Need design inspiration for your apartment’s interior?

Then you seriously need to consider working with an interior designer.

Our team of interior designers can help you plan, design and coordinate the renovation of your apartment’s interiors and personalise it to your taste.

They can also help style your home so it is more functional and ensure it matches your lifestyle.

Revamping your interiors is also a practical option for apartments, where structural works are either too expensive or simply not possible. It is also a cost-effective alternative to more involved structural works, like a kitchen or bathroom renovation.

But first, let’s clarify what an interior designer does…there is some confusion to what they actually do.

What exactly does an interior designer do?

Interior designers do so much more than make your apartment look pretty. Depending on the project and agreement they have with you, an interior designer could be responsible for any or all of the following:

• Meeting with builders and architects and/or builders to discuss your project
• Developing designs for your project according to a brief agreed with you
• Creating plans, working on drawings or 3D visuals of your project
• Researching materials, finishes, lighting, and soft furnishings
• Helping to select materials for your project
• Inspecting and supervising the work of tradespeople to ensure workmanship is up to standard
• Ensuring project budgets and deadlines are met

What to expect when working with an Interior Designer

Like any professional, it is good to know what to expect when it comes time to work with an interior designer. Here is an idea of what to expect from the relationship:

• The first step is a meet and greet where you get to establish a relationship with them and identify what design elements you like – and don’t like.
• It is important they know your taste so you need to be honest and open with them otherwise, you could waste time in the design phase of the project.
• They will then do a walkthrough of your apartment and talk through your project.
• They will also use paint and fabric swatches, and catalogues to get an idea of what you like.
• From this, they will create plans, sketches or 3D visuals of your project, which you provide feedback on and then approve.
• An interior designer will then help you select everything from paint colours to fabrics, window treatments, furniture, accessories and much more. They could even have exclusive access to trade items and be able to get you a discount.
• They will then liaise with our team of tradespeople to ensure everything is installed and carried out to the project brief.

It’s important to keep an open mind when working with an interior designer. You may not like all their ideas or choices, but when the whole project comes together you will appreciate the vision.

Modern apartment interior design trends

The interior design of your apartment is personal – so you should always select materials and colours that you like rather than follow trends.

But it is good to know what is happening out there, and you are then free to cherry pick what elements suit your apartment and style.

Apartment Interior Design: Kitchen Trends – Think Function, Design, & Clever Storage

In the kitchen, interior design trends are changing and moving away from all white, gloss kitchen cabinetry.

Today matte finishes replace the gloss, and warmer, natural tones – like grey, olive, and green – are replacing the more neutral palettes.

Apartments, where kitchens tend to be smaller, are hiding appliances like the fridge and dishwasher, behind cabinetry. This makes the space look less cluttered, and also makes it easier to clean up.

For kitchen benchtops, there is also a trend away from neutrals to more textured and industrials surfaces. Here market leader Caesarstone’s Metropolitan collection is a good example, incorporating ‘textural effects, aged patinas, and oxidized accents’ – for a distinctly earthy, industrial feel.

Taste in kitchen splashbacks is also changing, with tiles – especially subway tiles – making a comeback behind the cooker. People are also running the benchtop surface – often a quartz stone – up the wall, for a seamless look.

In terms of kitchen design, the trend is to layouts that make accessing food, cooking and cleaning up afterward easier.

Ergonomic and easy to reach locations for your dishwasher, microwave and any other appliances you use regularly – are a must.

Kitchen designers are also maximising storage by making sure every inch of space is utilised, by taking your cabinets to the top of the ceiling to help maximise storage space, or by installing a larger bulkhead where the existing room cornice can wrap around seamlessly.

Apartment Interior Design: Bathroom Trends – Think Comfort, Easy Cleaning, & Style

Your bathroom is a retreat from the world, where you go recharge – so it needs to be a comfortable, stylish and practical.

The current trend is to incorporate natural materials like timber into the bathroom. Terrazzo – a mixture of cement, marble and pigments – as well as marble is also popular for vanity surfaces and walls. Like quartz, it is very durable and easy to clean.

Colour palettes are also nature-themed, with forest greens and light greys popular.

When it comes to fixtures and fittings dark polished black or navy add visual contrast, interest and look very stylish against plain white or neutral tiles.

