Small Apartment Design – Episode 1

Discover French interior design in New York: a chic small apartment makeover with elegant living room ideas, dining corner inspiration, and smart lighting.

Sylvain

9/23/20252 min read

Small Apartment Design

Welcome to our very first post, dedicated to French interior design. Today we start working on a small apartment in New York. This project focused on redesigning it all by removing an unnecessary bedroom and transforming it into a true living space with a modern French touch.

Dining Corner with French Touch

The dining area is visually defined with a bold panoramic wallpaper strip on the wall and a rug on the floor. A round dining table paired with comfortable chairs makes this corner perfect for cozy dinners or Sunday brunch.

This design approach shows how French style interior design can transform even the smallest spaces into functional, stylish zones.

What’s Next

And that’s it for this first episode!
In our next post, we’ll focus on the most important space for every french people: the kitchen. Expect clever design tips, French-inspired solutions, and space-saving ideas.

Designing a Small Apartment in New York

The room isn’t very large—about 6.5m x 4m (roughly 280 sq. ft.). The challenge was to create a layout that feels open and elegant while still defining separate zones. The solution: a minimalist French-inspired design that balances function with style.

This is where we start !

Elegant French Living Room Layout

For the living area, we chose two design-forward sofas facing each other, a much more refined choice than the traditional L-shaped sectional.

A pair of discreet nesting coffee tables and a colorful rug define the center of the space.

Lighting is key in small apartment design: an arc floor lamp provides warm evening light, while a tall metal-and-marble console adds a sophisticated Parisian chic detail to the living room.

Smart Lighting Solutions for Small Apartments

One of the biggest challenges of this apartment was the absence of ceiling lighting. Our solution—because as French designers, we insist on seeing what’s on our plates!—was to install a pendant light with an exposed cord. This trendy technique is both functional and chic, adding a modern French interior touch to the dining corner.