A big family's move from flat to farmhouse

One family swapped a cramped city apartment for a countryside home with room to breathe. Their story, from muddy boots to craft afternoons, shows how thoughtful furniture choices can make a larger home feel warm, practical and truly lived in.

Trading city walls for open space

After years of squeezing a growing family into a small apartment, this couple decided that remote working opened the door to a different kind of life. They wanted more room, lower rent, and a garden where their three children could run about and discover the world at their own pace.

Small touches made the transition feel like home straight away. A TRAMPA door mat greets muddy boots at the entrance, a KUNGSFORS net bag keeps odds and ends tidy in the kitchen, a TROGEN step stool lets small hands reach the sink, and a HEKTAR pendant lamp brings a warm, grounded glow to the hallway.

TRAMPA door mat, natural, 40x60 cmKUNGSFORS net bag, set of 2, naturalTROGEN children's step stool, yellow, 40x38x33 cmHEKTAR pendant lamp, dark grey, 22 cmBEKVÄM step stool, black, 63 cmBEKVÄM step stool, beech, 50 cm

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Furnishing a home that puts family first

Space mattered, so the family chose larger furniture that could hold everyone together rather than scattering them across separate corners. Shared time, especially on Friday evenings, needed a sofa generous enough for the whole brood, paired with pieces that gave each child their own little patch of order.

A LOHALS rug softens the living room underfoot, while a SUNDVIK children's chair and an ULRIKSBERG armchair give young and old their own comfortable seats. A HAUGA high cabinet with two doors keeps clutter out of sight, a PINNIG rack with three hooks catches coats and bags, and the HEKTAR pendant lamp ties the room's traditional, countryside mood together.

LOHALS rug, flatwoven, natural, 200x300 cmSUNDVIK children's chair, grey, 28x55x29 cmULRIKSBERG armchair, rattan/anthracite, 67x76x74 cmHAUGA high cabinet with 2 doors, grey, 70x199 cmPINNIG rack with 3 hooks, black, 79x16x17 cmHEKTAR pendant lamp, dark grey, 22 cm

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Achieving a cheerful, traditional feel

The character of this home comes from blending classic, countryside-style furniture with cheerful bursts of colour and pattern. Nothing feels overly polished or matched, which is exactly the point: it is a home built for real life, not for show.

A LYDERSHOLM flatwoven rug brings texture and warmth to the floor, grounding the room in a natural, lived-in palette. A SNIDAD basket adds a practical note of storage while still fitting the relaxed, homely style that runs through every room.

SNIDAD basket, rattan, 54x39 cmLYDERSHOLM rug flatwoven, in/outdoor, medium brown, 160x230 cmMORUM rug flatwoven, in/outdoor, beige, 200x300 cmMORUM rug flatwoven, in/outdoor, dark grey, 200x300 cmLYDERSHOLM rug flatwoven, in/outdoor, medium brown, 80x150 cmMORUM rug flatwoven, in/outdoor, dark grey, 80x200 cm

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Taming the chaos of three young children

With three children in the house, storage became the quiet hero of this home. The family focused on finding smart ways to pack everything away without losing time or patience, especially during the busiest hours of the day.

Items the children use constantly are kept low and within easy reach, so getting dressed or finding a toy becomes a task they can manage themselves. A PERJOHAN bench with storage doubles as seating and a place to stash shoes, a HAUGA high cabinet with two doors holds less frequently used items up high, and a SUNDVIK children's chair gives little ones a seat built to their size.

PERJOHAN bench with storage, pine, 100 cmHAUGA high cabinet with 2 doors, grey, 70x199 cmSUNDVIK children's chair, grey, 28x55x29 cmTOLKNING bench with storage, handmade rattan, 120 cmKALLSÖ bench with shoe storage, grey, 80x38x56 cmNIPÅSEN bench with shoe storage, black, 79x35x52 cm

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Where mealtimes turn into playtime

In this household, learning happens through doing, so every room was designed to double up as a space for creativity. The dining area in particular has become the beating heart of the home, used for everything from eating together to potting plants and finishing homework.

An AGUNNARYD pendant lamp with three lamps lights the table for long family dinners, while a HÖVOLM rack with six knobs keeps aprons and bags off the floor. A FISKBO frame displays the children's latest drawings, a BERÄKNA vase adds a simple floral touch, a VANILJSTÅNG plant stand holds the family's windowsill greenery, and a KNAGGLIG box and PERJOHAN bench with storage keep art supplies close at hand.

HÖVOLM rack with 6 knobs, oak, 57x5x5 cmFISKBO frame, black, 21x30 cmBERÄKNA vase, clear glass, 15 cmVANILJSTÅNG plant stand, pine/black, 67 cmKNAGGLIG box, pine, 23x31x15 cmPERJOHAN bench with storage, pine, 100 cm

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Slower pace, homegrown flavour

Life in the countryside has traded fast broadband and easy takeaways for something slower and, in many ways, more rewarding. With a garden to tend, the family now grows their own fruit and vegetables, turning the kitchen into a space for experimenting with fresh, homegrown ingredients.

A HULTARP rail and matching HULTARP hook keep utensils organised and within reach of the stove, while a KONCIS balloon whisk makes light work of batters and sauces. A GEMAK colander and an IDEALISK colander handle the harvest from the garden, and an IDEALISK flour sifter finishes off the baking session with a light, even dusting.

HULTARP rail, black, 60 cmHULTARP hook, black, 7 cm, 5 packKONCIS balloon whisk, stainless steelGEMAK colander, off-white, 22 cmIDEALISK flour sifter, stainless steel, 10.5 cmIDEALISK colander, stainless steel, 25 cm

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Whether you are furnishing a compact Malta apartment or a larger home with room to grow, Maltashopper can get these pieces to your door.

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