This Small Kyiv Apartment Feels Much Bigger than It Is — Thanks to Giant Mirrors

The most recent home tour is of the lead designer and founder of VN Studio Nataliia Lymar‘s 484-square-foot apartment, located on the third floor of a residential complex built in 2019 on the outskirts of Kyiv.

“Of course, the war affects everyone’s life, and no one is safe here in Ukraine. For instance, on July 31, a missile attack damaged the residential complex where Nataliia’s apartment is located — the blast wave shattered her windows. Fortunately, Nataliia and her neighbors were unharmed. They have replaced the windows and cleaned up everything. Life moves forward,” Nadia continues.

It was actually the windows and the abundance of natural light that first attracted Nataliia to this unit, She describes the space as having a lovely sense of calm. “From the windows, you see a modern city unfolding, but inside, everything feels serene and deeply personal. I discovered this home online after a long search for a space that could balance functionality with emotional warmth,” Nataliia writes.

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“What I love most about it is how every element serves a purpose,” Nataliia continues. “The layout was carefully reimagined — the living room was extended by integrating a loggia, now my home office, and the bedroom entrance was reconfigured to create a more open flow. I’m especially fond of the Japandi-inspired aesthetic: soft natural tones, tactile materials like wood and linen, and the quiet harmony between minimalism and comfort.”

Nataliia’s layout reworking certainly makes the small space feel much larger than it is. But she also included a lot of other brilliant ideas, like two large custom mirrors that multiply the home’s natural light.

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But while it’s a minimal, well-designed space, the apartment is packed with meaningful pieces. “My dining table, crafted from a walnut tree that once grew in my family’s yard in Uman, anchors the space with emotional resonance,” Nataliia. “Artworks by Ukrainian artists — calligraphic pieces and poetry that celebrate cultural roots — infuse the home with meaning. Each corner reflects my belief in beauty through authenticity and imperfection. This is not just an apartment; it’s an oasis that restores me and holds the essence of who I am.”

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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