In a country where space often comes at a premium—especially in bustling metros like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru—the art of making small apartments feel expansive has evolved into both a necessity and an aesthetic revolution. From 400 sq ft studio apartments to modest 2BHKs, urban Indians are mastering the craft of visual spaciousness with a blend of smart design, cultural creativity, and a growing awareness of minimalist living.
The Rise of the “Compact Living” Trend
The average size of an apartment in India’s major cities has shrunk considerably over the last decade. According to a 2023 report by Knight Frank India, the average apartment size in Mumbai fell to just 431 sq ft, down from 482 sq ft in 2013. This shift, driven by soaring real estate costs and population density, has prompted Indians to find innovative ways to make their homes feel larger without actually expanding them.
Success Story: The Award-Winning Compact Home in Bengaluru
In 2022, the story of 28-year-old Shruti Rao, an interior stylist from Bengaluru, went viral after her 1BHK apartment was featured in The Hindu Home & Design supplement. Shruti transformed her 500 sq ft flat in Whitefield into what looked like a luxury suite through clever storage hacks, multi-functional furniture, and strategic lighting.
Using foldable dining tables, ceiling-mounted bookshelves, and Scandinavian design aesthetics, she created an illusion of space while keeping the vibe cozy and welcoming. Her home won the Home Design of the Year Award at the India Design Week 2022, and was even featured in the Times of India’s “Smart Urban Living” series.
“I grew up in a 2BHK in Indiranagar where every inch mattered. That upbringing taught me the importance of space optimization,” said Shruti. “It’s not about having more square footage, it’s about making the space work for you.”
Design Hacks That Work Wonders
Interior design experts agree that a small home can feel spacious with a few intentional choices. Here are some of the top strategies:
- Use Mirrors to Multiply Space
Mirrors reflect light and create a visual expansion of the room. Placing a large mirror opposite a window doubles the perception of depth. This hack was effectively used by Mumbai-based designer Karan Mehta, who has worked on multiple compact apartments in Andheri and Bandra.
- Go Vertical
When you can’t expand horizontally, go up! Tall bookshelves, hanging planters, and vertical storage units free up floor space and draw the eye upward, making ceilings appear higher.
- Light Colors, Light Minds
Lighter shades of white, beige, and pastel tones reflect natural light and make a room feel airy. Avoiding dark colors on walls and floors can make a dramatic difference in how open a space feels.
- Multipurpose Furniture
A bed with drawers, a sofa-cum-bed, or a coffee table that opens into a desk — these are furniture pieces that earn their place in a compact home. IKEA’s entry into Indian metros has boosted access to such options, and local startups like Furlenco and Urban Ladder are embracing the trend too.
Real-Life Innovation: Mumbai’s Dharavi Model Apartment
In an inspiring government-private sector initiative, architect Manisha Karandikar collaborated with the Mumbai Slum Rehabilitation Authority in 2021 to redesign a 1-room tenement in Dharavi into a fully functional family home with kitchen, living, and sleeping areas — all within 325 sq ft.
Featured in the Indian Express and later showcased at the UN-Habitat Global Housing Summit, this model proved how even the most constrained spaces could be transformed with dignity and ingenuity.
Karandikar’s design used sliding doors, movable partitions, and convertible beds. “Every Indian deserves a home that is not just functional, but joyful,” she stated during a panel discussion hosted by NDTV’s Urban India Forum.
Cultural Integration Meets Functionality
Many Indians are blending traditional aesthetics with space-maximizing strategies. Take the example of Bhavna Shah in Ahmedabad, who reimagined her compact 2BHK with jaali partitions instead of walls, allowing airflow and light to travel freely between rooms. Her house, featured in Divya Bhaskar, has become a case study in sustainable and culturally rooted design.
Expert Tips from Indian Designers
We reached out to Rohit Khatri, founder of Gurgaon-based firm Small Space Architects, for practical tips:
- “Floating furniture gives more visual floor space.”
- “Keep décor minimal — one bold element per room works better than clutter.”
- “Natural light is your best friend. Ditch heavy curtains and embrace sheer fabrics.”
The Psychological Angle
Living in a small space doesn’t just affect physical comfort—it can impact mental well-being too. A study published in The Journal of Environmental Psychology (2021) found that spatial perception significantly influences stress levels. Open layouts, organized storage, and decluttering were shown to reduce daily anxiety, especially in urban households.
Government and Real Estate Response
Interestingly, the Indian government’s Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) scheme under the PMAY-U initiative has begun encouraging design submissions that consider both functionality and well-being in compact units. This shift could pave the way for broader adoption of space-savvy designs.
Meanwhile, developers like Tata Housing and Godrej Properties are launching “compact luxury” apartments, inspired by these very trends.
Final Thoughts
Making a small apartment look bigger is more than a matter of design — it’s about rethinking how we live. With inspiration from real Indians like Shruti Rao and Manisha Karandikar, it’s clear that spatial creativity is reshaping urban life in India.
As India’s urban dream expands, its homes may not grow in size — but in style, spirit, and smartness, they’re certainly growing big.
