This small one-bedroom apartment in Sweden has been painted entirely in a dark gray paint color, which brings out the elegant turn-of-the-century details of the building. The soft gray walls accentuate the white moldings and floorboards and they bring out the old heaters and the beautiful rounded windows that bring in so much daylight.
The apartment used to be one big room, but while doing the remodeling, the interior designers added a wall to separate the bedroom from the living kitchen. To ensure the bedroom gets a bit of daylight, a glass partition has been inserted above the door.
Rather than working with one dark gray accent wall, the entire place has been painted in the same color, including the built-in kitchen. This tone-on-tone look gives the apartment an elegant and sophisticated look.
The push-to-open kitchen cabinetry has a minimal appearance which pairs up nicely with the white marble countertops and the thin marble backsplash protecting the gray walls.
The kitchen covers almost the entire wall and cabinets on both the bottom and the top offer a lot of storage space, which is so crucial in a small apartment.
The stainless steel faucet and appliances finish the kitchen look off nicely and the upper cabinets don’t go all the way up to the ceiling so you can still notice the beautiful crown molding above the kitchen design.
A living and dining area with a sophisticated look
Even though the living room, dining room, and kitchen have all been included in one and the same room, the space doesn’t look cramped, while still allowing for all those functionalities to find a place.
The black velvet sofa combined with the green and gray velvet throw pillows add even darker tones to the dark walls with wainscoting, while the light gray area rug lightens up the palette. The light-soaped hardwood flooring adds a lighter tone to the space in general and it seems to reflect the natural light coming from the windows.
The living room includes a small dining area, which has strategically been placed in between the two beautiful windows, which are decorated with beautiful sheer beige curtains to warm up the daylight coming in.
The brass accents add an elegant touch to the neutral color palette and the gray wall color in the entire room. These brass and bright color details also serve as the main focal point in the living room section of the space.
A niche space bedroom with the wardrobe hidden behind velvet curtains
The gray bedroom has been placed in the niche space that was created by adding a wall inside the big space, but you can notice there is no door allowing the light to flow from one room into the other. This open layout combined with the glass panels on the top makes sure the bedroom gets at least a little bit of daylight.
The wardrobe has been hidden behind a beautiful velvet curtain that goes wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling and I love the way the blue velvet comes back on the throw and in the velvet pouf that has been used as a nightstand next to the bed.
A tone-on-tone dark gray look in the hallway
The hallway has a charcoal gray wall tone which has been combined with a tall wardrobe and a lower sideboard in the same color. Since the hallway doesn’t get any daylight, the XL round mirror not only serves as a way to check the outfit before leaving the apartment, but it also reflects some of the daylight coming from the windows and it makes the smaller space appear bigger.
Also in the hallway, the brass accent pieces add visual interest to the gray wall color scheme and I love the way the brass comes back in the door handles of the tall wardrobe for a modern look.
The light gray wall color in this beautiful turn-of-the-century Swedish apartment complements the light-soaped hardwood flooring and the white ceilings in an elegant way, bringing out the historic details of the building.
While the living room and bedroom have both been painted in a light gray paint color, the kitchen has been kept white, allowing the warm gray cabinetry combined with the beige limestone countertops to stand out in an optimal way.
A light gray paint color in the light-flooded living room
The gray walls in the living room have subtle blue undertones, which gives the space a fresh touch without being too overpowering. The warm textiles on the white sofa combined with the beautiful brown marble coffee tables and the sheer beige curtains in front of the window add a warm color palette to the space, which contrasts nicely with the blue undertones of the walls.
The sofa, armchairs, area rug, and Ikea Besta TV unit all have been picked out in a white color, which adds a bright base palette to the living room design that pairs up perfectly with the light-soaped hardwood floors.
The large standing mirror on the side of the living room without any windows reflects the daylight coming in and it makes the room visually appear bigger.
A kitchen with warm gray cabinets and an inviting dining area
The kitchen can be seen from the living room and rather than also going for gray walls in this space, the designer opted to keep the walls white in this room.
The warm grays that can be seen on the kitchen cabinets combined with the beige limestone countertops add a lot of warmth and texture to the backdrop created by the white walls.
When doing the kitchen renovation and planning, the owners created a layout that’s centered around a single wall that contains both upper and lower cupboards, in combination with a small kitchen island that is mounted against the wall.
This layout divides the large kitchen into two areas and creates an extra space to place the dining table with access to the balcony.
The warm gray and beige tones in the kitchen are complemented by a warm color palette in the dining area furniture and accessories. The warm tones of both the artwork and the furniture add depth to the space and the sheer beige curtains warm up the light coming through those windows.
Light gray paint colors on the walls and wardrobes in the small bedroom
The long and narrow bedroom space is a bit more challenging to decorate, yet by placing the wardrobe modules at the entrance of the room, a hallway of sorts is created where all clothes can be stored. The layout of the bedroom opens up towards the window and fits the bed exactly.
The gray kitchen and the light grays in the living area are matched by gray walls in the bedroom as well for a cohesive effect throughout the apartment. The wardrobes at the entrance of the bedroom have been painted in the same gray color as the walls, which integrates them into the space even better.
