How to Design a Two-bedroom Apartment: Criteria, Regulations, and Examples

Are you ready to transform your two-room apartment design from concept to reality? This comprehensive guide provides essential insights and professional tools to elevate your architectural vision. Discover critical design standards, explore innovative layout strategies, and leverage a cutting-edge 3D architectural design software to bring your project to life.

Two-room apartment project | Render created with Edificius

Discover the essential principles for creating functional and aesthetically pleasing two-room apartments, focusing on the most popular sizes of 40 and 60 square meters. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the critical design considerations, compositional strategies, and regulatory requirements that transform a simple living space into an optimal residential solution.

You will be able to download the 3D BIM model of:

• 40 m² two-room apartment;
• 60 m² two-room apartment;

Two-Room Apartment: Definition and Characteristics

If a house is very small in size, at least two possibilities arise in the basic choices of the project:

1. the ‘studio model’, with maximum openness of spaces, focusing on the interchangeability of functions (read the article ‘How to design a 40 m² studio apartment‘);
2. or well-defined environments and functions, overcoming the limits imposed by the reduced size with ad hoc strategies, with a living room and sleeping area occupying independent rooms.

And it is precisely this second solution that defines the two-room apartment.

A two-room apartment is a space-efficient residential solution featuring two primary functional areas: the sleeping area, with a bedroom, and the living room/kitchen.

60 m² two-room apartment-floor plan

A two-room apartment represents a compact and efficient housing solution specifically tailored for couples.

Design of a two-room apartment, dimensional criteria and national and international regulations

Habitability requirements for apartments and living spaces are complex regulatory frameworks that vary significantly across different jurisdictions. These regulations may have national relevance in some cases, while in others they may be regional, district, or even municipal, as in the United States or Spain. The key Determining Factors are:
– Number of residents
– Minimum space requirements
– Health and safety considerations
– Occupancy density limits

two-room apartment dimensions – BIM architecture software Edificius

Let’s look at some examples.

Examples of minimum surfaces, minimum heights, and light-air ratio according to national or local regulations

Spain – Madrid

• 38 m² two-room apartment
• 25 m² studio apartment
• 6 m² bedroom for 1 person
• 10 m² bedroom for 2 people
• 10 m² living room
• 2.50 m minimum height
• Openable window area > 12% of the floor area
• Natural ventilation area > 8% of the floor area

Download the COMPENDIO DE LAS NORMAS URBANÍSTICAS of Madrid

Brazil

• 6.60 m² bedroom for 1 person
• 7.50 m² bedroom for 2 people
• 8.60 m² living room
• 2.50 m² bathroom
• 2.50 m minimum height
• 2.30 m minimum height for bathrooms and pantries
• Openable window area > 10% of the floor area
• Natural ventilation area > 5% of the floor area

Download the guide for architects on the application of the ABNT NBR 15.575 regulation

United States – New York City

• 150 ft² (14 m²) studio apartment
• 80 ft² (7.5 m²) bedroom
• 8 ft (2.43 m) minimum height
• Natural ventilation area > 5% of the floor area

Access the 2014 Construction Code of New York City

United Kingdom

• 70 ft² (6.5 m²) bedroom for 1 person
• 110 ft² (10.20 m²) bedroom for 2 people
• 160 ft² (15 m²) living room
• 7 ft. 6 in. (2.30 m) minimum height
• Openable window area > min 5% – max 25% of the floor area
• Natural ventilation area > 5% of the floor area

Download the Housing Act of 1985 which contains the minimum habitability requirements

Design principles for two-room apartments

Designing a Functional and Harmonious Two-Room Apartment requires these essential design principles:

1. Minimalism and strategic organization: small spaces benefit from a minimalist approach, with essential and well-organized furnishings to avoid clutter and create a visually larger environment.
2. Color psychology and spatial perceptions: light and neutral shades visually expand spaces, while darker colors can be used to create accents and define different areas.
3. Illumination design: the use of LED lights, pendant lamps, and directional spotlights helps enhance environments and create welcoming atmospheres.
4. Materials and texture dynamics: choosing reflective materials, such as glass and glossy surfaces, helps diffuse light, while alternating textures adds character and depth to spaces.
5. Furniture optimization: extendable tables, sofa beds, and modular furniture allow for space optimization without sacrificing comfort.
6. Cohesive aesthetic approach: to avoid a chaotic effect, it is advisable to maintain a common thread between the various environments, using a consistent style among furniture, colors, and decorations.

By following these principles, it is possible to transform a two-room apartment into a welcoming, efficient environment with a strong aesthetic impact, significantly improving the quality of life for its inhabitants.

