Interior Design for Multi-Family Living
Articles, design
Interior Design for Multi-Family Living
When it comes to interior design, multi-family buildings offer a unique set of challenges and opportunities. With the increasing popularity and need for apartment living and condominium complexes, more and more people are in need of dwelling units that are highly curated, feel luxurious, but also maximize functionality.
In this article, we’re unpacking some of our top, flexible interior design tips for developers to consider when planning their multi-family projects.
Five Interior Design Tips for Multi-Family Living
If you’re planning a multi-family building, such as an apartment complex, townhouse or condominium–you know it can feel challenging to get the most value out of your square footage and make the space feel comfortable and functional.
Here are five of our favorite tips for creating dwelling units your tenants and new homeowners will love to live in.
1. Optimize Natural Light
The best way to make a space feel more spacious and luxurious is by making the most of the natural light that you have.
Opt for higher-quality and larger windows with an operable sash, and be aware of blocking views and shading nighttime light sources. Consider the placement of windows within rooms and their alignment with natural movement patterns to draw the occupants into spaces. Abundant windows with good shades provide warm light and an airy feel that tenants appreciate having control of.
2. Lean Into Efficiency
Although many experts resist functional furniture in multi-family units–square footage is often limited, making functional furniture a necessity.
Whether that’s seating with built-in storage, integrated desk within a kitchen countertop, many pieces of furniture can serve both form and function while adding a small amenity for prospective renters.
3. Find a Complementary Material Palette
Thinking of our multi-family projects similar to a custom home, we enhance our interiors by finding a relationship of complementary materials between the exterior and interior. It is important to determine the design theme early in the process that will reinforce the brand of the building and look for opportunities to carry it from the outside into the common spaces, sometimes finding hints of it within the units.
Creating a simple accent wall of color or the use of wood tones in the kitchen cabinets or flooring that draws inspiration from building’s common spaces or exterior can be a way to elevate the unit design and bring the spaces together.
4. Private Outdoor Space
During COVID we learned how well or poorly multi-family buildings made tenants feel being cramped up in small drywall boxes.
Adding balconies on as many units as possible will add significant value. Renters and potential buyers have increased their desire for private outdoor space. Even a juliette balcony or a full height glass door that can be opened to let the fresh air in and give the sense of standing outside is a tremendous asset to homes in a dense community.
5. Sweat the Details
Although multi-family living spaces can be challenging to distinguish in a competitive market, a meticulous and thoughtful execution of even the smallest details can set your building apart.
Having logical placement of controls, smart devices, aligned fixtures, soffits that make sense without odd bump-outs, small upgrades to lighting, adequate storage space, full height kitchen cabinets, and good sound attenuation can make for a living environment people will desire.
Work With ThoughtCraft to Design Your Multi-Family Building
We’d love to explore your next project and help you design your next multi-family building with spectacular units adding value beyond the status-quo approach.
If you're interested in working with us at ThoughtCraft, schedule a call with our team below.