The gray palette has been lightened up by white bedding and just like in the living room, a warm color palette in the textiles and accessories gives this space a warm and inviting look.
I have written about this Swedish apartment here before, but since it got an entirely updated look, it was definitely worth sharing this beautiful home again. Especially the living space got quite the update, and it’s nice to see how different interior designers approached the same space.
The living room and hallway are separated by a room divider, which is made of a wall on the bottom and a glass partition on the top, a perfect solution that allows for natural light to flow throughout the rooms. Moreover, because the room divider is made of glass, it makes the apartment feel more spacious.
In this Swedish apartment, the glass room divider is only used on the top half of the wall for a more subtle effect. Still, though, the effect of the modern black metal frame in this minimal interior is impressive.
The rest of the interior in the living space has been kept minimal and in neutral colors, with off-white walls, and a beige couch combined with a warm color palette in the artwork and in the furniture.
The black metal of the glass room divider comes back in the black furniture like the coffee table and the dining chairs. The metal and glass cabinet fits the look perfectly and it has found the perfect spot next to the glass partition wall in the same materials.
A dark gray kitchen with marble countertops and a copper hood
The kitchen has a minimal yet characterful look. The clean lines in the dark gray cabinet fronts pair up nicely with the impressive white marble countertops and backsplash.
The layout of the kitchen has been planned on both walls that don’t have a window. The main part of the kitchen has only lower cupboards, while the other wall has a higher module with full-length cupboards to integrate the appliances and storage space.
A dark gray bedroom with a white ceiling
The dark gray wall color in the bedroom contrasts so nicely with the white trim and the impressive white ceilings and windows in this room. The dark gray color complements the light oak hardwood flooring in a nice way and the dark gray curtains match this palette perfectly.
A bathroom with a black tiled floor and white subway tiles on the wall
In the bathroom, you can find a glass door dividing the shower from the rest of the bathroom. Both of the glass room dividers in this apartment are visually similar and tie the design of the entire apartment together nicely.
The black hexagon tiled floor combined with the white subway tiles used on the walls in this bathroom add a lot of contrast to the space, which is finished off by an XL round mirror and a copper faucet that makes a visual connection to the copper details in the kitchen.
This minimal living kitchen includes a kitchen module beautiful Calacatta Viola marble kitchen island, combined with a dining area in soft wood tones and a minimal living room space that matches the look.
The kitchen island is covered on the top and sides with beautiful slaps of marble, which has been used on the kitchen counters and backsplash as well.
A minimal yet classy kitchen with an eye-catching marble kitchen island
The Calacatta Viola kitchen island is the eye-catcher in this living kitchen for sure and because of its presence, the rest of the interior can be very modest with clean lines.
The renovated turn-of-the-century apartment has a beautiful herringbone hardwood floor in soft oak, which has been complemented with an off-white wall color that brings out the white trim and floorboards in the room.
The kitchen layout is planned out on the wall, with cupboards going all the way up to the ceiling holding the main appliances and an area with lower cupboards by the window to hold the sink.
The minimal shaker-style kitchen cabinets are painted in the same color as the walls for a tone-on-tone look that makes the marble kitchen island, countertops, and black hardware stand out in a beautiful way.
The stove top is integrated into the marble kitchen island, giving it a clean and elegant look ensuring that the marble can get all the attention it deserves. You often see marble kitchen islands with marble slabs on the top and one side, but to have a marble cube-shape completely wrapped in marble is quite special.
A dining area with oak wood and a hidden glass cabinet
Since the kitchen island itself doesn’t have any integrated seating, a round dining table in the space next to the kitchen complements the space perfectly and provides a seating area in close proximity to the kitchen itself.
The oak wood of the CH24 wishbone chairs and of the dining table adds a lot of warmth to the otherwise neutral-colored interior and the wood tones complement the hardwood flooring nicely.
On the wall next to the dining table, a built-in glass cabinet has found its place in the wall, which is an original way of integrating extra storage into the kitchen.
A living space with a minimal look
Since the marble kitchen island has such a strong design language, the rest of the interior has been kept very simple. The living room has only the necessary functional furniture for a minimal look that is understated yet elegant.
The white fabric sofa combined with the black Lato side tables from &Tradition works nicely in combination with the white fabric armchair and the off-white wool rug.
All these textiles add a soft textural palette to the colors and patterns that can be found naturally in the beautiful marble on the kitchen island.
This beautiful home belongs to Swedish blogger Johanna Bradford, decorated in modern farmhouse style with a Scandinavian touch and lots of beautiful vintage finds. The house has such great character and personality and each room is designed very differently from the others.
The interior designer and owner of this house integrated modern farmhouse-style elements with modern and vintage pieces, natural materials, and one-of-a-kind pieces to add interest.
A modern farmhouse-style dining room in a light color palette
The white flooring and the off-white wall color in this beautiful dining room form the perfect backdrop for the natural wood tones in the vintage dining table and the J39 chairs in natural oak.
The fabric lampshade above the table adds a classic, rustic appeal to the space without being too overpowering and the clean white bookshelf fits perfectly on the wall next to the window.
