“Only 19 square meters?! Wait till you see the fridge…” 🏠✨ This tiny Swedish apartment may look small on paper, but inside it hides clever tricks, cozy charm, and one seriously surprising design choice. Take the full tour — and don’t miss the balcony setup that steals the show 👇
Today, I’d like to show you what it’s like inside a small apartment in Sweden. It’s located in a simple three-story building on the edge of a quiet town.
The house was built back in 1947, and the apartment we’re looking at is only 19.7 square meters. It may be small, but residents have access to a shared laundry room with washers and dryers, and each apartment comes with its own storage room in the basement — the size depends on how big your unit is.
This building is in Hallstahammar, a town with a population of just over 10,000. There’s nothing particularly famous about the area, except one cool thing: all public transport is free for local residents.
Here’s how the building looks from the front. The apartment we’re visiting is on the second floor. If you look at the courtyard side, you’ll see the balcony — it’s the second one on the right, with a diamond-shaped railing.
A woman in her middle years lives here. She works at a nearby steel plant, which happens to be the town’s biggest employer.
Even in small studio apartments, people often have to pick between a bed and a sofa — but she found room for both. There’s a narrow bed for everyday use and a compact sofa that can double as a guest bed when needed.
The space feels more open and clean thanks to the light color palette: mostly white and beige tones. Dark furniture or bold decorations would likely make it feel more crowded.
There are also mirrors placed across from the window. They reflect the sunlight and help make the space feel larger and brighter — not just for looks, but for function too.
Here’s the full view of the main room. One thing you might notice is the TV — something surprisingly uncommon in Scandinavian homes these days. Many people in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark prefer watching films on laptops or even projectors.
Another surprise? The fridge is right in the living room. There just isn’t enough space in the kitchen to fit a full-sized refrigerator — maybe a tiny one, but that wouldn’t be enough even for one person.
Here’s another angle of the room. The kitchen cabinets are a bit dark for such a tight space. While the color itself is nice, it can make the small area feel even more limited.
The bathroom is very basic but functional. You’ve got a sink, an open shower with a curtain, and a simple wall shelf for toiletries.
But one of the best features of the apartment is definitely the balcony. During summer, it feels like a whole extra room — the perfect place to relax with a book or work on a laptop.
There’s a little bench for sitting, a few plants, a fence (because the woman owns a small dog), and even an umbrella for shade. It’s a cozy spot to enjoy nice weather.
So that’s the apartment. It’s small, but it’s clearly well thought-out. Do you think this layout works well? What would you do differently in a space like this?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments — we’d love to hear how you’d design a small apartment like this one!
