Apartment Interior Designer Sydney: Making Small Spaces Work

Apartment Interior Designer Sydney: Making Small Spaces Work

Most people assume interior designers only work on big new builds or full house renovations. It is one of the most common misunderstandings I come across, and it means a lot of apartment owners in Sydney never think to pick up the phone. In reality, some of the most rewarding projects I take on as an apartment interior designer in Sydney are one and two bedroom units, where every square metre has to earn its place.

I am Nancy Malekpour-Nisyrios, founder and lead design consultant at Design to Inspire, a boutique interior design studio based in Sydney. Over almost twenty years I have worked across new builds, renovations, and commercial fit-outs, and apartment interior design has become one of the areas I enjoy most. Apartments come with their own set of constraints, fixed floor plates, shared building rules, limited storage, and often awkward natural light, and solving those constraints properly is exactly the kind of problem I like sinking my teeth into.

Why Sydney Apartments Need a Different Design Approach

Apartment interior designers in Sydney are working with a genuinely different brief to a house renovation. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average floor area of new apartments and townhouses in New South Wales was 118.7 square metres in 2021-22, among the smallest of any state in the country. Many established Sydney apartments, particularly in the inner city, eastern suburbs, and lower north shore, are considerably smaller than that.

That means the usual rules of interior design do not always apply. A furniture layout that works beautifully in a freestanding house can swallow an entire apartment living zone. A joinery detail that looks generous in a display home can block natural light in a unit facing a light well. When I take on apartment interior design projects, the first job is always understanding the specific constraints of that building, not just the room.

Small Apartment Design Sydney: Making Every Square Metre Work

Small apartment design in Sydney is really an exercise in priorities. You cannot fit everything in, so the goal is deciding what actually deserves space and designing everything else around it.

A few of the principles I return to again and again on small apartment projects:

Multi-purpose furniture and joinery. A window seat that hides storage, a dining table that folds down, or built-in joinery that runs floor to ceiling all help a small apartment feel considered rather than cluttered.

Zoning without walls. In an open plan apartment, colour, lighting, and rugs can define a living zone, a work corner, or a dining area without the cost or bulk of a partition.

Light and reflection. Mirrors, pale finishes, and the right lighting plan make a genuine difference to how large a small apartment feels, particularly in units with limited window frontage.

Storage that is designed in, not added on. Retrofitted storage almost always looks like an afterthought. Planning joinery into the space from the beginning means it can be built to the exact dimensions of the apartment rather than bought off the shelf.

These same principles come from the space planning services I offer on every apartment project, reviewing the existing floor plan and furniture layout before any design decisions are locked in.

How Much Does an apartment Interior Designer Cost in Sydney?

This is one of the first questions almost every apartment owner asks me, and it deserves an honest  answer.

The Design Institute of Australia notes that residential designers typically charge by the hour, as a fixed project fee, or as a percentage of the total project cost. For apartment projects, a fixed fee is usually the simplest option, since the scope of a single apartment is easier to define upfront than a multi-room house renovation.

Residential apartment design and space planning at Design to Inspire starts from $4,800 (+gst), though many apartment projects are smaller in scope than a full house and can be handled through one of my interior design packages, which cover single spaces such as a kitchen, bathroom, or home office rather than an entire home. I always talk through budget honestly at the start of a project, which you can read more about in my article on finding an affordable interior designer in Sydney.

Who Is the Best Interior Designer in Sydney?

There is no single objective answer to this, and I would be wary of any designer who claims to be the best for every project. The right designer for you depends on the type of space you have, your budget, and how closely their previous work matches the style you are after.

What I can tell you honestly is what I bring to apartment projects. I have over twenty one years of experience, including more than 100 display homes and multiple Housing Industry Association and Master Builders Association awards, and I still personally manage every project from the first phone call through to final documentation. If you want to see whether that experience is the right fit for your apartment, you can read more about my background or look through past projects before reaching out.

Working With Me on Your Apartment

Every apartment project starts the same way, with a conversation about how you actually live in the space, not just how it looks in a photo. From there I review your existing floor plan, identify where storage, joinery, and furniture can work harder, and put together a clear design proposal with pricing before any work begins. Whether it is a studio apartment, a one bedroom unit, or a larger apartment in need of a full refresh, the process stays the same.

If you are planning an apartment renovation anywhere across Sydney and want a design partner who understands the specific challenges of apartment living, I would love to talk it through. You can find out more about my interior design services across Sydney or get in touch to book a discovery call.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an apartment interior designer cost in Sydney?

Costs depend on the size and scope of the project. Most Sydney designers charge by the hour, as a fixed project fee, or as a percentage of the total build cost, according to the Design Institute of Australia. At Design to Inspire, apartment full residential interior design starts from $4,800 (+gst), with smaller packages available for single spaces such as a kitchen or bathroom, which suits many apartment projects.

Who is the best interior designer in Sydney?

There is no single best designer for every apartment or project. The right choice depends on your space, your budget, and whether a designer’s previous work and process suit how you want to live. Look for a designer with verifiable experience, clear pricing, and a portfolio of work similar in scale to your own project.

Can an interior designer really make a small apartment feel bigger?

Yes, largely through planning rather than any single trick. Getting the furniture layout, joinery, lighting, and colour palette right for the specific dimensions of your apartment makes a genuine difference to how spacious it feels day to day.

Do I need a full design service for a one bedroom apartment?

Not necessarily. Many apartment projects only need input on one or two spaces, such as a kitchen or living area, rather than a full residential design service. Packages built around a single room are often the better fit for smaller apartments.