The farmhouse aesthetic comes back in the impressive vintage vitrine on the other side of the room, which has been painted in a subtle grey color. The modern bar cart with red tones adds a contemporary spin to this cozy space with a happy mixture of style elements.
An eclectic combination of textures and prints in a modern farmhouse living room
While the hardwood floor of the dining room has been painted white, the living room has the original hardwood flooring, however, a statement textural area rug covers almost the entire living room surface.
The natural elements in the fabrics, different types of wood, and the clean lines in the furniture add a modest touch to the space, which has been spruced up by the bold pattern on the sofa in this modern farmhouse living room.
A sage green and white shaker kitchen with a shiplap and green tile backsplash
The window side of this modern farmhouse kitchen has been covered with a white shiplap backsplash, white upper cabinets, and a marble sink with a gold faucet for a more classic farmhouse style.
The backsplash on the other side of the kitchen however has been covered in deep green backsplash tiles for a modern touch, finished off with white tiling on the hood above the classic stove. This mixture of sophisticated color and rustic texture makes the kitchen design very unique, all while still fitting the modern farmhouse decor of the house perfectly.
The dining area in the kitchen has classic farmhouse furniture combined and I love the way the green of the kitchen color palette comes back in the subtle gingham pillow on the bench.
Shiplap walls in the hallway for a subtle modern farmhouse design
The hallway walls have been completely covered in off-white shiplap and the custom bench and coat rack have been painted in the same color as the wall for an integrated effect. The antique round table in the middle of the hallway matches the design style of this modern farmhouse hallway.
Pattern wallpaper and a fabric headboard in the bedroom
The beautiful pink pattern bedroom wallpaper combined with the classic crystal chandelier and the antique bedside tables set the stage for this beautiful modern farmhouse bedroom. A few modern elements like the fabric headboard, the clean lines in the black reading lamps, and the minimal white wool rug make for a great contrast between styles.
The design of the kitchen cabinets also comes back in the bedroom, where a custom-built wardrobe integrates seamlessly with the modern farmhouse decor. The green plants and green curtains add another color to the palette and I love the abundance of natural light that comes through those bay windows.
A classic bathroom design with an integrated sauna
We can see the farmhouse-style kitchen design come back in the sink area of the bathroom as well, where the shiplap walls have been paired up with a simple round mirror and white marble countertops. The beige hexagon floor tiles have a brown trim that adds a beautiful graphic touch to the space.
This large bathroom consists of two sections: a sink section with storage and a seating area and a section with a bathtub and a sauna.
The modern black metal doors of the sauna contrast nicely with the classic look of the tiled-in bathtub which is finished off with white marble borders and chrome fittings in the tub and shower with subway tile walls.
Modern farmhouse decor ideas you can easily try out in your own home
Modern farmhouse homes like this one can be characterized by a combination of old and new, which can be paired up with reclaimed wood, vintage pieces, and neutral color palettes.
While the effect is more apparent when you transform your entire space, a modern farmhouse look can already be achieved by adding a few modern farmhouse decor elements like a pendant lamp, a vintage dining table, a wallpaper accent wall, or a jute rug. Starting small also gives you time to judge whether you like these decor ideas and if fit your space.
This beautiful studio apartment has four functionalities combined into one rather small space. The kitchen, dining area, living room, and bedroom are all combined on a small amount of floor space, yet the different functional areas work very nicely together and the living space doesn’t feel cramped.
The kitchen and living area are combined into the space in front of the windows, while the sleeping space and hallway are combined perfectly together, including all the apartment functionalities into a self-contained space.
The secret to decorating small studio apartments: visually separate functional areas
When decorating studio apartments, your goal should be to create an efficiency apartment in terms of functionality. There really is no square footage/meters available for extras, so you have to be very selective in what you included in the limited floor and vertical space you have available.
You can fit a lot of functionality into studio apartments like this one, as long as you select small furniture to ensure empty space around the pieces as much as possible and you work with smart ways to separate the functional areas from each other.
Work with an area rug, group artwork in certain functional sections of the home, or strategically place lamps to indicate the beginning and end of a functional area.
A kitchen that fully optimizes the available wall space
The limited space in this studio apartment has been used largely for a small kitchen that fits most of one of the walls of the room. The light gray cabinet fronts match perfectly with the white floor and the light gray walls in the same color and the white stone countertop goes well with the white ceilings.
The layout of the kitchen consists of both upper and lower cabinets to optimize the available storage space and the gray and white palette has been finished off with gold hardware in the cabinet pulls and faucet. The one-wall kitchen layout optimizes the available floor space in this studio home.
A dining room area in between the kitchen and sofa
The space in front of the window of the one-room studio apartment is the perfect spot for a beautiful round dining table combined with the Betty chairs in light oak from &Tradition.
The sheer white curtains in front of the window add a lighter shade to the gray walls, which gives the room a soft touch. The fabric of the curtains is matched by the tablecloth on the table which ties together the look of the dining area.
