A “sleeping cocoon” and built-in space-saving furniture are among the solutions used to create comfortable living and sleeping spaces in these projects.
      The interiors, which range from a home in Taipei to a small apartment in Beirut, feature a number of innovative designs that allow their owners and tenants to stretch out – even in spaces that are as small as 15 square metres.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring minimalist kitchens and homes with pyramidal ceilings.
      Photo by Pierce ScourfieldFerguson, Scotland, by Lee Ivett, Simon Harlow and Duncan Blackmore

      Colour decorates the walls in this 25-square-metre apartment in Glasgow, which doesn’t contain any freestanding furniture. Instead, a fixed bench and a shelf that functions as a desk create a living room and workspace.
      The bed can be found on a mezzanine that sits above a compact shower room and is reached via wooden steps. Custom-made sinks ensure that the white goods don’t take up too much space in the flat, which the owner uses as a temporary base in the city.
      Find out more about Ferguson ›

      Corten steel micro home, Lithuania, by IM Interior
      This micro home located inside a former garage in Lithuania shows “how little a person needs,” said designer Indrė Mylytė-Sinkevičienė, founder of IM Interior.
      The home measures 21 square metres and has warm birch wood lining. Its bed is positioned like a window seat beneath one of its two narrow windows and surrounded by concealed storage. A slim, built-in shelf functions as both a desk and a dining table.
      Find out more about the Corten steel home ›
      Photo is by Hey! CheeseMicro-flat, Taiwan, by A Little Design
      Local studio A Little Design used built-in, space-saving furniture for this Taipei apartment, which measures just 17.6 square metres.
      Built-in cabinets provide storage next to a staircase that leads up to a mezzanine bed, while a foldable table can be used as a desk or dining space.
      Find out more about the micro-flat ›
      Photo is by Peter BennettsMicroloft, Melbourne, by Studio Edwards
      Chipboard was used to create much of the furniture in this 24-square-metre apartment in Melbourne, including storage units, a sofa and a bed.
      The designers also customised IKEA furniture for the home, wrapping a bedside stool in recycled aluminium to help with the acoustics and using aluminium legs to extend the same stools to create seats for dining.
      Find out more about Microloft ›
      Photo by Ståle EriksenShoji Apartment, UK, by Proctor & Shaw
      A translucent “sleeping cocoon” wrapped in panels that reference Japanese shoji screens gave this flat its name. Designed by London studio Proctor & Shaw, it measures 29 square metres and has a design that takes advantage of its high ceilings.
      “This apartment renovation project is conceived as a prototype for micro-living in existing housing stock with constrained floor areas but traditionally generous ceiling heights,” explained the studio.
      Find out more about Shoji Apartment ›
      Photo by Marwan HarmouchShoe Box, Lebanon, by Eliemetni
      This compact Beirut apartment, located on the roof of an old building, has just 15 square metres of floor space but manages to fit everything into one room.
      The floor was coated in white epoxy to maximise the light in the small space, which has lots of under-bed and under-seating storage in its custom-built space-saving furniture. Matching white walls add an airy feel to the space.
      Find out more about Shoe Box ›
      Photo by Koji Fujii Nacasa and PartnersLove2 House, Japan, by Takeshi Hosaka
      This Tokyo micro home, which measures 19 square metres, receives plenty of natural light from its two large skylights.
      Architect Takeshi Hosaka built it for himself and his wife, designing the compact home with seven partitions that extend out from the reinforced concrete walls to define the dining, kitchen and sleeping zones.
      A large sliding door opens the home up to the street, creating additional space in the warm months.
      Find out more about Love2 House ›
      Photo by JAG StudioDoméstico, Ecuador, by Juan Alberto Andrade and María José Váscones
      Located inside the Qorner building in Quito, Ecuador, this micro apartment measures 27.5 square metres and features a floor-to-ceiling unit that the designers described as a “habitable artifact”.
      It contains storage space as well as a bed and desk, both of which fold up. A door in the corner leads to a bathroom with a sink, shower and toilet.
      Find out more about Doméstico ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring minimalist kitchens and homes with pyramidal ceilings.

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