We’ve been somewhat remiss in featuring content from Never Too Small, the site that teaches and encourages you how to slow down, wind down and downsize. We like the site because it is a perfect road-map to shaking off your fifteen room mansion and bursting forth into a new simpler, more sustainable and freeing lifestyle. Can you see yourself stepping out the front door of your apartment building on to the steps of Paris or Rome or even Japan? You can do it, and you’ll be soooo glad that you did. Watch below.
Of course IKEA is everywhere when the time comes to decorate, but Europe is also chock-full of weekend flea markets and shops that will fit you to a T. JYSK, H&M Home, Maisons du Monde, and Habitat are all top options.
As the video shows, From attics to ateliers, minimalist retreats to Technicolor playgrounds, these are eight of our favourite small apartments in Paris. From a heritage flat reimagined with a bold, luxe ’70s twist to a playful live-work home complete with a retractable staircase and hammock.
You’ll also find a bright, Scandinavian-inspired apartment with a mustard-accented home office nook, and a unique open-plan loft centred around a 4.2-metre-high grey box—housing hidden rooms and custom furniture made by friends, including a 3D-printed coffee table inspired by Super Mario. Though they differ in style, each of these homes shares the joy of living small—through reinvention, creative constraint, and small-space ingenuity in one of Europe’s densest cities.
Taking some time and renting a place to get the lay of the land is the best first step. Our affiliate friends, VRBO have a huge inventory of locations to stay. Have a look here.
Take the train to Paris. Be smart. Our affiliate friends OMIO have rail everywhere. To book, click here.