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Why Hong Kong’s tiny apartments are getting a luxury makeover

Millennials and solo dwellers are driving a trend of compact, high-spec spaces with acres of innovative storage

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The undulating “spine” of this ADRO-designed flat in Hong Kong provides storage and guides the occupants from the entrance towards the bedroom corridor. Photo: 1kmstudio

Published: 4:15pm, 20 Mar 2025Updated: 6:06pm, 20 Mar 2025

Hong Kong has long been infamous for its tiny living spaces. But small homes are becoming increasingly fashionable, with owners prioritising design and furnishings to ensure that comfort is not sacrificed. While affordability is still a factor in one of the world’s most expensive real-estate markets, designers say buyers of flats under 600 square feet are more willing than ever to splurge on their interiors.

Alice Cheung, co-founder and creative director of abt design studio, cites a lingering flight to luxury spawned by the pandemic.

“When people moved to working from home during the Covid lockdowns, they began to spend more on interior design and furniture to make their apartment their dream home,” she says.

Vertical storage space and “spine” lends a sense of organisation to the compact apartment and was designed specifically to the clients’ requirements after taking an inventory of their possessions. Photo: 1kmstudio

Household demographics in Hong Kong are also changing from the multigenerational norm of the past. Not only are younger millennials aspiring to a home of their own, they are also more likely to be going solo. According to online statistics portal Statista, the number of single-occupancy households reached 20 per cent of the total in Hong Kong in 2023, from 13.4 per cent in 2000, and that trend is increasing.

So, what does a small flat big on style look like?

Adrian Chan, founder of Adrian Chan Design and Research Office (ADRO), cites bespoke features for both practical and aesthetic reasons.

The second bedroom has a custom, motorised, fold-out bed, leaving it free of furniture for yoga, meditation, reading or light workouts. Photo: Steven Tsui

“Smaller flats actually require bespoke features because sometimes it is difficult to source nice furniture that fits into a small space,” he says. “Also, owners want the feeling of luxury, but unfortunately high-end furniture pieces are usually bulky. With a custom order, it’s easy to recreate a luxury look with speciality finishes and interesting curved forms, scaled appropriately for the space.