In a smaller flat, the layout decisions that matter most are usually the ones that affect flow — where a wall can come down safely, where storage can be built into wasted space like stair voids or chimney breasts, and how much natural light reaches the back of the property.
We’re often asked whether knocking through a kitchen and living room is worth it in a flat. The answer depends on the structure above, but where it’s possible it’s usually the single change that makes a small flat feel noticeably bigger, because it removes the visual break between the two smallest rooms.
Built-in storage — floor to ceiling, matched to the wall colour — nearly always outperforms freestanding furniture in a small space, both for storage and for how open the room feels.
