8-square-metre apartment in Belgrade sparks flood of reactions on social media
A Belgrade designer shows how bed, kitchen and storage fit into eight square metres — viewers praise the ingenuity and question long-term livability.
Rising real-estate costs have pushed micro-apartments into public conversation — and a recent video from a Belgrade interior designer showing a full layout compressed into eight square metres has reignited debate online.
Design choices and how the space works
According to the author, every centimetre was planned to fit daily life necessities. The layout includes a folding wall bed that converts into a living area during the day, a compact kitchen with a fridge, sink and worktop, storage for dishes and food, a wardrobe near the entrance with a mirror to visually enlarge the space, shelving for shoes and room for a mini washing machine. There is also a folding table for work or meals and access to a roof surface that can serve as a tiny terrace.
Light colours, mirrors and carefully placed lighting were used to enhance the impression of space. The designer described the project as an experiment to test how much functionality can be packed into just eight square metres.
The clip was posted on Instagram and rapidly gathered views and comments, with some users praising the creativity and efficient solutions while many others expressed scepticism about the livability of such a small unit for long periods.
One commenter recalled longer experience in compact housing and warned against it: "When I lived in Hong Kong, I was in a ten-square-meter apartment. There was almost everything you see in the video and I can say I would not recommend that life to anyone."
Other reactions ranged from ironic to blunt: "Better to live on the terrace." "The important thing is not to have suitcases." "A prison cell has more space." "From what I understand, this is a flat in a wardrobe?" "This only works in Japan. Here it’s too much." "When a guest comes, you have to go out." "I think it would be better if the person could sleep standing up here." and some supporters added, "Respect." "This is perfect for me, since I’m never at home."
While some see such compact designs as a potential direction for dense urban living, others argue that no layout can fully replace the psychological and practical benefits of more generous living space.
Photo: press material from the event
