Ask and you shall receive! Like three months later, sorry about that.
When I first moved to Trondheim a bunch of people asked to see apartment photos and I promised they would come, though I guess I secretly assumed that no one really wanted to see my home and everyone would eventually forget about it. But apparently some of you didn’t forget, so this post is for you! As for everyone else, uh, this is probably super boring, check back on Monday for something a bit more exciting (like the fact that it’s SNOWING outside right now!!).
It felt like Dan and I looked at apartments for ages, but actually we only spent three days apartment hunting. As soon as we got to Trondheim (where we were staying with a Couchsurfing host for our first 10 days) we found listings on Finn.no of places to look at. We didn’t know anything about Trondheim’s neighborhoods, so it was an interesting way to get to know the city – as in, we saw a lot of the suburbs.
The cheapest option was to live in a basement or attic apartment in someone’s house, which usually seemed to cost between 7,000 NOK ($800) and 8,000 NOK ($1000), including electricity and internet. Some of the apartments were quite nice, but I couldn’t ever seem to stop comparing them to the first apartment we saw in Trondheim, which we had quickly dismissed as too small and too expensive.
At 25 m² for $1,200/mo excluding electricity and internet (nope, no internet here!) it was less practical, but it had huge windows, a beautiful bathroom, and was right in the center of Møllenberg, Trondheim’s prettiest neighborhood. I mean, how could we not take it?
Dan had brought a lot of his things from England and I had a few posters from my house in Japan, but we didn’t have any furniture. Now, furnishing an apartment, even if it is teeny tiny, in one of the world’s most expensive countries seemed a daunting task, but our Couchsurfing host explained that “the only thing you need to pay for in Norway is food.”
What? Okay, it might have been a bit of an exaggeration, but I guess when people are so well off they don’t need to sell their stuff, they can just give it away. At least that’s what a second look at Finn.no suggested. We found a dining table, couch, and lamp for free, and another lamp, a tv, and a coffee table for like, $50. The rest of our furniture came from the previous tenant who was moving to China and didn’t need it anymore.
Wondering where our curtains are? Well, curtains don’t actually seem to be a thing here. A lot of people do have them (and we should probably get some), but it’s considered really strange to ever close them. Which means that everyone can see into our place, which I’m only okay with because it means that I can also see into everyone else’s homes, and I do love spying on people!
And then there’s Dan’s favorite thing in the apartment (made from his old pillowcase – dorky much?):
No longer carrying my life around in a backpack makes me wish that I had at least sometimes bought some souvenirs on my travels – it would be so cool to have bits and pieces from them scattered around my home. But I do have two rugs I bought while studying in Nepal, and a purple longyi that Dan’s Burmese students gave me in Yangon.
An old SAS poster that I, weirdly, found in Japan,
and two pillow cases that I bought in Laos. That’s it!
Not pictured: our bathroom (I thought that might be weird to include), which is nearly the size of the rest of our apartment. Sort of a waste of space, except it’s so nice having a beautiful, spacious bathroom! I think it’s my favorite room in the place, mostly because the floor is heated. Dan may have once even found me napping on those cozy tiles…
While at times it’s a pain to live in such a tiny space (like when everything we own starts to smell like curry), for the most part I really love it. We’ve split it up into different spaces so when I’m on the bed hidden behind a plant and Dan is at the dining table it sort of feels like we’re in different rooms (almost), and I think I will always prefer to have as few things as possible. Ugh, stuff, who needs it? Well, besides books. And plants. And artwork. And beautiful furniture. And, if Dan has his way, a cat.
Okay, maybe someday I’ll want to live in a bigger place.
29 Epic Things to Do in Tromsø, Norway
Arianna says
ooooo, how cute! You have done a GREAT job! It´s so personal, so elegant and funny at the same time!
I love all the carpets and how you used colors!
Hem.. isn´t it weird looking into other people´s houses?? I mean: I love spying too (ups), but I HATE when other people look inside my house =)
https://pandaonavespa.wordpress.com/
Silvia says
Haha I guess it is a bit weird being to see into people’s homes, but somehow because you can see into pretty much all the homes it makes it less of a big deal, and probably also makes me less inclined to spy. Though I do wonder what my neighbors think of all the dancing I do in the kitchen!
Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki says
I didn’t even think about the curtain thing until now but it is so true, no one ever closes their curtains here. Love how bright and open your apartment is!
