This 680-Square-Foot Condo Proves Small Spaces and Color Can Coexist

For designer Amber Guyton, the most important thing is for her clients to see themselves reflected in their homes.

"Every person, regardless of how much they make, deserves to love where they live," Guyton says. "To be able to walk in your home and just see a collection of things that represent you, that make you feel good, that make you feel safe, that is my ultimate goal when I'm designing a space."

The designer and founder of Blessed Little Bungalow took on a 680-foot Atlanta condo during the pandemic, transforming a plain space into one full of personality and style for her client, who had relocated to the city.

"My vision was to be a true reflection of her, her love for artwork, her love for being a feminist," Guyton explains. "She loved clean lines, but wasn't afraid to be a maximalist with color, and mid-century modern style."

With only two bedrooms and one bathroom to work with, Guyton focused on making sure the apartment was functional and had plenty of storage first, and then layered on color.

Though some may shy away from using colors other than neutrals in a smaller space, Guyton made sure bold color choices were present throughout the home and encourages anyone to try adding colorful touches too.

"Pick a color you love," Guyton says. "Pick one that makes you feel good. Focus on the emotion versus the looks. It's okay to experiment. Paint can be labor intensive, but it's the cheapest mistake you can make."

The living room came together based on her client's existing collection of art. Guyton didn't want the gallery wall to be too "matchy-matchy," but the quirkiness of her client's style allowed Guyton to feel a lot of creative freedom in the space as a whole.

"I knew her comfort level with whatever I threw at her, she would be open to it," Guyton says. "The rug we put in her living room, it's a traditional rug, but then there's a cheetah laying on top. There are some clients, I wouldn't put that in front of them unless it was a kid's bedroom, but I knew she would love it."

Given the size of the living room, storage was important. Guyton added a larger media console with lots of functional storage to the space as well as a nightstand to the side of the couch. The space also acts as an entryway so it was important to create a spot to hang up keys, coats, and bags by the door.

Though the kitchen offers a breakfast bar, Guyton wanted to carve out space for a proper dining table. She added a small bistro table and two chairs so her client would have a more grown-up eating area.

"I try my best, even if everything ends up being brand new in a space, I don't want it to feel that way," Guyton explains. "I want it to feel like this was truly curated."

In the kitchen, the duo opted not to paint over the cabinets, and instead, updated the cabinet hardware, added pendant lights, brass features, and pink patterned wallpaper.

"I love the warmth of [the drapes in the kitchen], and how it kind of echoes the sofa and the rug in the adjacent room," Guyton says. "She wasn't nervous about mixing patterns and just playing with different colors." 

For the bedroom, Guyton opted for a moody "boutique hotel" aesthetic with deep, rich colors and a floral wall mural behind the headboard.

"When I walk into my bedroom, I kind of want it to envelop me," Guyton says. "This is a place for me to calm down and breathe and the weight is off my shoulders."

Guyton employed the same philosophy for her client's room, creating a dreamy, luxurious space that feels like an escape.

The bathroom ties the whole home together, with familiar pops of yellow and rose against a deep, jungle-inspired wallpaper.

"Making a space feel like a Crayola box just makes me happy," Guyton says.

The small size of the home was the biggest challenge for Guyton during the design of this project. The second bedroom functions as both a home office and a guest room, so Guyton had to be strategic about the layout and furniture brought into the space, opting for a sofa bed for future guests.

"If we're gonna take up space, the new piece of furniture has a job," Guyton explains. "It has to add ease to her life or solve a problem versus just being something that looks pretty."

No matter the size of your home, adding color is a way to bring joy to any space.

"What's going to make you smile when you walk in?" Guyton asks. "What's going to take the weight off your shoulders? What's gonna inspire you in your home office or get you ready to fall asleep in your bedroom? If you focus on that and find a color that speaks to it, then that's a great place to start."