A black sofa combined with a hemp rug and a wood coffee table
To separate the sofa area from the dining area and kitchen, which are both in very close proximity to each other, a natural hemp rug was used. Other than visually separating the functional areas, this rug also adds a warm and textural touch to the studio apartment interior.
The black sofa adds a lot of contrast to the otherwise gray and white palette, which has been paired up with wood tones in the footstool, coffee table, and the frames of the art prints.
The white and beige textiles on the black sofa provide the space with a beautiful contrast, while the white Flowerpot lamp, also from &Tradition, contributes to visually separating the sofa from the dining area.
A strategically placed wardrobe as a room divider between the hallway and bedroom area
There are many ways of separating rooms or functional areas in a studio apartment. You can work with a glass wall partition or another custom-built solution to separate the rooms, yet you can also implement easier solutions like hanging a curtain or strategically placing a piece of furniture like the wardrobe in this studio apartment.
The wardrobe is placed at the foot of the bed, with the doors facing toward the hallway section of the studio apartment. This way, instead of walking straight into the room, you pass a small hallway created by the wardrobe itself and the wall on the other side. At the same time, it also fences off the bedroom from the rest of the space and gives it its own area.
The white and beige color palette on the bedsheets and in the accessories complements the light gray walls in such a lovely way, matching the overall color palette in the rest of the studio apartment.
Built-in wardrobes will always have a more finished result, which is especially useful when you don’t have a walk-in closet but have to use the bedroom space for both sleeping and storage space.
When you are especially tight on space, or when you want to use your bedroom for other functionalities like a home office or seating area, building your fitted wardrobe around the bed can be a great way of combining functionalities and saving precious floor space which can then be used for a dressing table, desk, or lounge chair.
Blue fitted wardrobes around the bed
This beautiful bedroom with historic details is painted white entirely, which makes the light blue fitted wardrobe around the bed stand out as the focal point and the main feature in the room.
The wardrobe is built with two main modules on each side of the bed, and hanging cabinets above the bed itself, resulting in a niche space for the bed which has been decorated with two simple black wall lamps.
The very top of the fitted wardrobe doesn’t reach all the way to the ceiling to not obstruct the view of the beautiful crown molding in this master bedroom.
A small bedroom like this one can benefit so much from around-the-bed wardrobes as there is almost no other way around fitting both the bed and storage space on such a small surface.
In this tiny bedroom, the built-in wardrobes have been constructed above and beside the bed, leaving a space against the wall for a small bed. This result is clearly the work of a professional as there were some uneven wall surfaces to overcome as well.
The wardrobe modules have been painted in the same color as the walls for an integrated effect and the niche space for the bed is the perfect place for an art print in the same color.
Side and above the bed wardrobes in a hotel-style bedroom
Since this bedroom is long and narrow, it would have been difficult to fit large wardrobes to fit all the clothes away from the bed. This bespoke solution with double-door wardrobes on each side of the bed connected with upper cabinets above the bed combines both functionalities in an optimal way.
The niche space created by the wardrobes is filled with beautiful black wall lamps that are attached to the sides of the main wardrobe modules. The overall look of this bedroom has a hotel look and feel because of the niche space, TV on the wall, and the tone-on-tone color palette.
Storage space on both sides of the bed for an integrated effect
While some of the wardrobe solutions in this list require a carpenter, you can achieve a very integrated effect with wardrobes on each side of the bed as well just like in this example.
This will create a niche space in between them that can be filled with wall sconces, a headboard, and artwork for an impressive effect in the bedroom.
Built-in wardrobe around bed with an integrated headboard
The two main wardrobes on each side of the bed in this warm grey bedroom have been connected by a lowered ceiling in the middle over the bed.
The back wall in the niche has been covered with wood wall panels that add a beautiful natural touch to the look that is complementing the hardwood floors.
A vintage white fitted wardrobe combined with beige walls
This fully customized wardrobe above the bed has been there for a while judging from its traditional style. The white paint on the wardrobes matches the door and window frames and contrasts nicely with the beige paint color with red undertones.
Wall lamps have been attached on each side of the wardrobes and an art print in the middle adds the perfect decor to this gorgeous bedroom. The wall panels that connect the wardrobes to the wall make sure there are no gaps and they are utilized with wall hooks on each side.
Dark fitted wardrobes on each side of the bed create a niche
The two wardrobes on either side of the bed in this bedroom have been connected by a wood board on the very top, which gives them a seamless and integrated look. The floating shelf in the niche space is perfect to store books and to display a single piece of art.
The dark grey color on the wardrobes and the even darker grey on the wall give this space a modern look that is contrasted by the crisp white linen bedsheets.
Tone-on-tone bespoke fitted wardrobes with built-in nightstands
The bespoke wardrobes around the bed in this asymmetric bedroom are built wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling which gives them a very integrated look that has been enhanced even more by matching the wall color to the color on the wardrobes.
This bespoke solution has built-in shelves inside the bedroom niche, which serve as a nightstand on either side.
Plain doors and over bed wardrobes combined into a full storage wall
These bespoke wardrobes have been built around both the bed and the doorway, transforming the entire wall up to the ceiling into a storage space with a ladder rail that can be used to reach the upper cabinets.
