How a woman lives in a 500-square-foot apartment with 2 roommates, a dog, 100 houseplants - and zero clutter

Joey HaddenFeb 26, 2021, 05:24 IST

Bruna Mello is a tiny apartment renter in South London.Courtesy of Bruna Mello

Bruna Mello lives in a two-bedroom, 530-square-foot apartment in London with her spouse and a roommate.
Even though her small apartment also houses a dog and 100 plants, Mello hasn't held back on decor.
And the home doesn't look cluttered, thanks to clever storage hacks and the use of vertical space.

Bruna Mello lives in a 530-square-foot apartment in South London with her spouse, friend, and dog.

Bruna Mello and her pug. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

It's a small space for three people, but Mello manages to make it work with her maximalist decor style.

Mello's living room opens to the outdoor space. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

"I am not a minimalist," she told Insider. "I love collecting things."

Hanging baskets from flea markets around London. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

Mello collects plants. About 80 of them live inside, and the other 20 live in her 215-square-foot yard.

Mello's greenhouse cabinet. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

To keep her apartment from feeling small while maximalizing the space, Mello strategically hides her clutter.

The living and dining space. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

In the entryway, a cabinet against the wall displays her plants and decor ...

Mello's entryway. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

... while storing shoes on the inside.

Shoes go in the entryway cabinet. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

In the living room, Mello added wall shelves to display more of her collectibles.

A view of the living room from the couch. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

Underneath the couch cushions, there is storage space for Mello's extra duvets, blankets, and pillows.

Hidden couch storage. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

Similarly, down the hall in her bedroom, Mello's bed has pullout drawers that store clothing and linens.

Hidden bed storage. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

Mello keeps her bedroom just as colorful and lively as the living space. "Playing around with colors gives more life to the room," she said.

Mello's bedroom. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

That's why she painted her kitchen cabinets a bold blue.

Mello said having a washer in the kitchen is common in the UK. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

Inside the cabinets, Mello uses additional shelving to make use of the vertical space.

Inside Mello's cabinets. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

The bathroom has more hidden storage space, and the laundry basket stores her towels.

Mello's bathroom storage solutions. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

Back in the living room, a door opens to the yard.

The door to the yard. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

The yard is less than half the size of the interior, and it has a storage shed.

The outdoor space. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

While she identifies as a maximalist, Mello said one of the best things about living tiny is how it keeps her grounded.

Mello watching her plants grow. Courtesy of Bruna Mello

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