Two-room apartment design – Edificius

Space-saving furniture solutions

Intelligent apartment design transforms a compact two-room space into a masterpiece of efficiency and comfort. By strategically leveraging multifunctional furniture, vertical storage solutions, and minimalist design principles, you can create an environment that maximizes every square centimeter without feeling cramped. Some innovative space-saving techniques include:

1. Adaptive and multi-purpose furniture
   • The use of furniture with dual functions is one of the most effective strategies for saving space.
   • Murphy beds or loft beds: they allow for freeing up space during the day and creating a larger living area.
   • Sofa beds: ideal for hosting friends or family without having to dedicate an entire room to the sleeping area.
   • Extendable or folding tables: great for adapting the space to daily needs, usable as a desk or dining table.
   • Storage ottomans and benches with storage compartments: practical solutions for hiding blankets, books, or other items without taking up visible space.
2. Strategic wall utilization and ceiling-height storage solutions. When floor space is limited, walls can become a valuable ally:
   • Wall-mounted shelves and floating shelves: perfect for storing books, plants, and decorative items without cluttering the floor.
   • Full-height wardrobes: utilize space up to the ceiling, increasing storage capacity.
   • Beds with storage or raised structures: allow for using the space underneath to store clothes, shoes, or luggage.
   • Hooks and wall bars: useful in the kitchen or entryway for organizing utensils and accessories without resorting to bulky furniture.
3. Sliding doors and flexible partition walls
   • Sliding or bi-fold doors: replace traditional hinged doors, reducing the space needed for opening.
   • Mobile partition walls: solutions like double-sided bookshelves or sliding panels allow for separating environments without losing brightness and airiness.
   • Curtains or Japanese panels: lightweight and economical alternatives for creating temporary divisions between living and sleeping areas.
4. Compact yet functional kitchens and bathrooms
   • Built-in appliances: dishwashers, refrigerators, and washing machines integrated into furniture reduce bulk and improve aesthetics.
   • Pull-out countertops and drop-leaf tables: perfect for small kitchens, allowing for work surfaces only when needed.
   • Walk-in showers and wall-mounted fixtures: solutions that enhance the perception of space in small bathrooms.
5. Strategic mirror placement for sisual space expansion:
   • Strategically placed mirrors: reflect natural light and give the illusion of larger spaces.
   • Light and neutral colors: amplify brightness and make the space appear airier.
   • Transparent materials: glass tables, polycarbonate chairs, and lightweight shelving keep the environment visually more spacious.

With these solutions, even a two-room apartment can help maximize perceived space, while maintaining aesthetic sophistication.

Two-room apartment project – Edificius

Example of a 40 m² two-room apartment project with description and 3D model download

The project represents a masterful choreography of form and function, carefully orchestrating every square meter of the living space.

The layout of the accommodation is rectangular, with a longer side of about 8.60 m and a shorter side of 5.70 m, and is divided into two areas: living area and sleeping area.

40 m² two-room apartment – floor plan

The entrance is located on one of the longer sides and leads directly into the living area, which is the focal point of the housing unit.

Two-room apartment project | Render created with Edificius

The living area occupies about 18 m², configured as a completely open space and hosts both the kitchenette and the living room, as is often the case in the functional layout of a two-room apartment. On the shorter side, the door opens to the sleeping area and the services.

The hallway connecting the 3 rooms occupies the least possible space, in order to respect the minimum sizing of the living room and bedroom, according to the provisions of the ministerial decree of July 5, 1975.

All connection spaces are equipped with wardrobes, in order to make the most of the passage areas. All habitable rooms are equipped with openings that comply with the air-lighting ratios required by regulations.

To enhance the quality of the spaces, modern and functional furnishings have been chosen, along with colors and materials in neutral and bright tones.

Two-room apartment project | Render created with Edificius

Download for free the project of a two-room apartment of 40 m² and try to create your BIM model with Edificius.

Download the 3D BIM models (.edf file) of the two-room apartment project of 40 m²

Example of a project for a two-room apartment of 60 m² with description and download of the 3D model

The accommodation develops over a rectangular area, of about 60 m² net, with the longer side equal to 10.00 m and the shorter side of 6.00 m.

The floor plan can be discretized through a series of rectangles connected to each other. The service areas and the corridors occupy a regular strip that winds along the two adjacent sides of the rectangular plan.

2D floor plan organization of two-room apartment – BIM architecture software Edificius

The entrance to the accommodation is separated from the rest of the living space by a sort of screen that prevents anyone entering from having an immediate and complete view of the living room and kitchenette. From the entrance hallway, one can access the living area through two lateral openings adjacent to the screen, and to the sleeping area and services through a door located to the right of the entrance.

Night area

The living room is strongly characterized by the chromatic contrast of white bricks and chocolate-colored walls, along with the design of the ceiling that starts from the entrance, incorporates the brick backdrop, and divides the space into two. The use of color, in this case, helps to create movement within a unique open space that hosts a kitchenette, dining area, and living room.

From the hallway, you access the main bathroom and the bedroom, approximately 14 m², with an attached walk-in closet and private bathroom.

If you are interested in other projects, read also

• Apartment Renovation Project Guide
• Loft Design, Technical Guide with DWG Examples.

two-room apartment section – BIM architecture software Edificius

Download the free project of the 60 m² apartment and try to create your own BIM model with Edificius.

Download and try Edificius, the 3D architectural design software

Download the 3D BIM models (.edf files) of the 60 m² apartment project