Auckland Council has designated Uptown a high-density area, meaning we will see even more apartments built within Uptown’s borders in the coming years. There are new apartment typologies popping up all over Uptown, including the newly completed SKHY development and the under-construction 59 France by Urban Collective.

Why employ an interior designer for a small apartment space?

Interior designers provide services from integrated colour schemes to safeguarding precious space to choosing the fabric for a sofa and cushions. A good interior designer will have up-to-date knowledge on the latest trends and through their spatial and colour training can provide a feeling of more space within a smaller floor print.

What are the benefits of working with an interior designer?

An interior designer’s contacts, access to trade-only suppliers and knowledge can save their clients time and money and also provide peace of mind. A lot of interior designers will offer industry discounts, making purchasing furniture cost effective. Working collaboratively with a designer will result in a design that feels effortless.

How do clients know they are choosing the right thing?

Some interior designers will provide a floor plan to scale, with each item in place, so clients can see the exact layout and how the space will flow. A floor plan is good for choosing furniture, it helps clients understand the scale and size of items we have selected. For kitchens and bathrooms, some designers will offer 3D renders of the design in the selected finishes. We offer this service as it enables clients to visualise and feel confident about the design.

Rachel’s Top 5 Design Tips

1. Off the floor

I recommend avoiding furniture that is too solid. Being able to see the floor beneath sofas, coffee tables and armchairs will make the space feel larger. Modular pieces work well for apartments because they are easier to get into the building and fit in the lifts.

2. Storage

Space and storage are at a premium in apartments, so clever use of furniture can help. A bed with drawers in the base is a great way to store extra items you don’t use daily. During the design phase, I make sure there is space for everything, avoiding clutter and enabling the owners to live comfortably.

3. Maximise the height

Rather than cram furniture within the floor space, using the height can help create a sense of space. Floating shelves are great to store books or decorative items and avoid a whole bookshelf that takes up precious floor space.

4. Mirrors

These can be an artwork in themselves, with many decorative mirrors on the market – and they are great for making a room feel bigger.

5. Greenery

Most apartments have limited outdoor areas, so the use of pots to bring the garden inside keeps the space fresh and breaks up the linear feeling. You can’t get enough greenery!

Harper Interior Design works with both developers during the early stage of design and build and with private owners who may have purchased an apartment off the plans. Rachel Brown is a fully qualified interior designer and her prior furniture experience means she can design unique pieces for clients that fit seamlessly within specific spaces. That’s a perfect skill to have for designing apartments.