Small home décor – Modern Mediterranean design for a cozy oasis
If you’re interested in small home décor ideas with a modern Mediterranean design twist, then this post is for you!
In this article, I will walk you through a design project I worked on when I was living in the Mediterranean. In that part of the world, summers can be incredibly humid and downright intolerable. As a result, homes – regardless of their size – typically incorporate designs that facilitate the flow of summer breezes throughout the house. Carpeting is not entirely excluded due to influences from neighboring Middle Eastern countries, although it is used sparingly. Moreover, even in small apartments like the one we’re exploring today, windows are abundant.
Now, you might be thinking: “Dia, aren’t Mediterranean design homes white walls with navy blue accents? Or Spanish-style terracotta floors and arched doorways?”
Yes, classic Mediterranean design is recognized for that, but not every house in the Mediterranean resembles a scene from Mama Mia! In reality, contemporary Mediterranean homes in that region have evolved to integrate ‘Western’ design principles and draw inspiration from Italian modern style.
When most people hear the word “modern” they think of cold and uninviting. But modern Mediterranean design incorporates earthy tones and texture to warm up the space and keep things looking relaxed and comfortable.
How to tackle a small home décor project
The old adage ‘less is more’ is the name of the game when it comes to modern Mediterranean design and small home décor – not just when choosing furniture, but also with your color palette. The breezy Mediterranean lifestyle calls for neutral tones and toned-down details. If you have to think twice about whether something is ‘too extra’ to include in your Mediterranean-design home, then it probably is.
Photo by At Home With Dia ©
Using the same flooring throughout and keeping the color palette neutral visually expands the space
So, let’s first talk about the scope of this project:
This cozy, 990 sq ft – 2 bedroom / 2 bath, modern Mediterranean design apartment was only bare concrete walls and floors when I took on the task of designing it. The scope of this small home decor project was to design the kitchen, bathroom, and other rooms to make the best use of available space, maximize storage, as well as furnish and decorate the entire apartment on a tight budget. This meant that the main focus was on enhancing function through built-ins and creative storage solutions and finding economic ways of decorating the space without breaking the bank.
7 Space-saving design principles for small home décor
To make the most of a small space there are a few design principles to consider. Below I share with you a few of the principles I incorporated in this modern Mediterranean design project.
Design principle #1: Use the same type of floor – whether it be wood or tile – throughout the whole space.
To visually enhance the feeling of spaciousness in this modern Mediterranean design project, we installed large 24”x24” neutral-colored ceramic tile flooring throughout the entire apartment. This flooring seamlessly extends to the expansive veranda, which can be accessed through two sets of extra-large sliding glass patio doors. This connects the indoors with the outdoors further expanding the living space, by drawing you out to the veranda to sit and enjoy the Mediterranean breeze.
Design principle #2: Select one accent material – in this case, oak wood design elements – and use it throughout the space for continuity and flow.
I worked with the angular open-floor plan by clearly defining entry, living, and dining areas. A custom-built unit with sliding doors for storage, topped with a large oak veneer panel behind the TV creates a focal point and makes the ceiling look taller by drawing the eye upward.
We installed extra-large roller shades on the patio doors to manage the intense southern sunlight. The wall color was deliberately selected to match the shade’s color tone, creating an effect where the space’s boundaries recede and appear more spacious. Additionally, we hung airy linen drapery panels in a warm accent color high on both sides of the sliders. This introduces texture and helps to soften the harsh appearance of the metal and glass surface of the patio doors.
Photo by At Home With Dia ©
Using the same wood tone dispersed throughout the space makes it look cohesive
The same oak wood color was extended to other furniture within this space. In the entry area, I added a large wall mirror and an enclosed cabinet for storing shoes, keys, and other essential items when entering or leaving the home.
Design principle #3: Wherever possible prefer to use sliding doors and stackable appliances that save on floor space.
To uphold privacy between the living space and the bedrooms, we installed a sliding door that separates the hallway leading to the back area of the apartment. In the hallway, I carved out space for a stackable washer and dryer and extra storage space behind custom cabinet doors.
Design principle #4: Maximize storage by taking advantage of ceiling height and deep drawers.
In the kitchen, the custom cabinets were designed to maximize storage in this limited square footage. Upper cabinets go all the way to the ceiling and deep drawers on the bottom half of the kitchen help with maximizing available storage. I kept the color scheme light and neutral to enhance natural light. We chose quartz countertops in a warm tone for durability and carried up the wall as a backspace to keep the space from looking too busy.
Photo by At Home With Dia ©
Design principle #5: Don’t compromise on your must-haves.
The main bathroom is small, but it was important to fit a large soaker bathtub as an element of luxury. I amped up the style by playing off a high-contrast color scheme of gray floor tiles and large-scale bright white tiles. The custom vanity cabinet was designed to include deep long drawers, further enhancing storage capacity.
Photo by At Home With Dia ©
Lux soaker tub and maximum storage in a small bathroom
Design principle #6: Don’t be afraid to make it cozy – that’s one of the joys of small home décor.
Despite the master bedroom’s relatively small size, I opted for a moody gray/green wall color. I also chose dark furniture to create a contrast with the white custom built-in wardrobe. The wardrobe was specially crafted to feature 8 drawers inside, abundant hanging space for clothes, and high-up storage for off-season items.
The queen-size bed includes 4 large drawers in the base under a fabric bed skirt for additional storage space.
Maximizing storage with floor-to-ceiling custom closets
Hidden drawers under the bedframe provide extra storage opportunities
Design principle #7: Pull double duty wherever you can.
The second bedroom of this modern Mediterranean design project plays double duty as a home office and guest room. Here, a wall-to-wall unit acts as a desk and file storage. It also has additional space for off-season items – like Christmas decorations.
I also designed a wall-to-wall built-in wardrobe on the opposite side making use of every inch for more storage.
Making the most of every inch of this small room to provide storage solutions.
Modern Mediterranean design for an oasis in an urban setting
If you’ve ever visited the far eastern parts of the Mediterranean you will have experienced the heat and humidity that surpasses all understanding during the Summer months. This dreamy modern Mediterranean design home combines coziness with a breezy feel. Its various design elements create a light and refreshing atmosphere for the hot summer months. They also provide ample comfort during the cold winter months. Additionally, it incorporates space-saving design ideas based on small home décor principles.
All in all, it turned out to be the perfect oasis in this Mediterranean city’s capital. Did you find these tips and principles useful? I would love to hear your thoughts. If you have any questions or want to see more small home décor space-saving ideas, feel free to comment below. You can also send me a message via my website. Let me know what more design ideas and tips you would like to see.