The light base color palette in the room has been enhanced by a dark accent wall in the niche space behind the bed, highlighting the beautiful custom work. Overhead lighting has even been integrated into the upper wardrobe modules above the bed, which function as reading lights.
This wardrobe solution in mustard yellow consists of two main wardrobe modules on each side of the bed, connected with indented upper modules for an interesting look.
The niche space behind the bed has been filled with a custom fabric headboard filling the gap between the wardrobes exactly and giving the bed a luxurious look and feel.
The space in between the window and the wardrobe is filled with a desk combined with floating shelves, which is an easy way to integrate a small home office.
Light grey fitted wardrobes beside and above the bed to optimize limited space
This simple light grey wardrobe is a simple U-shape design that can be done the DIY way out of Ikea kitchen modules. Combine tall modules with wall-hung cupboards above the bed and instead of just two tall wardrobes, you create a full row of storage for things you use less often like summer clothes or luggage pieces.
Two wardrobes on each side of the bed for a bespoke effect
I you want to create a beautiful niche space, you can place two tall wardrobe modules on each side of the bed. For a look that is more finished, you can create a custom headboard in the same color as the wall and this will allow you to use the ledge as a nightstand.
Attach two wall lamps to the sides of both wardrobes and you create a beautiful niche bedroom space with integrated storage.
A fully fitted wardrobe along the entire wall finished off with wallpaper
This custom-fitted wardrobe solution is impressive and provides a large amount of storage space in this room. The wall above the bed has been covered with a beautiful pattern wallpaper, highlighting this spot in such a lovely way.
Custom built-ins with plain doors in an attic room
A slightly awkward space with sloped ceilings will always benefit from a custom wardrobe solution so you can integrate the modules seamlessly with the ceiling.
This bespoke solution includes ample storage opportunity, floating shelves above the bed, and the fitted wardrobes even continue over into lower storage modules on the side of the room.
Dark blue built-in wardrobes create a cozy bed niche with bookshelves
This seamless and bespoke solution in dark blue has built-in shelves on either side of the bed, which is such an elegant way of offering small storage space next to the bed. These shelf modules however also create a slight gap between the tall fitted wardrobes and the bed so it’s easier to open the doors.
The wall behind the bed has been painted in the same dark blue color as the built-in wardrobes and the blue wall lamps finish this inspiring solution off perfectly.
A wardrobe in the same color as the wall highlighting the crown molding on the ceiling
The wardrobe in this beautiful turn-of-the-century bedroom has been built from wall to wall, with a niche space for the bed right in the middle. The gold wall lamps complement the gold hardware on the cabinet doors and the muted green paint color on both the walls and the wardrobe make the beautiful crown molding on the ceiling stand out in a wonderful way.
A mixture of wall cabinets in different depths in a dark grey color
This wall-to-wall solution integrates two large storage elements on each side of the bed, with a headboard in the middle, paired with an open shelf and more narrow storage modules in the center above the bed.
The chrome and leather handles on the dark grey cabinet doors complete the look and the beige and red striped pillow on the bed adds a certain charm to the setting.
A custom studio wardrobe designed to optimize the wall space above the bed
In this small white studio apartment where the sleeping area and sofa section are combined in the same room, a wardrobe built around the bed offers a space-saving storage solution that goes high up towards the ceiling.
Other than the previous ideas on this list, the bed is placed length-wise underneath the wardrobe to optimize as much wall space as possible.
A Small Bedroom with Classic Features and Lots of Storage Space
This small bedroom features a fitted wardrobe around the bed, with rounded corners finishing the edges of the alcove. The open shelf between the cabinet doors is perfect for books and items that would otherwise find a place in the drawers of nightstands.
Fitted Wardrobes with Built-In nightstands Next to the Bed
This pale yellow wardrobe design features drawers and cabinets for ample storage space. The upper cabinets can be reached by a ladder attached to the brass rail. The sides of this custom wardrobe formation have built-in nightstands with a classic aluminum wall lamp hung up above it.
Floor to Ceiling Built-in Wardrobes with an Oak finish
If the one-color wardrobe ideas on this list are a bit too monotone for you, you can explore pairing different colors and materials in one wardrobe formation. In the example below, classic light grey cabinets are paired with an oak headboard for a modern look.
Work with Classy Pastel Pink and a Headboard for an Elegant Look
If you’re wondering about building a wardrobe around your bed, but are worried it might look too heavy, go for a subtle pastel tone like in the example below. Finish the bed alcove off with an elegant headboard to match the style of the space.
If you want to integrate your built-in wardrobe with the rest of the interior, you can always pair it with bedroom wainscoting in the same color for an integrated effect. Pair it with a bold and contrasting wall color like in the example below for a modern look.
Styled by Lindholm, photographed by Boukari for Historiska Hem
Create a Bedroom Alcove underneath Your Studio Apartment Wardrobe
In this studio apartment, a large wall of custom-fitted wardrobes decorates the room. The alcove created by the wardrobe on the right side is used for a small bed. The upper cabinets are great for storing lesser-used items.