For basins, the double trough is here to stay, while a freestanding bathtub is also a must have – though this may not always practical in an apartment bathroom.

Mirrors in the bathroom are another trend that never seems to go away. For smaller apartment bathrooms this is a must as they can help reflect light and make the room seem much bigger.

Lighting is also important in a bathroom, and here the trend is for energy efficient LED that covers all your general and task lighting needs.

Apartment Interior Design Trends: Bedrooms – Think Comfort & Clothing Storage

Like the bathroom, our bedrooms are a retreat from the world and need to be comfortable with ample storage for clothing and accessories.

If you like simple, then you can opt for a serene bedroom that has minimal fluff but is big on clean lines and full of neutral textiles, and accessories that are special to you.

The other current colour trend for bedrooms is bold and dark colours, especially for a feature wall, contrasted with an equally bold, contrasting bedhead.

For bed linens, you also don’t have to spend a lot to be on-trend. Brands like Target and IKEA are not only affordable but have ranges which offer quality and style.

Bedding fabrics to look out for include cotton waffles, linen cotton blends, and cotton.

Modern wardrobes are all about clever storage, and now have a whole range of customisable options including adjustable shelving, drawers, and unique space options for every item of clothing or accessories.

Apartment Interior Design Trends: Living Rooms – Think Space, Integration, Family Hosting

Like the bedroom, colour is making its way into our living rooms. You can do this using paint, artworks or with accessories or soft furnishings like cushions, rugs and window treatments.

The trick is to first create a colour palette that works and then use it to pull together all the various elements. This is when an interior design team can help – with advice on what will work in your space.

In terms of fabrics velvet – which feels and looks luxurious – is very on trend. Organic and artisanal – or handcrafted – items are also popular, particularly bespoke furniture, ethnic rugs, throws and handmade textiles.

Also check out earthy sisal carpet, which is very dense and tough – and looks and feels great underfoot.

Apartment Interior Design laundry trends – Think Clever Storage, Efficiency, & Simplicity

The modern laundry is a world away from the damp, dingy version of old. The trend is for smart storage that helps simplify your life with ample space for linen, clothing and other household products.

There also needs to be room for accessories like drying racks, retractable clothesline, and laundry bins.

The latest laundry appliances are not only energy efficient but also have the features to handle all the fabrics and care instructions you can throw at them. To finish your laundry off have them hidden behind sleek easy to clean cabinetry.

Renovating an apartment for sale

If you are renovating an apartment for sale you need to take a different approach when renovating a home you are going to live in.

Your focus needs to be on projects that are going to appeal to as many buyers as possible. That means knowing what buyers in your area are looking for, and what features homes in the area will have. You also need to be careful not to overcapitalise and spend too much on your reno – and blow any chances you have of making a profit.

Rather look to value for money projects like revamping your interiors with a fresh coat of paint or new flooring – so you get the best ROI.

Renovating in strata: be prepared

Be aware that if you are renovating an apartment or unit you need to work with the prevailing rules in your strata.

Depending on the laws in your strata this could even apply to an interior design makeover, particularly if it impacts common property.

Even though you may own the property, you don’t own the whole title like you would with a house.

This is why it is essential that you understand the strata approval requirements that apply in your building – as well as other factors like noise restrictions and the practical logistics of the project before any renovation work commences.

Read our section on strata by-laws to learn more and how they apply to renovating an apartment in a strata plan.

Taking the headache out of an apartment renovation

We help make it easier to work with your strata committee by providing all the relevant documentation in our Renovations Solution PDF, which details all of our company licenses and insurances.

This document includes our NSW Contractor Licence: 239324C and NSW Company Licence: 286234C, as well as our public liability insurances and warranties.

We submit this, together with the full scope of works to your Owners Corporation – which makes it easy for them to view our credentials and approve your project asap!

Why choose us for your interior design project?

Need some reasons why you should work with us on your apartment revamp?

• By working with you in the planning phase we also help work out a detailed budget that takes everything into account – so there are no surprises down the track.
• We also project manage your reno from start to finish, and deliver your project on time, to budget & high standard.
• You deal directly with us, which mean no sales reps or chasing tradies. We also use a network of top-notch interior designers, tradesmen, and contractors for all our projects. Needless to say, they are experienced licensed professionals who take pride in the work they carry out.
• We coordinate everything and make it happen – read about our works process here – which takes the stress off you.