Design of a minimalistic 47 m² one-bedroom apartment in grey tones for a student

Interior design and replanning project: transforming a standard one-room apartment into a functional two-room 47 m².

Interior style — contemporary minimalist design with a focus on natural concrete textures, in a trendy monochrome palette of gray tones.
Layout — designed for a university student.
Location — “Primorsky Kvartal” residential complex, Saint Petersburg.

Our task

Transform a standard studio with a separate kitchen into a fully-fledged, ergonomic two-room apartment, featuring a spacious kitchen-living area, a separate bedroom, and built-in storage systems.

Original layout

Before the transformation, the apartment had several common issues typical of standard plans:

Inefficient hallway: a dark and oversized entry area taking up valuable square meters.
Poor zoning: illogical and potentially hazardous routes inside the apartment. Problematic “bottlenecks” with a cluster of doors and narrow passages causing discomfort.
Lack of privacy: a single room serving both as a living room and a bedroom.

New layout

Thanks to our replanning, the apartment has gained entirely new qualities:

New status: It is now a full-fledged two-room apartment, making the most out of every square meter.
Spacious common area: We created a unified, multi-purpose kitchen–dining–living space of 20 m². Zoning clearly distinguishes each functional sub-area — kitchen, dining, and TV zone — and there’s also a comfortable workspace.
Private bedroom: a cozy separate bedroom of 12.1 m² ensures restful sleep and privacy, even when guests are over.
Optimized entryway: the hallway area is used efficiently, with a convenient, wide entrance into the living space.
Logical circulation: routes within the apartment are now intuitive, simple, and safe.
Spacious bathroom of 5.6 m², large enough to accommodate a washing machine and dryer.
Thoughtful storage: compact yet capacious built-in storage systems help declutter the space.
Functional loggia: the 5.6 m² loggia has been transformed into a home office — ideal for a university student.

Design

The interior style is contemporary minimalism.

Color palette: a monochrome range of gray tones dominates — from very light, almost white, to deep, near-black. This creates a restrained, elegant backdrop. Benefits of a gray-based interior: – Dark tones add depth, expressiveness, and drama, playing with shadows. – Light tones reflect more light, making everything feel more spacious. – Together, they create visual cohesiveness. – Additionally, it is highly practical in everyday use.
Textures: smooth matte kitchen fronts, textured walls with a concrete or micro-cement effect, and stone/marble imitation with white veining on the countertop and backsplash.
Furniture: clean, streamlined shapes. Built-in handleless wardrobes and flat fronts create a sense of unity and visual clarity.

Lighting

The lighting design is carefully thought out and plays a key role in shaping the space.

Layered lighting scenarios: the apartment features a multi-level lighting system that allows for different moods and scenarios depending on the time of day.

General lighting:

Track lights: black ceiling track systems with adjustable spotlights. This not only looks modern but also allows you to direct the light exactly where it’s needed.
Recessed spotlights: compact ceiling lights provide even ambient lighting.

Functional and decorative lighting:

Hidden LED lighting: in the bedroom, concealed LED strips create a “floating wall” effect and add a soft, relaxing glow. In the kitchen — under-cabinet lighting illuminates the work surface.
Wall sconces: stylish wall lights in the living room and bedroom serve both as decorative accents and functional reading lights.
Accent lighting: a desk lamp is used for task lighting at the workspace, while vertical decorative slats in the living room are highlighted to emphasize texture.

Result

As a result, this apartment offers a stylish, modern, and thoughtfully designed space — ideal for a young female student, perfectly suited for daily life and welcoming guests.

Want to turn your apartment into a tailored, cohesive space?

We’ll help you create an interior that truly works for you: with a clear logic and timeless design. Book a free consultation and learn how to transform a standard one-room apartment into a comfortable home you’ll love living in every day.