Finish Your High-end Wardrobe off With a Golden Ladder Rail
When designing your custom wardrobe, it’s important to think about all the functionalities you might need around the bed. Add lighting, niches for nightstands, or a ladder rail to reach higher cabinets to make your wardrobe work for you.
The fitted wardrobe in this beautiful example is finished with a dark headboard and black and gold reading lights that fit the chic aesthetic of the bedroom interior.
Include the Bed inside Fitted Wardrobes to Maximize Limited Space
The gorgeous fitted wardrobes in this small bedroom allow for lots of storage opportunities in limited space. By including the bed inside the built-in wardrobes, The blue color of the wardrobe stands out against the neutral color palette of the textiles in a powerful way.
Include a Custom Shelf as a Bedside table for keeping Books
This fitted wardrobe has no hardware, giving it a sleek effect. The bedroom walls are painted the same color as the built-ins for an integrated effect. One side of the bed includes a small custom bookshelf that works as a bedside table.
Balance out Vibrant a Vibrant Blue Wardrobe with graphic Wallpaper
This wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling handleless wardrobe has a vibrant blue color that stands out powerfully. By pairing the blue cabinets with a graphic wallpaper inside the bed niche and a polka dot bedspread on the bed, the color palette looks balanced and unique at the same time.
Apart from the kitchen, this beautiful Swedish apartment has been painted entirely in different shades of beige, for a warm look that complements the hardwood flooring and historic features in the architecture. The beige and blue living room palette comes back in the rest of the apartment as a red thread that ties together the interior design.
The modest base color palette in the interior design has been enhanced with subtle pops of blue throughout the space that add multiple focal points to the subdued hues of the beige palette. This play between dark and light blue amongst the warm neutrals makes the decor of the space interesting and characterful.
Light and dark blue living room details against beige walls
The living room has been painted in a subtle beige color with yellow undertones, which makes the crown molding, historic fireplace, and white window frames stand out in a lovely way, while also complementing the warm wood tones in the floor.
The blue living room details enhance the neutral palette in the living space and the pops of blue, orange, beige, and brown in the gallery wall add a lot of depth to the interior. The mixture of blue and beige throw pillows on the white Ikea Soderhamn sofa complement the look nicely, while the green plants add a vibrant touch to the space.
The warm wood tones in both the coffee table and the lounge chair match the darker tones in the art prints, while the sheer beige curtains warm up the daylight coming through those big historic windows.
Pale sky blue walls in the kitchen
The beige color palette with blue accents in the living room comes back in the design of the kitchen as well, however here the blue palette takes over. Faded sky-blue walls adorn the kitchen walls, which have the effect of an accent wall against the white kitchen.
The vintage wood dining table combined with the bright white accent chairs and the white runner rug lighten up the color palette and give the kitchen a fresh touch.
A beige palette in the bedroom
Even though blue accents are absent in the bedroom design, the room decor still ties in together nicely with the rest of the apartment because of the overall beige palette.
The beige paint color is more muted and has more of a red undertone, which gives the bedroom a warm, yet more subtle look which is brightened up by a lovely combination of white and beige bedding, green plants, and warm wood tones in the wall shelf and bedside tables.
Even though the bedroom could benefit from a simple blue rug or blue artwork like in this beautiful bedroom, it also works nicely with a purely beige palette and has a calmer appearance.
A hallway combined with a home office with blue accents
Beige and blue, the two colors that are decorating this apartment and tie the rooms together can also be found in the hallway space, which is used as a home office at the same time.
I think the combination of different functionalities in the hallway is great for utilizing limited floor space and in this particular hallway, there is enough space to fit both a desk and hallway storage.
The subtle blue accessories on the desk and in the art print next to the String shelf go nicely with the other colors in the palette and the beige walls and curtains provide a soft, warm backdrop for these beautiful blue accents.
How to achieve beige and blue living room ideas in your own home
Cool and warm tones can create such a wonderful contrast in your interior and they tend to give your home a sophisticated look. Combine your warm-toned furniture with white walls and blue soft furnishings like a blue area rug, or subtle blue classic stripes in a throw pillow to add this play between shades, or work with beige or blue wall colors to add a perfect base palette to contrast with your accessories.
If this color combination is a bit too daring for you, you can always try with a single accent chair, a throw pillow on your sofa, or other small pieces to get a feeling for the color palette in your interior. Stay away from large furniture pieces if you are unsure since they are more pricy and benefit from a timeless look.
A kitchen with white cabinets is such a timeless design choice that you see in many homes and you really can’t do anything wrong with this combination. A clean and minimal white kitchen can look boring to some, and fresh to others, yet if you combine the white cabinets with black countertops, you add a certain contrast that makes the design of your white kitchen much more interesting.
I have recently written a post about the most inspiring white kitchen ideas, and a post about black kitchen ideas as well, yet I thought the combination of white cabinets and black countertops deserved a post of its own as it’s such a great, contrasting combination that can add such an impressive amount of character and personality to your kitchen design.
