Small-space living

38-square-meter wonder! Interior architect Emilia Lonka made the most of her cozy mini-home with spot-on choices

“The apartment is big enough for the necessary furniture and small enough not to tempt me into buying things I don't need,” Emilia says. She decorated her rental home as a reflection of herself with lighting, art objects, and textiles. Thanks to its layout, the studio feels bigger than it is.

Author Paula Saini

Images Vanessa Forstén

June 1, 2025Lue suomeksi

Rattan chairs designed by Aino Aalto around a teak dining table — Emilia loves slow cooking and enjoys hosting casual get-togethers for her friends. When extended, the teak dining table can be turned around, and at most, it has seated 15 guests. It's a vintage Asko piece from Tori online marketplace. The rattan chairs, designed by Aino Aalto in 1939, were originally in Emilia’s father’s childhood home. The lamp is Sonora by Oluce.

The street in Helsinki’s Vallila neighborhood is lively, but this courtyard-facing apartment remains peaceful. Light filters in beautifully through the birch leaves swaying in the breeze. Interior architect Emilia Lonka’s home is a mirror image of its resident: intentional, playful, and cozy. Emilia has successfully furnished her rental home to reflect her own style with the help of lighting, art objects, and textiles. The floor plan of this mini-home is varied, and the atmosphere feels airy. Light-colored surfaces create a sense of space in the narrow living room.

For Emilia, a new phase in her life prompted a move. The new home offers her a positive and inspiring environment amid the chaos of everyday life. Home is important because it’s where you can be completely yourself.

Emilia Lonka in her kitchen — Emilia’s happiest moments at home often take place in the kitchen, with dear friends gathered until the wee hours.

Who lives here Interior architect Emilia Lonka, 29. Instagram: @emilialonka.

home A rental apartment in a building completed in 1929, designed by architect Lars Sonck in Helsinki’s Vallila. It has 37.5 square meters.

A half-wall divides the kitchen into its own space away from the living room. — The wall that previously divided the apartment is now half gone. This solution offers privacy in the living room and separates the kitchen into its own space, yet the two areas remain connected. Emilia’s self-designed Madame lamp has a blue shade, because it was her favorite color at the time.

Home means to me…

A point of reference, security, possibilities, and freedom. I try to approach life and existing in general with joy and humor, which extends to my home as well. I love the city life that buzzes around me, but at home, I crave peace and quiet. Even though the apartment is on a bustling street, you can rarely hear more than the courtyard's sounds and birdsong inside. This apartment offers peace and a sense of safety with it's calmness. Through my windows, I can see tall birches in the courtyard, allowing me to watch the seasons pass.

My home says about me…

Who I am. Every object is here because I wanted it, not because something is trendy, socially acceptable, or logical. I love life, color, stories, and authentic materials. I’m put off by pretense, stiffness, and overly smart or practical furniture choices. Not everything has to match perfectly, because I can scatter objects and furniture behind corners in different spaces. This 37.5-square-meter apartment is the perfect size: big enough for the necessary furniture and small enough not to tempt me into buying things I don't need.

In the kitchen, a tray from her grandmother and unique flea market finds — Emilia hunts for fun and distinctive items at flea markets. She’s drawn to rattan pieces and quirky animal figures. The tray from her grandmother dates to the early 1900s.

IKEA serving cart extending the storage space in a small kitchen — A small IKEA serving cart extends the tiny kitchen’s storage capacity and can be rolled around as needed. Open shelves make it easy to reach everything.

The space-saving star in my home is…

The kitchen. Even though the actual workspace is limited, the dining table and kitchen cart let me cook large meals. A big, deep sink, an efficient induction cooktop, a small oven, and a quiet dishwasher are pure luxury and make working in a small space smooth and comfortable. There’s plenty of storage, thanks to the old built-in cupboards, which are deep and roomy. One of them even holds the fridge and freezer, saving more space. Overall, the apartment’s entire layout is a space saver. A small square footage can still fit full-size furniture without feeling cramped.

Emilia sitting on the sofa under a paned window — One of the best features of the apartment is its view of the large, lush courtyard. Emilia doesn’t feel she needs curtains, even though the view opens up to the building across the way in winter. She loves the gentle soundscape and warm light. “I love how the morning sun filters through the birch trees all the way to the alcove,” she says.

Small furnishings and a light-colored sofa in a long, narrow living room — Small-scale furniture is perfect for narrow spaces and can be moved around as needed. Emilia’s self-built furniture reminds her of her student days; the Pill coffee table is made of ash. She found the Valtteri Lipasti artwork at a recycling center, and the well-preserved Ligne Roset sofa came from Tori online marketplace.

As a decorator, I am…

Random and driven by emotion. I buy items and furniture that spark a strong feeling in me: joy, confusion, sometimes even irritation—at it's best, if something is ugly enough, it might become intriguing. I’m most drawn to forgotten items in the dark corners of flea markets. I sense their potential and dare to bring them home. Their hidden beauty emerges in the right environment; the harmony between chaos and order fascinates me. Often a find reflects my life at that time, and the purchase sparks a memory. My home is a layering of different phases of my life.

A sleeping alcove with colorful textiles at the far end of the living room — At the far end of the living room is a sleeping alcove. Emilia didn’t want to close it off but preferred to include the bed as part of the living area. She decorates in layers: objects from different times in her life contain memories, stories, and lived experiences. The Slowdown Studio bedspread is from My o My, and she sewed the floral pillow from Marimekko’s Karuselli fabric.

Metal table used as a plant stand — She found this metal table at a thrift store for about ten euros. Emilia was attracted to its handmade charm, with slightly uneven legs and all. The black vase is from her grandmother.

Most special about my home is…

The morning sun, the silence, and the sense that I’ve always lived here. Plus, every square meter is super efficient. My home is technically classified as a studio, yet the clever layout makes it feel like multiple rooms. I’m not a huge fan of open-concept spaces; I prefer walls, hallways, and corners because they create interest, security, and atmosphere. They don’t have to mean cramped living. My home feels bigger than it is. I never get tired of it because you can’t see everything at once.

Ceramics and glass displayed on the windowsill — A collection of ceramics and glass sits on the windowsill. The vase with drawn-on patterns is from Buenos Aires, and the pink clay piece is Emilia’s own work. The zebra fish was made by Emilia’s aunt. The candlestick was a flea market find, and the green mini-vase is from Marimekko.

What's impractical here is…

The living room’s somewhat tricky, elongated shape, which leaves little options on how to arrange the furniture. I don’t let it bother me, though, because the right pieces will find their spots. The fridge can also feel too small, but I’ve learned to work with it.

My worst purchase is…

Every single houseplant. I just can’t keep them alive. Luckily, there are tall birches right outside my window, so from spring to fall, all I see is green.