Condo interior design
A smaller footprint asks more of every decision. Condo design balances storage, flexible furniture, lighting and a sense of openness with the realities of a shared building.
Discuss your project
The useful starting point
Start a condo design project with the existing layout, your strata documents and the changes you want to make. Keep building permissions, construction logistics and design decisions in the same conversation, rather than treating approvals as a final step.
Design around the fixed elements
Columns, glazing, mechanical equipment and plumbing locations may shape the options more than a mood board does. Verify measurements and discuss which elements can change before committing to cabinetry or furniture. Built-in storage should leave room for circulation, service access and the objects you actually use.
Make room for changing routines
A dining area might also be a workspace; a spare room might need to welcome guests and store equipment. Test those uses on a furniture plan. Consider the clear space around chairs, where doors open, how curtains stack, and whether pieces will fit through the building and into the unit.
Plan the building side of the project
Ask the strata manager for the current alteration process, work-hour rules, flooring requirements and contractor procedures. Strata permission and municipal approvals are separate questions. Confirm elevator reservations, material deliveries, protection of common areas and waste handling with the relevant parties before scheduling construction.
What a scope can include
- A layout that respects measured constraints
- Integrated storage and furniture planning
- Finish and lighting coordination
- An agreed list of renovation drawings
- A record of building information still to confirm
Bring these details to the conversation
- Unit plan and approximate ceiling heights
- Current strata renovation documents
- Photographs of fixed services and equipment
- Delivery and elevator constraints
These are examples of useful project information and deliverables. Your written agreement defines what is included for your property, the applicable fees and each professional’s responsibilities.
Before you begin.
Can an interior designer approve my strata renovation?
The designer can help prepare information within the agreed scope, but approval comes from the strata and relevant authorities. Ask who will prepare, submit and track each application.
Can good design help without moving walls?
Often the most useful improvements involve furniture scale, storage, lighting and a more consistent finish palette. Explain what frustrates you about the current space so the design brief can focus on changes that matter.