Home tour: a small-space family apartment for siblings
Sebastian lives with his sister, Sanna, and her son, Reidar, in a compact apartment in Stockholm. “There’s only one bedroom but the living room doubles as my room so we make it work,” says Sebastian. They share their smart, small-space home.
Our shared kitchen and dining space
A mix of full-height cabinets and open storage looks ordered and welcoming. “We changed the oak cabinet fronts to light gray to make the space brighter,” says Sebastian. “Now it’s our favorite place to spend time. We share the cooking, draw or make puzzles with Reidar at the table and love having friends over.”
Streamline your hallway
Make leaving and returning home more enjoyable and less time consuming. In the hallway, Sebastian and Sanna added welcoming color, somewhere to sit and store shoes, plus hooks and baskets for coats, bags and accessories. “Our dad made the shoe bench for us and we added the wall storage,” says Sanna. “Now it’s a welcoming and practical space for everyday routines.”
Add child-friendly organization
Make it easy for children to get ready on their own with hooks at their height and personal details that boost their confidence and make them feel good. “Reidar loves having his own mirror and seeing pictures of himself as a baby,” says Sanna. “He’s very proud when he hangs up his jacket.”
“Sharing a small apartment between the three of us has been a big change, but it works. We’re pretty relaxed and understand that this home is for sharing.”
Create a bedroom to share
Sanna and Reidar’s bedroom is somewhere to sleep, play and store all their belongings. A simple approach to decoration, fresh bedlinen, plenty of storage and a curtained-off play area help keep it welcoming and ordered for mother and son. “I wanted Reidar to feel a sense of privacy and fun, but for the space to look grown-up too,” says Sanna. “Having individual storage and the curtain gives us each our own space within the room.”
Our sibling apartment-share
“Moving here from my own home was a bit of an adjustment as I have less space for myself. But, at the same time, being here feels good. We’re a very close family.” says Sanna. “The payoff is also getting to live in Stockholm, which was a big dream for each of us,” adds Sebastian. “And I feel lucky to spend so much time with my nephew, to watch him growing up.”
Our cozy, comfortable apartment share
“As there are three of us living in just 570.5 square feet, function is really important and that’s where IKEA helps out,” says Sebastian. “Probably 80% of our home is IKEA! We like it because as well as being practical, it gives us the freedom to add our own style – a mix of vintage and modern elements.”