How many square meters of your home are “stalled”? Often, when I enter my clients’ properties for an inspection, I see rooms, taverns, or small inherited apartments used simply as “accumulation zones”. Boxes, old furniture, dusty bicycles.
In technical jargon, we call them underutilized spaces. In economic terms, they are money left on the table.
Especially here in the Belluno valley, where tourist demand is growing strongly (especially in the summer season, but not only), transforming a “giant storage room” into a hospitality facility is one of the smartest real estate moves you can make today.
In this article, I explain how we transformed a studio apartment of just 35sqm into a revenue machine, optimizing every centimeter.
The Challenge: Is 35sqm too small?
It depends on how you design it. The secret of short-term rentals (vacation rentals) is not to offer a palace, but to offer functionality. The tourist visiting our province is an “explorer”: they use the apartment as a base camp.
What are they really looking for?
- Extreme cleanliness.
- A comfortable bed.
- A spacious shower.
- Independence.
The Project: Layout and Distribution
For this intervention, we worked by subtraction and ingenuity. Here is what cannot be missing in 35sqm to rent out quickly:
- Minimal but Complete Kitchen: You don’t need a chef’s kitchen. We installed a compact block with induction plates, a fridge, and a microwave. The modern tourist often eats out or heats something up on the fly.
- Sleeping Area: A real double bed (no uncomfortable sofa beds that bring negative reviews), visually separated or divided with smart furniture from the living area.
- Smart Wardrobe: A niche or custom-made cabinetry for suitcases and jackets.
- The Bathroom: It is your business card. Wall-hung sanitary ware to facilitate cleaning and a comfortable shower.
The Upgrade: How to aim for the high end (and raise prices)
If you want to distinguish yourself from the competition on Airbnb or Booking and increase the daily rate, it is not enough to offer a bed. You must offer an emotion. Even in small sizes, a well-studied project can integrate elements of absolute value:
- Private Wellness: Where possible, inserting a small sauna or a whirlpool tub (even outdoors if there is a terrace or garden) completely changes the guest’s perception. They are no longer renting a room; they are renting a private SPA.
- Gourmet Welcome: Quality is seen in the details. Having a bottle of chilled Prosecco in the fridge and a basket of typical local products ready is not a cost; it is an investment that generates 5-star reviews.
- Premium Services: Reserved car parking (essential!), fast Wi-Fi, and a latest-generation TV.
These touches transform a simple studio into an exclusive suite, attracting a clientele willing to pay more for quality and pampering.
The Extra Idea: The “Laundry” Cellar
The real stroke of genius in small spaces is exploiting the annexes. In 35sqm, the washing machine would have stolen vital space or created noise. We therefore renovated the attached cellar, transforming it into a laundry area with a washing machine and washbasin. Result? More space in the house for guests to relax and an essential service guaranteed (fundamental for those staying more than 3 days).
Do you have an empty space that only costs you taxes?
Don’t let your property become a warehouse of dusty memories. Accumulation zones can become beautiful and profitable if designed with a technical eye and entrepreneurial vision.
However, small spaces do not forgive errors: mistaking the position of a wall or the opening of a door in 35sqm means making the property unlivable.
Do you want to understand if your space has potential? At BGroup Studio, we always start with a concrete analysis. Contact me for a consultation or a Feasibility Study: we will evaluate together the intervention costs and profit margins to transform your empty square meters into active income.
