Before & After: Smart Ideas for Decorating Real Hong Kong Homes

Living in a small apartment in Hong Kong doesn’t mean you might be lacking square footage, but you don't have to compromise on comfort, storage, or personality. With smart design ideas and styling choices, even the most confined flat can feel calm, layered and liveable.

At The Editors Company, we work with real small living spaces across the city, including studio apartments, rental walk-ups, open-plan homes, and help people turn every square inch into something intentional.

Whether you're struggling to make your dining room feel functional or just want your home to feel more like you, here’s how you can make a big impact in even the most limited space.

1. Start with the Lights, Then Layer Them

Multiple light sources throughout the home to create atmosphere

One of the most effective ways to open up a small room (or even a larger room, in fact) is to enhance natural light. This doesn’t mean knocking down walls; it can be as simple as layering light sources also helps a space feel inviting.

Think table lamps on open shelving, floor lamps in corners, or stick-on wall lights in a home office setup. Lighting not only affects mood but can also define zones across a small footprint, helping your living room or bedroom feel distinct even without room dividers. Here’s a simple lighting checklist for a well-balanced space:

• Overhead light for general brightness and visibility

• Floor lamp to soften corners and create warmth

• Table lamp for task lighting or added mood on surfaces like side tables or shelves

• Accent or wall light to highlight art or add visual interest 

  
  

With brightness in mind, also consider using lighter colours, adding mirrors to reflect light, or switching out heavy curtains to expose more of the window frame.

2. Use Vertical Wall Space When Decorating a Small Apartment

Using shelving and floor-to-ceiling curtains to create more height

In a small apartment with limited square footage, wall space, and vertical space is gold. Floating shelves, gallery walls, hanging artwork, and open shelving don’t just add character, they also pull the eye upwards, creating the illusion of a larger room.

Hooks, rails, and tall storage pieces free up floor space while still keeping essentials accessible. In particular, using wall-mounted options in the dining room, home office, or entryway can free up valuable space for movement and flow.

If you're renting, you might hesitate to put things on the walls, but with today’s range of removable hooks and strips, there’s no reason to hold back. Adding visual interest to your walls goes a long, long way in making your space feel more personal and lived-in, without leaving a mark behind.

3. Choose Hard-Working Pieces

Storage unit that doubles as a work table

When every square inch matters, what you bring into your space needs to earn its keep. That doesn’t mean going without...but rather choosing items that serve more than one purpose. Think: 

• Coffee table with hidden storage

• Dining table that doubles as a desk

• Sofa bed for overnight guests

• Folding chairs for flexible seating

• Nesting tables that tuck away

• Bench with lift-up storage

• Ottoman as a seat, storage and footrest

• Wall-mounted fold-down desk

• Bedside table with drawers or shelves

• Room divider with built-in shelving

  
  

Folding chairs, nesting tables, and modular pieces are also brilliant for adapting to different uses without jostling to be the focal point in your home. When you're living small, taking the time to consider all the design ideas and choosing well makes the difference!

4. Don't Be Afraid to Add More When Decorating a Small Apartment

Louder artwork that contrasts the space's calm styling gives the space extra oomph

Just because you’re working with a small space doesn’t mean you’re limited to a minimalist look. In fact, adding more texture, layers, and colour, done thoughtfully, can make your home feel more expansive and more expensive!

Try styling a home office nook with artwork, plants and floating shelves. Or add visual interest to a small living room with layered rugs, throws and a curated mix of design elements.

The key is to maintain balance while keeping each zone visually grounded, often through a focal point like a statement light or larger piece on the wall. So if you were holding back on that gallery wall in favour of something more pared down, don't! Help draw the eye around your home for a roomier feel.

5. Separate Your Space (Without Building Walls)

Colour blocked sofa used to mark the TV space from the dining space

Open-plan spaces or studio apartments often benefit from subtle division, and you don’t need to install anything permanent to achieve it. Defining zones can help a small apartment feel more organised and spacious, especially when different functions share the same footprint.

Here are a few simple ways to create that separation:

• Place a tall bookcase between your sleeping area and living room to act as a visual break and offer extra storage

• Use a console table behind your sofa to subtly divide the living area from the dining or kitchen zone while still keeping things open

• Use rugs to anchor each zone, like one for the living room and another beneath the dining table or bed

• Add a floor lamp beside a chair to mark out a reading nook or separate corners

• Hang lightweight curtains from a ceiling-mounted track to gently section off a bedroom area in a studio apartment

• Colour block with a bold hue to distinguish one space from another within the same room.

  
  

These small adjustments can make your space feel calmer, more purposeful and much easier to live in.

Home styled by The Editors Company

Not sure how to make it all work in your own space? Our home styling service helps you plan layouts, choose the right pieces and bring everything together, without the stress of doing it alone.

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6. Keep Storage Smart and Stylish

Open shelving used to store items, but also to display mementos

Storage can either make or break a small home. We always look for opportunities to add extra storage in ways that don’t eat into floor space, opt for items like:

• Under-bed drawers

• Lift-top coffee tables

• Baskets tucked under benches

• Open shelves that add both function and charm.

  
  

Even in the tiniest flat, there are usually overlooked corners or nooks that can be styled to hold more, without adding bulk. You don’t need bulky homeware pieces to increase your storage space; it’s about being smart with what you already have. It also doesn't hurt to declutter once in a while!

7. Use Reflection and Rhythm When Decorating Your Small Apartment

Using two large mirrors to make the space feel much larger

If you want your small flat to feel more spacious and more expensive, mirrors are a great place to start. Position one opposite a window to reflect natural light, or place a larger mirror behind a dining table or console to create the illusion of depth. The extra light and added dimension can instantly make a room feel bigger and brighter.

You can also repeat finishes across different parts of your home to create a more cohesive and high-end look. For example, brushed metal in your table lamps, curtain rods, and hooks can help visually tie the space together, making it feel more considered and styled.

8. When in Doubt, Mix Textures

Using a mix of cushion pattern to create a more lively texture

A tighter colour palette often helps small rooms feel calm and connected, but that doesn’t mean the space has to feel flat.

 Add depth with different textures. Think linen, wool, wood, or boucle. Even if you're working with mostly whites, creams or neutrals, combining different surfaces makes the room feel layered and cosy without it being monotonous.

It’s a simple way to make a small apartment feel both more comfortable and more expensive, especially if you're decorating a rental and can't make major changes.

9. Add One “Bold” Element To Your Small Apartment

Adding a pop of red or a bold table to centre the space

A well-placed larger piece can actually make a small room feel more spacious, not less. This could be a statement piece of art, a standout rug or a unique light fixture. It draws the eye and gives the space a sense of confidence and intention, which helps it feel elevated.

Keep the surrounding items on the simpler side so your focal point has space to stand out. When done right, even the most compact room can feel like it belongs in a design magazine.

10. It’s About Feeling, Not Just Function

At the end of the day, a successful small apartment isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about how the space feels to you. Cosy, calm, inviting. Whether that’s through lighter colours, bolder interior design choices, meaningful artwork, or quirky table lamps, every design decision adds up.

A well-styled home doesn’t need to be expensive or perfectly planned. It just needs to reflect you, and help you enjoy every bit of your precious space.

Kids bedroom styled by The Editors Company

Want help styling your space?

Our interior stylists work with real homes across Hong Kong to maximise precious space, tackling lights, layout, and livability, without renovations or a hefty budget. Whether your living room needs a touch-up or you want to tackle the entire flat, we've got you covered. Get started with our home styling quiz!