Silvia says
When we first got to Trondheim we Couchsurfed and one night I closed the curtains in the living room before going to bed and the next morning our host mentioned that that’s not really done here. I hadn’t though about it before either!
Emily says
You guys did a great job making such a small space work! And I’m jealous of the heated floors in your bathroom. Niiiice!
Silvia says
The heated floors are soooo nice!
Nick @ concrete and kitsch says
Bigger spaces are overrated! Plus, smaller spaces are so on trend with the tiny house movement. I find that as I get older (30-something now, and aging rapidly), I want smaller and smaller spaces. Less to clean!
Seriously, my husband and I share a 900 square foot house with three surly rescue dogs, and it sometimes seems like too much room.
But compliments on the place, it’s totally cute! 🙂
Silvia says
Haha that’s awesome! I would love to squeeze a few dogs into our place, but it might be just a teeeeny bit too small for that, ha.
Christina - CavaforLunch.com says
What a cute flat! And you should be happy, you’re staying in one of the best (and prettiest!) areas in Trondheim. Don’t worry, I’m not a stalker – but my friend lives nearby your street 🙂 I love your Nepalese rugs by the way!
Silvia says
Haha creeper! No, it’s true though, Møllenberg definitely seems to be one of the prettiest areas in Trondheim, I just love it 🙂
Melanie Fontaine says
I’m definitely one of those snoopy people that love getting a glimpse of other people’s apartments! 😉 I love how well you guys made use of the space that you have – makes me look at my own place (which must be slightly smaller than your apartment) and realize how much space I’m really not using effectively! I also love all the colorful accents, I’m sure they’re going to come in handy in winter! 😉
Silvia says
The couple living here before basically had the place set up like a dorm room – instead of sectioned off – which helped inspire us to try to do more with the space! I think it’s worked out really well.
Elizabeth @ Something Saturdays says
Wow, you have done an incredible job with such a small space. The layout is great, plus the windows, natural light, and bright colours really make it welcoming!
P.S. I recognize that white dresser from IKEA. We bought it for our new place too. haha
Silvia says
That’s so funny! The dresser is one of the pieces we got from the former tenant, so I didn’t know it was from IKEA. Then again I’m pretty sure our entire apartment is from IKEA, including the stuff we found online for free, because there’s a store here in Trondheim, haha.
Mary B says
I get sucked in by impractical things like “character” and big windows, too! It’s adorable… and I think that a cat might be just the finishing touch that it needs 😉
Silvia says
Glad it’s not just me – windows are so key! And as soon as we can get a pet friendly apartment I think a cat will be coming soon.
Lauren Lalicon says
Your apartment looks absolutely cozy! I love studio apartments! How did you find all the furniture for free? Is there a website or people just left it on the street? You’d never be able to find all that in the US haha. & I love that people leave their curtains open. I wish that were the feeling here in the US but horror movies make me feel differently lol
Silvia says
We found it all on Finn.no! It’s definitely filled with better stuff than I ever found on Craigslist in the U.S., haha.
Petra says
Very nice and colourful touches to your apartment, even if it’s small.
You’ve made me miss Trondheim and the snow. 🙂
Silvia says
Trondheim is pretty special in the snow 🙂
Justine says
At first I was really jealous when I read that the tiles in your bathroom are heated. And then I realized that it is so hot in my apartment at all times that I pretty much have heated tiles too! Ha, there are no curtains on my kitchen windows and it’s kinda awkward whenever I’m peering into my neighbors house and they catch me staring at them. And it’s SUPER awkward when I catch them staring at me. I think the fact that we all have bars on our windows (this is Phnom Penh after all) makes it extra creepy. Like we’re two prisoners just leering at each other. Eh, I still don’t plan on buying curtains…
Silvia says
Hahaha no, you do NOT want heated tiles in your bathroom in Phnom Penh! Um, the bars definitely sound just a bit creepy, but I probably wouldn’t bother getting curtains either, ha.
Anca | Globaloud says
I fell off my chair when I read the rent price for the apartment. It’s exactly 4 times higher rent than I pay for mine. It’s crazy how expensive Norway is.
And curtains, I hate them. I think I’m the only one that’s not using them in Croatia. I don’t even care if everyone can see me.
Silvia says
Yeah, Norway is definitely expensive! But then incomes here are also so much higher that it ends up being cheaper to live here than a lot of places in the world – if you have a job here, that is!
