Small Space Living: One Family's Flexible Studio Flat

Many homes across Malta and Gozo make the most of compact footprints, from converted townhouses to snug apartments. This studio flat shows how one family carved out distinct zones for living, sleeping, washing and heading out the door, all without adding a single wall.

A living area that changes with the day

The sitting area is built around a modular sofa arrangement that can be pulled apart and reshuffled depending on what the afternoon calls for. Homework spread across the BORGEBY coffee table one minute, a squashed-together movie night the next, the layout simply adapts.

A HEKTAR wall or clamp spotlight adds focused light for reading or craft projects without needing a floor lamp taking up space, while a NISSEDAL mirror bounces daylight further into the room. For families in tighter apartments, this kind of furniture that earns its keep in more than one way makes a real difference.

BORGEBY coffee table, birch veneer, 70 cmGLADSTAD upholstered bed frame, Kabusa light grey, 160x200 cmHEKTAR wall/clamp spotlight, dark grey, 11 cmNISSEDAL mirror, black, 40x150 cmGLADOM tray table, black, 45x53 cmVITTSJÖ nest of tables, set of 2, black-brown/glass, 90x50 cm

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A quiet corner for parents to switch off

Once the day's noise has settled, a curtain draws across to separate the parents' sleeping area from the rest of the open-plan flat. It is a simple trick that turns a shared space into something private, if only for a few hours each evening.

An ODGER or LISABO chair gives somewhere to sit and read before lights out, with a DEJSA table lamp for soft evening light. A TRENSUM mirror and a TERTIAL work lamp round off a small desk corner, useful for answering one last email before the day properly ends.

TRENSUM mirror, stainless steel, 17 cmTERTIAL work lamp, dark grey, 17 cmDEJSA table lamp, beige/opal white glass, 28 cmLISABO chair, ash, 46x80x51 cmODGER chair, anthracite, 45x81x51 cmTEODORES chair, white, 46x80x54 cm

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One bathroom, several people, no chaos

A single bathroom shared between parents and children, each with their own after-school clubs and early starts, can turn into a bottleneck fast. Good storage helps more than any rota ever could.

A KNOPPÄNG frame adds a personal touch to the wall, while BRANÄS baskets keep spare towels and toiletries corralled rather than piled on every surface. A SKOGSVIKEN towel rail keeps damp towels off the floor, and a NOJIG organiser means toothbrushes and small bits and pieces have an actual home instead of cluttering the sink edge.

KNOPPÄNG frame, black, 30x40 cmBRANÄS basket, rattan, 32x34x32 cmSKOGSVIKEN towel rail, black, 60 cmNOJIG organiser, plastic/beige, 10x20x5 cmBROGRUND hook, stainless steel, 3x7x4 cm, 2 packSKOGSVIKEN hook for door, black, 2x6 cm, 2 pack

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Laundry that does not take over the room

Doing the washing in a small home works best when everything has its place, rather than drying racks and pegs competing for the same bit of floor.

A MULIG drying rack folds away when not needed, which matters in Maltese homes where indoor drying space is often at a premium during the humid summer months. A SKOGSVIKEN towel rail and a SEKINER hook for door add extra hanging space without any drilling, useful for rented flats or anyone who would rather not commit to permanent fixtures.

MULIG drying rack, in/outdoor, white, 173x57 cmSKOGSVIKEN hook for door, black, 2x6 cm, 2 packSEKINER hook for door, white, 2.5x9x6.5 cmSKOGSVIKEN towel rail, black, 60 cmJÄLL drying rack, in/outdoor, white, 79x40 cmMULIG clothes bar, white, 60-90 cm

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Ready to head out the door

For a family always on the move, the hallway works as the hinge between home and whatever is next on the agenda. Storage here needs to handle clothing, sports kit and all the odds and ends that go missing otherwise.

A TJUSIG hanger and SKÅDIS clips keep jackets and smaller items within easy reach, while a HÅLLBAR bin with lid tidies away shoes or loose gear. An SMÅSTAD bench gives somewhere to sit while lacing up trainers, turning a narrow corridor into a proper, functional entryway.

TJUSIG hanger, black, 78 cmSKÅDIS clip, white, 2x8 cm, 2 packSMÅSTAD bench, white, 90x50x48 cmHÅLLBAR bin with lid, light grey, 22 lMULIG clothes rack, white, 99x152 cmRIGGA clothes rack, white, 111 cm

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Maltashopper brings these same IKEA pieces to homes across Malta and Gozo, with orders placed online and delivered to your door.

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