This loft-style apartment in the Porta Monforte neighbourhood of Milan is a great example of how to make the most of a smaller space. A huge window dominating one side of the address floods the interior with natural light and intelligent architectural features — such as the open staircase and the chic railings on the mezzanine level — ensure that this illumination reaches every corner. Not only that but the kitchen is cleverly concealed away for added efficiency, too. We appreciated the masses of inbuilt shelving that's home to decorative items and house plants to create a lived-in feel, and the sleeping area on the mezzanine is welcomingly large, too. The location has a lot going for it as well. It's just far enough away from the city centre for the local area to not feel too touristy, but you can walk into the middle of Milan in about twenty minutes and go shopping at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

Home truths:
*There's no oven in the kitchen, only a microwave and two hobs
*The open staircase might be tricky to manoeuvre for guests with reduced mobility
*The shower is only 180cm high, which is alright for most, but taller guests might have to stoop slightly