Colour Class #10 — Transforming tiny spaces with colour

In the tenth edition of our Colour Class series, we explore a unique space located in the heart of Copenhagen, where the old city meets the harbour and gardens. This session focuses on transforming a very narrow and small area into a cosy, homely, and creative environment.

The challenge was to design a space that serves as both a mini showroom and office for Color Connaisseur, offering ample storage and functionality.

In this class, we discover how a thoughtful approach to design can maximise a tiny space. By incorporating a few large elements, we create visual depth, proving that even a few square metres can be filled with vibrant colours and dynamic patterns. Join us as we turn this compact area into a charming and functional haven.

Location: In the heart of Copenhagen, where the old city meets the harbour and gardens.

Mission: To create a cosy, homely, and creative atmosphere in a very narrow and small space devoid of any decorative details. Additionally, the space needed ample storage and functionality to serve as a mini showroom/office for Color Connaisseur.

Colours: Overlooking the greenery of Sankt Annæ Plads and the statue of King Christian X on horseback, there is a tiny space within a beautiful old building. Unfortunately, none of the original details remain in this room, so the task was also to breathe new life into it.

The small showroom is less than 2 metres wide and approximately 6 metres long, divided into two rooms. The first is the public space, where colours can be studied, and meetings can be held. The second room is more private, featuring a desk, a mini kitchen, and plenty of storage.

Many might choose to keep everything simple and neutral in such a small space, but the approach here was to fill it with colours, patterns, and art, ensuring the eye is never bored and reaching a point where "more is more" becomes "more is less".

A custom-made marble table in red and cream tones not only became the focal point for the room's decor but also the starting point for the colour scheme. Since the first room needed to be suitable for studying colours, the ceiling and upper walls were painted a creamy white to prevent reflections on colour samples. A panel was installed on the walls to divide them, and this section, along with all the panels and the door, was painted a warm and bold orange – a power colour.

The second room is designed for focus and depth. Here, everything except the floor was painted a single colour – a warm beige that creates a cosy, intimate atmosphere and serves as a perfect backdrop for the many colours the small room contains. For example, one wall is filled from floor to ceiling with Montana modules in the colour Hokkaido, creating a mini kitchen and storage for everything from paints and brushes to a coffee machine and Murano glass, as well as large art prints and mood boards.

To visually unify the two rooms, the floor was painted a beautiful deep red, bringing all the colours and patterns together and creating a sense of calm. Throughout both rooms, colours weave in and out, creating a cohesive unit. This allows visual space for colourful chairs, cabinets, and all the showroom's colour samples while still appearing calm and unified.

The lesson in this small showroom is that in a tiny space, a few but large elements can create visual space – and a few square metres do not have to mean a few colours.