Residential / Compact Loft Renovation · 2026
50 sqm Loft
A 50 sqm loft apartment in Shenzhen with one bedroom and a renovation budget of around RMB 200,000. Both owners work in graphic-design-related fields and care about function and aesthetics, but they chose to let the interior design respond to the space itself.
- Location
- Shenzhen, Guangdong
- Year
- 2026
Design concept
Before the renovation, both the kitchen and bathroom were extremely tight. The kitchen was only a narrow passage with a low beam and several drainage pipes, while the balconies were underused. The design removes the partition between the kitchen and bathroom to create a four-part bathroom, turns one enclosed balcony into a Chinese kitchen, opens the living and bedroom area into a larger main room, and adds a compact island, full-height dining storage, entry partition storage, and a tatami corner for occasional guests.
- Loft renovation
- Open-plan living
- Four-part bathroom
- Island and dining storage
- Balcony reuse
- Pet-friendly storage
Project Information
A one-bedroom, 50 sqm loft apartment in Shenzhen, Guangdong, with a renovation budget of around RMB 200,000. The design was completed before the 2020 pandemic, while construction was delayed and finished later.
Key Changes
The original kitchen and bathroom were both very small. The kitchen was only a narrow passage with a low beam and several drainage pipes, while the balconies were underused. The design removes the wall between the kitchen and bathroom to create a four-part bathroom, encloses one balcony as a Chinese kitchen, and opens the living and bedroom area into a larger main room.
Entry and Stair
A slim shoe cabinet and full-height entry cabinet increase storage and shield the view into the home. Warm wood-brown walls keep the entry from feeling too plain. The existing stair was kept and refreshed with timber treads and a glass guardrail; the space under the stair was adapted into a concealed litter-box corner.
Living Room and Island
The living room keeps a white wall for projection instead of using a television. The 1.2 m island is compact but useful for water, fruit washing, and drinks during gatherings. The island and dining table remain separate so the small space can be rearranged. A full wall of dining storage keeps daily appliances such as a coffee machine and oven easy to access.
Tatami and Bedroom
The former balcony outside the bedroom becomes a tatami corner for occasional guests or visiting parents. Only the outer side uses drawer storage, while the inner structure is built more economically. The upper bedroom remains simple, with only the bed and circulation space, because most leisure activities happen downstairs.
Kitchen and Bathroom
The kitchen uses tile only at the cabinet backsplash and waterproof paint elsewhere to control cost while keeping a matte texture. The bathroom combines a 1.4 m vanity, mirror storage, bathtub, shower, laundry appliances, and cleaning storage. A custom linear drain replaces the threshold, keeping the shower floor flatter and easier to maintain.
16 images
Project gallery