White shaker cabinets with black countertops and a checkered floor
The contrast between the white cabinets and the black countertops in this beautiful shaker kitchen is enhanced even further by the checkered floor in black and white. The impressive black stove and the black pendant lights also contribute to the balanced contrast, and the light grey paint color on the walls softens out the look.
The u-shaped layout of the white cabinets goes over into a lower area in front of the window, which has dual functionality as storage combined with a seating bench. On the opposite side of the kitchen, you can find high storage cabinets and the glass front cabinets next to the stove give the layout a lighter look. The recessed stove is treated with a tile backsplash, for an elegant effect.
Balance Out Contrasting Dark Countertops with a Subtle Beige Wall Color
Dark countertops in a kitchen with white cabinets will undoubtedly result in a strong contrast, especially if the color palette in the entire kitchen space is black or white. In this beautiful Ikea Bodbyn kitchen, the white soaped wood floor and the white subway tile backsplash contribute to the high-contrast look, making the dark countertops stand out.
To balance out this black-and-white contrast, the walls of this kitchen with white cabinets are painted in a subtle beige tone. This results in a soft color palette, from which the stainless steel appliances stand out.
Minimal white kitchen cabinets with a black countertop and black backsplash tiles
The minimal white kitchen cabinets in this open-plan home are built into a corner of the space with two lower walls separating the kitchen from the hallway and the living room. One of the walls has been used to mount the TV, which is a wonderful solution for an open floorplan.
White cabinets and stainless steel appliances combined with black granite countertops
The black granite countertop in this kitchen is continued within the niche space of the white cabinets, resulting in a contrasting black element containing floating shelves. The impressive stainless steel range hood above the stove is combined with a stainless steel countertop in this section and the black kitchen island completes this look perfectly.
The clean mix of the black countertop and white cabinetry with the stainless steel appliances works so well in this kitchen, giving it a minimal, yet industrial look and feel.
An eye-catching black marble countertop and simple white Ikea cabinets
The beautiful pattern in the black marble countertop enhances the basic white Ikea cabinets fronts in such an elegant way. I love the way the induction stove just seems to disappear in dark countertops like this one, this way it doesn’t attract as much attention.
The white cabinets are enhanced with subtle chrome hardware and the black pendant light finishes off the look perfectly.
White cabinets with integrated handles and black marble countertops
The modern white cabinets in this kitchen have a subtly integrated handle, which matches up perfectly with the classic look of the black marble countertop. The range hood and stove in stainless steel add another material to the look, which complements the dark wood floors nicely.
The layout of the kitchen includes a narrow kitchen island that offers extra workspace, yet also visually separates the kitchen from the dining area.
Dark countertops combined with a light wood floor, white cabinets, and a grey wall
The raised panel doors in this kitchen add a subtle classic look to the space, which matches nicely with the crown molding on the ceiling. The dark countertops combined with the black Gubi bestlite wall lamps add a subtle contrast to the soft palette that is finished off so nicely by the subtle grey paint color on the wall.
A tiny kitchen with white cabinets, black countertops, and a black range hood
What this tiny kitchen lacks in floor space, it more than makes up for in style. I love the contrast between the white cabinets and the black countertops, which is enhanced even further by the black hardware and the black range hood.
The white porcelain sink with the gold faucet adds a certain elegance to this contrasting look and the open shelving on both walls offers extra storage space without making the layout of the kitchen too heavy.
The black floor contrasts nicely with the white cabinetry and the white subway tiles with black grout that cover the entire wall follow the black and white combination that’s also present in the kitchen itself.
Off-white cabinets with black granite countertops and chrome hardware
The minimal off-white cabinets on both the top and bottom of this kitchen layout complement this turn-of-the-century space so nicely. The dark countertops add a wonderful contrasting element to the space that works well with the warm wood flooring and the wood tones in the furniture.
Minimal white cabinets with black countertops and a grey backsplash
This gorgeous contemporary kitchen fills the entire wall of this open-plan living space with light wood flooring. The black countertops are combined with a cement tile backsplash for a modest look enhanced by the minimal white cabinets with integrated handles.
The appliances have been fitted in on either side of the kitchen, leaving the middle element clean and elegant with only the sink and stovetop cut out of the black countertops.
A small white kitchen with a black countertop and lots of storage
The white subway tile backsplash in this kitchen with white cabinets and black countertops goes all the way up to the ceiling, which gives it a very finished look with an industrial touch that is enhanced by the stainless steel range hood.
The white cabinets are limited to lower modules on the back and side wall, combined with open shelving to give this niche kitchen a spacious look. The other wall, however, has been filled with ceiling-high cupboards that offer ample storage space.
A minimal kitchen design with white cabinets, black countertops, and a white marble backsplash
The combination of the white cabinets with the black countertops in this small yet minimal kitchen is strengthened by the black tones in the elegant bar cart with gold details and the dining chairs at the dining table.
The chrome hardware, faucet, and sink add a subtle industrial touch to the look, while the white marble backsplash gives the kitchen design a certain elegance.
A characterful white kitchen with a black countertop and a green subway tile backsplash
The contrast between the white cabinets and black countertops provides a perfect monochrome basis for the green subway tile backsplash combined with the light blue walls and the brass peg rail above the counter.
