Living Spaces

Furnishing a small apartment

Stellenbosch has plenty of compact apartments, from student flats to lock-up-and-go homes, and furnishing them well takes a little planning. Start by measuring each room and marking doors, windows and plug points. Then choose fewer, better pieces rather than filling every corner. A small space feels larger when you can see some floor and wall.

Look for furniture that does more than one job, such as an ottoman with storage, a drop-leaf dining table or a bed with drawers underneath. Raised legs on sofas and cabinets let light pass underneath and make a room feel more open. Mirrors placed opposite windows bounce daylight around and add a sense of depth.