Apartments are one of the most important types of housing. They are a good option for first homes, big cities with a shortage of space, and even retirement homes in some cases. Sadly though, the design can let many of them down. In the worst cases it can make them feel claustrophobic. As one of the top providers of residential architecture in London, we want to look at some of the design ideas that could work for you. They can make apartments much better homes.
The thing to keep in mind here is every project is unique. You need to embrace this to get the best results. Factor in things like the historical features, location, orientation, layout, and what you prefer for the design.
Balance
One of the things you need to do is make sure you get a balance with the design. Traditional and contemporary touches should work together. It is also important to ensure you are balancing the colours to make spaces warm, welcoming, and comfortable. Do the same with materials.
Views
Some apartments have a unique asset that they fail to take advantage of; the views. If the property is in a block or tower, it is likely that at least one side has something to look at. In London it could be the river, a park, a landmark, or even the city skyline. You should design the layout of the space to make these views the backdrop of your main living room. It will do more for the home than any artwork or decor.
Garden space
Some properties don’t have the amazing views because they are on the ground floor. However, they can have their own fantastic amenity here if there is some outdoor space. Linking the interior and exterior can take the apartment to new heights. Even if it is just a courtyard and lacks traditional greenery, you can make it a useful outdoor space and connect it to your living space. If it is a traditional garden, make sure it connects and flows.
Open space
A problem with many apartments is they have walls and partitions that do more harm than good. They can make spaces dark and cramped. It can be a better option to open up the space as much as possible. If it isn’t a load bearing wall, you may be able to remove or alter it. The idea should be to get rid of any dead spaces, making it so you can walk freely through as much of the apartment as possible. Let light flow too.
Check the bones
Apartments in older buildings can suffer because of alterations over the years. In some cases these additions can be hiding stunning structural features behind plaster, paint, wallpaper, and other materials. It can be a good idea to strip back and celebrate the structural bones underneath.
Speak to us about residential architecture in London
Above are just a few of the design ideas you can look at for apartments. As we said though, every project is unique. You need to approach them with this in mind. Remember, even two apartments in the same building can be wildly different in a number of ways. Celebrate this and give them a fitting design.
If you are thinking about apartment design, we would love to help. We have plenty of experience here, so you can rely on so to create some of the most stunning residential architecture in London. We’ll make the most of the space and capture what makes the property unique.