The black countertop matches so nicely with the different colors in the materials and the white porcelain sink gives the space a subtle farmhouse kitchen look.
Minimal white shaker cabinets with black granite countertops and chrome hardware
The minimal white shaker cabinets in this kitchen are planned perfectly in the room, with a niche space above the stove with a subtle grey tile backsplash with a farmhouse touch. The white cabinets are enhanced with black granite countertops and the chrome hardware adds elegant detailing.
The L-shaped layout of the white shaker cabinets is planned around the window with lower cabinets only, however, on the opposite side of the kitchen you can find tall cupboards that make up for any lost storage space.
U-shaped white kitchen cabinets with black countertops and open shelving
This living space has dark grey walls, which really benefit from a contrasting kitchen with white cabinets and black countertops. The contrast has been enhanced by using a white subway tile backsplash and black open shelving, which enhance the look of this rather basic kitchen a lot.
Off-white cabinets with black marble countertops and a stainless steel hood
These off-white cabinets go in the direction of light grey depending on the angle from which you look at them, yet the contrast is just as strong as with other white cabinets and black countertop combinations, which is what it’s all about in this list.
The kitchen cabinets have been fitted in between two walls, which looks very nice and the black countertop has been extended into a low backsplash, which gives the kitchen a bright and clean look. The stainless steel hood, black wall lamp, peg rail, and single open shelf are the perfect details for this simple kitchen design.
An older white kitchen with black countertops and light blue walls
This kitchen is rather dated, yet the contrasting look between the white cabinets and the darker countertops is so timeless it still works. The kitchen look has been updated by adding a light blue wall color and subtle open shelving to the space.
Black granite countertops and classic white cabinets paired with a dark wall
The classic white kitchen cabinets fill the entire left wall of the kitchen space, with the black granite countertop standing out of the white backdrop in a contrasting way. The glossy white tiles on the kitchen backsplash leave the room feeling bright and elegant, while the dark wall color in the rest of the space enhances the contrast of the black countertop.
On the other side of the space, the vintage white dining table stands out against the contrasting dark wall. The antique painting and the classic wall lamp tie the design of this kitchen together in a lovely way.
Work with a White Brick Backsplash to bring Merge Contrast with a Rustic Touch
The neutral color palette in this small kitchen complements the rustic effect the white-painted brick backsplash adds to the space. The dark countertops and black appliances stand out powerfully in this kitchen with white cabinets.
The wood accessories on the countertop and the white floating kitchen shelf add a focal point and a beautiful warmth to the space.
I love the different textures and materials contrasting with the historic details in this turn-of-the-century apartment in Sweden. The crown molding has been paired up side to side with different wall treatments for an interesting effect.
The light grey paint colors combined with the limewash paint in the white kitchen and the exposed brick wall in the living room result in an interesting mix full of character and personality that pairs up nicely with the elegant yet minimal decor in the space.
A living kitchen with beige limewash paint and exposed brick walls
The basic white kitchen has a stainless steel countertop and appliances, which are really minimal and almost basic by themselves, yet by combining them with the beige limewash walls and the exposed brick in between the windows, the look becomes so interesting.
The dining room area connects the living room with the kitchen and its’ long rectangular design in wood fits perfectly with the warm palette in the space. The black bentwood chairs add a bit of contrast to the otherwise warm look that matches the color of the hardwood floors.
Just like the crown molding, the original borders, and frames of the historic windows are intact. To accentuate these beautiful white window trims, the walls in between the windows have exposed brick.
While you can achieve an exposed brick wall by using wallpaper, or by constructing new brick walls, in this case, what you see are the literal building blocks of the building, exposing walls that are actually brick and at the same time, another historic element of the architectural structure.
Light grey paint colors in the living room and bedroom
Since the limewash paint and the exposed brick already add a lot of warmth and texture to the space, the rest of the living kitchen has been painted in a subtle light grey paint color with a slightly cool undertone that contrasts with the warm elements in the space.
The living room has been decorated with furniture and soft furnishings in black and dark grey tones, which are lightened up by a mixture of beige textiles and a light fluffy grey area rug that bring out the beautiful brick wall in the background.
The XL round wall mirror next to the black sofa reflects both the room and the daylight coming through the windows and adds extra depth to the living space.
The dark brown historic fireplace in the corner looks so impressive and the light grey paint color on the walls brings out the light hardwood flooring, which is the element with the lightest color in the space and the basis for the interior design of the apartment.
Light grey walls combined with white elements in the bedroom
The bedroom has been painted in a lighter grey paint color, which is paired up with a white wardrobe and white textiles for a light look. The beige bedding and beige fluffy area rug underneath the bed add a warm touch to the space, which stands in subtle contrast with the color on the wall.
The vintage desk turns the bedroom into a small home office as well and I love the dark antique wood against the light hardwood flooring in the bedroom.
The light grey paint color makes the white crown molding and the historic white wing doors stand out in a wonderful way. The white glossy wardrobe doesn’t take up much space visually while providing ample storage space and the large mirror by the bed adds an extra dimension to the space as it reflects the living room and makes the space visually bigger.