Edna says
That’s actually about what rent costs in Paris, so I was like “oh Norway is totally less expensive than I thought!” and then corrected myself, no, Paris is just way more expensive than most cities haha
Silvia says
Haha true story!
Marta Chan says
Its incredible how creative people get when only have a small room and make the most of it, Congrats!
Now that I moved to Lisbon I also wish I could have more stuff from my travels but I didnt think I would kidda Seattle one day.
My house is about 60 years old so the windows are pretty old white wood, so pretty that I decide not to have any curtains. I also love all the light getting in!
Silvia says
I love the light getting in too! Who needs curtains?
Astrid says
Hi Silvia, I love your apartment. Although mine is bigger (and cheaper because I live in Austria), it is kind of awesome how similar my place looks to yours. I also have photos everywhere and colorful souvenirs all over the place. 🙂
Silvia says
Oh that’s so cool! I guess it’s not a surprise that travelers apartments would look similar like that 🙂
becky hutner says
Silvia, your place is beautiful. You guys should enter it into Apartment Therapy’s “Small Cool” contest!
PS — have I mentioned our British guys have something in common? A fiery love for Arsenal!
Silvia says
Noooo that’s so exciting! Because I’ve been told over and over again that Arsenal fans are the best. I just told Dan that your husband is a fan (because I talk about other bloggers like they’re my friends so he knows who you are, is that creepy?) and he said “of course he his.”
Joella says
Oh yay! I am so excited to see your apartment. I do love a good house tour (I may or may not be addicted to House Hunters International right now..). It looks lovely- so welcoming and cosy. You mentioned Dan brought some things from the UK- did he ship up those books? If so, I am so jealous! I had a huge book collection once but donated most of them to charity stores a few years ago.
Silvia says
I left most of my favorite books in Japan and I still miss them, so I feel your pain! Dan actually rented a car and drove up to Norway and back (in 72 hours!) to bring all his stuff, mostly because he had a very fancy bike he wanted to have here. I also stuffed my backpack with books when I visited my parents in October – so worth it!
jennfier says
I love it! Your apartment looks more homey and furnished than mine does and I have been in mine since 1998. 🙂 I envy your heated bathroom floors. Sigh.
Silvia says
Haha I think the tiny size helps to make it look super furnished!
Nicole | Treasure Tromp says
What a cute apartment, I love it!
Silvia says
Thanks, Nicole, you’re so sweet!
Yosemite says
Okay but
How is it so clean
Is it always that clean
Ugh teach me
Yosemite says
Oh also we have that dresser and that square shelf thingie at the foot of your bed too!! Twinsies across the world. And/or #Ikea
Silvia says
It actually is always this clean, because Daniel. And the dresser and shelf came from the previous tenants, so don’t go thinking we’re real twinsies, gross. Except that I’m totally going to go out a buy a woolen blanket tomorrow!
Victoria@ The British Berliner says
Awww! Your apartment is really cute. I love the wooden floors and the colourful cushions! I wouldn’t worry about the curtains. I’m British and even though I live in Germany, I don’t use curtains either. We do have them in the bedroom though which woud be a bit too quirky without, but you know, it’s Germany sooooo!
p.s. We have heated floors too and they’re delicious but do watch the energy bill. We almost had a heart attack when our bill rose dramatically and we couldn’t see why, as we’re quite stoic with too much warmth in the house as I have a heat allergy. I know!
Anyway, love your new apartment. 🙂
Silvia says
Yeah I’m definitely a bit nervous about the energy bill in winter, though in the summer it was under $10 so it seems like our tiny apartment doesn’t really use too much lol. Hopefully!
Rachel says
Your apartment is so cute! How strange that no one closes their curtains, it makes it so much cosier in the winter.
I know exactly what you mean about everything smelling of curry because it’s such a small apartment, I have the exact same issue in my van. I bloody love Indian food though, so it’s a case of opening a window or to and hoping the breeze blows it fresh!
We totally do the same ‘two’ room thing, even in the van! C will be on the bed watching something on his laptop and I’ll be working away at the table, we can pull a curtain across between us!
Silvia says
Haha I’m glad I’m not the only one constantly smelling like curry! I love the curtain idea too, haha.
Ashley says
This apartment is adorable – I love the decor! And I would kill for heated floors!
Silvia says
The heated floors are definitely my favorite!