8 Creative Ways to Decorate a Mini Flat in Nigeria
How do you describe a Mini flat?
A mini flat is an apartment that consists of 1 bedroom, a sitting room, a kitchen and a bathroom with toilet. It is similar to what we Nigerians call “a room and parlor”, the similarity being that all the facilities mentioned above are inbuilt in the apartment.
They are popular in densely populated urban areas, where space is limited and rental cost are relatively high. Due to their smaller size, such homes are more budget-friendly compared to larger apartments. The rent cost of a mini-flat in Nigeria ranges from N150,000 to N500,000 depending on the the quality and location of the apartment.
Mini-flats has served as an escape route for some Nigerians in the aspects of funds saving and also the troubles of Self-Contained houses otherwise known as “face-me-I-face you” lifestyle.
So, if you don’t have a big budget but still want an aesthetically pleasing home with a touch of luxury, In this blog post we have explored everything you need to know about a Mini flat and creative ways to decorate it.
8 Creative Decorative Ideas for a Mini Flat
1. Floor to Ceiling Curtains: With this you can always install your curtains close to the ceiling and use floor length curtains for a luxurious feel and to elongate the visual height of the room, creating a more spacious look, you could also hang light sheer curtains as high as possible on your ceiling, it helps make your room feel brighter, taller and larger.
2. Above the ground furniture: This helps to give you a minimalist and airy feel as opposed to huge and bulky furniture’s such as cupboards, shoe racks or bulky cushions. It makes your space feel clustered and smaller than it actually is. Installing wall mounted shelves instead of bulky bookcases which frees up the floor space and draws the eye upward, creating an illusion of height. But if you must, pick out one bulky furniture and make it the focal point of the space.
3. Lighting: For a more cozy vibe, make sure to Incorporate both indirect and direct light sources besides the big light of your ceilings to really bring life to the space e.g. floor lamps, bedside lamps and kitchen cabinet lights for an ambient vibe.
4. Rugs: This is a crucial element in designing your home, bigger rugs to be exact. They are better options than smaller rugs. This is because smaller rugs tend to make your space feel and look smaller than it actually is. A good rug size is one that is wide enough to have all furniture placed on it and not outside of it.
5. Art: Strategically placing your art is so underrated and it can actually transform any space. The use of Portrait pictures, Led strip lights, Leaf vines, Fairy lights, Wall stickers, Glow in the dark star stickers, Photo wall collage could be of great help in beautifying your mini-flats.
6. Choose a neutral color palette: Choosing the right color palate for your home is ideal when decorating, make sure your furnishes and all other accessories follow through with that same palette. Too many colors can make a room look busy.
7. Big mirrors: Mirrors are a must have! Reflections creates depth and with a mirror, you would get that. You can get an ideally minimal frame for maximum reflection. Mirrors reflects more light and makes the space look instantly larger and beautiful. Side note: it is also great for mirror selfies too.
8. Less is more: Get rid of all the unnecessary items out of your room which will make your apartment feel so much larger, appealing and a lot less clutter. A clutter free home is a home that is full of only the things you love and use, a home that serves you not stresses you out.
Decorative Ideas for a mini flat
Characteristics of Mini-Flats
1. A Very Comprehensive Living Space: Mini flats provides its residents with a comprehensive and standard living arrangement, offering separate areas for guests coming over to your place for a hangout, it also offers a separate bedroom which is a perfect break free from the rest of the living areas and also a separate area for cooking, and personal hygiene.
2. The Concept of “Room and Parlor”: The mini-flat concept is tending to make one think of the traditional “room and parlor” arrangement which provides a private and self-sustained living space.
3. A Compact Layout: The layout of a mini-flat optimizes space, making them appropriate for individuals or small families looking or a compact living environment which is also functional.
4. Affordability: They are known to be generally cheaper and affordable to purchase compared to larger apartments.
5. Little maintenance: It requires less cleaning and maintenance because they are smaller in size.
6. Easy to Decorate: With less space to furnish and decorate, it is easier to make your mini-flat looks stylish, cozy and bigger.
Mini Flat Locations for Rent In Nigeria
There are several locations in Nigeria where renting of such homes are very popular. Bustling cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port-Harcourt are known to have more of small living spaces because of its enormous population. In Lagos, you find this type of house in locations like Iyana Ipaja, Ojota, Lekki, Ajah, Ikeja, and Oshodi.
In Abuja, you find such homes in locations like Garki, Asokoro, Jabi, Gwarinpa, and Kubwa.
In Port-Harcourt, you find such homes in Rumuola, Rupkokwu, Woji, and Ada George/AGIP.
Who is a Mini Flat Ideal for?
1. Mini flat is typically for those with low and average source of income and they can only afford a lower cost of living with less maintenance.
2. Individuals who tend to travel often and are in need of a minimalistic apartment.
3. It is suitable for newly wed couples just starting out and in need of a cozy environment.
4. Mini flats are also suitable for individuals or couples who prioritize affordability and simplicity in their housing choices.
5. Lastly, it is for student who do not intend on living inside their school’s hostel and are in need of manageable space to stay which is close to their school.
Decorating a Mini-flat is all about balance and smart choices.
Remember, it’s not just about making it look good, it’s about making it functional for you at the same time. With these tips, you can transform your mini-flat into an aesthetically pleasing and efficient space.
At Facibushousing, you’ll find a range of flat sizes to suit different needs, from cozy havens to more spacious options that rival some one-bedroom places.
Frequently Asked Questions on Mini Flat
- How do you arrange a mini flat?
To arrange a single room, make use of multifunctional furniture, make use of vertical space, measure and plan your layout, and let there be proper lightings.
- What Is the meaning of mini flat?
A mini flat is a small self contained apartment that consists of 1 bedroom, a sitting room, kitchen, bathroom, and toilet. It is commonly found in Nigeria.
- How much does it cost to build a small house in Nigeria?
On average, it takes about 3-10 million naira to build a small house in Nigeria considering land purchase, building materials, cost of labor, design, and architectural fees.
- What is self contained flat?
A self contained unit of accommodation is one which consists of a cooking area, bathroom and toilet inside it for the exclusive use of the household living within the unit.