Renovating a small apartment in Mallorca has its tricks. In these spaces, every decision matters more than it seems: a poorly placed piece of furniture can make your living room feel cramped, bad lighting can make everything seem smaller, and if you don't plan well, you'll end up with the feeling that nothing fits together. That's why many people look for small apartment renovation ideas that will actually improve daily life and not just look good in photos.
If you're thinking about giving your home a new look, but don't know where to start, here you'll find practical and easy-to-apply tips to make the most of every square meter.
What kind of renovations best improve a small apartment?
When it comes to renovating a small apartment, it's best to focus on practicality. You don't need to transform the entire house to notice a big difference. Often, it's those well-thought-out adjustments that make all the difference: opening up a space, moving a partition wall, remodeling a bathroom…
Small gestures can make a small apartment feel more spacious and comfortable.
Combine kitchen and living room to gain light and space
This is the star renovation for small apartments. Removing a partition wall and combining the kitchen and living room completely transforms the feeling of spaciousness. By renovating the kitchen, more light enters, the apartment feels more open and airy, and the social area becomes much more inviting.
However, everything must be checked by a professional to ensure that the partition is not structural and to relocate sockets, water outlets or ventilation without improvising.
Renovate the bathroom with functionality in mind
A small bathroom can be greatly improved with a good renovation. Sometimes simply replacing the bathtub with a shower is enough to create more space, or installing a narrower vanity unit to free up more room in the center.
The use of light materials, large mirrors, and warm lighting that opens up the room is also very noticeable.
Improve storage without recharging
The key here isn't to fill every wall with furniture, but to choose the right pieces. Tall wardrobes, built-in shelves, or multifunctional furniture work very well in small apartments.
The truth is that having a good storage system saves a lot of headaches and avoids that feeling of constant chaos.
How to distribute a small apartment to gain usable space
Laying out a small apartment requires a lot of ingenuity and a bit of everyday logic. It's not just about moving furniture, but about thinking about how you actually move around the house. In small spaces, every meter counts, and any poorly placed wall can make the apartment seem smaller than it is.
Therefore, before you start throwing anything away, it's a good idea to observe how you use the living room, whether the kitchen feels too small, or if the bedroom could feel more spacious by changing the bed's orientation. Small changes that completely transform the feeling of spaciousness.
It's all about creating a smooth flow of movement. Hallways that don't feel cramped, doors that don't bump into furniture, and everyday areas that don't get in each other's way.
In many small apartments, opening up the kitchen to the living room works very well because it removes visual barriers and lets in more light. It also helps to choose furniture that doesn't visually weigh down the space, light colors, and well-designed vertical storage.
And, to be honest, sometimes a little partitioning is needed to make everything really fit together.
How much does it cost to renovate a small apartment?
Calculating how much it costs to renovate a small apartment in Mallorca has its nuances, because prices here move a little differently than on the Peninsula.
Between the cost of materials, skilled labor, and island logistics, the final budget can vary more than you might imagine. Even so, there are fairly realistic ranges to guide you and prevent any unpleasant surprises later.
For most complete renovations of small apartments, the cost typically ranges from €650 to €1,100 per square meter. This includes updating installations, renovating the kitchen and bathroom, replacing flooring, painting, and preparing the apartment for move-in.
What permits do you need to renovate a small apartment?
Obtaining permits to renovate a small apartment isn't as complicated as it seems, but it's important to be clear about the city council's requirements to avoid wasting time and getting any unpleasant surprises. Even if the work is "small," it's still considered a home renovation and must comply with regulations.
Here's the essential information, explained simply:
- Works without structural impact: in these cases, if you are only going to change floors, doors, paint or update the bathroom without moving important elements, a prior notification or a declaration responsible for minor works is usually sufficient.
- Renovations involving changes to the layout: although… if you plan to demolish or build partition walls, you'll usually need a minor works permit, provided those partition walls aren't structural. In these cases, the City Council typically requires a simple plan and a clear description of the work.
- Impact on installations: Moving plumbing, electrical wiring, or the bathroom may require additional documentation. It's true that some municipalities require a technical report signed by a professional to verify that everything complies with regulations.
- Common elements of the building: if the work touches the facade, patios, downpipes or communal facilities, in addition to the license, you need permission from the community of owners.
- Debris removal: hiring a container and disposing of the waste at an authorized site is almost always required. It's not a permit per se, but it is a procedure that must be planned for.
At Tecnic Project, we are specialists in apartment renovations in Mallorca.
Renovating a small apartment in Palma de Mallorca might seem daunting, but with good planning, everything falls into place much better than you imagine. After so many projects on the island, we know where renovations tend to get bogged down, which materials work best, and how to make the most of every square meter without complications.
If you're looking for a team that communicates clearly and supports you from the first sketch to the final touches, then look no further. At Tecnic Project we are specialists in apartment renovations in Mallorca and we can help you shape your home thoughtfully and smoothly.
