Article: Gelu's Guide On How to Make a Small Space Work with Pets
Gelu's Guide On How to Make a Small Space Work with Pets
When you step into Gelu’s apartment, the first thing you notice isn’t the size.
It’s the calmness.
Forty-two square meters. A hand-built mezzanine bed. A dog curled into the softest spot on the couch. A cat watching everything from the window like she’s on night duty. The small space feels intentional, lived-in, and quietly warm, like a home that has learned how to breathe.
“The biggest challenge of living in a small apartment?” Gelu repeats the question, then laughs softly.
“Keeping it tidy. It gets cluttered really fast. You really have to pay attention to every detail, all the time.”
That attention shows up everywhere. In the way the lighting softens the room. In the way the bed fits perfectly into the architecture. In the way Coco waits patiently for a blanket, already knowing it’s hers.
Table of contents
Small Space Living Forces You to Choose Better
Gelu and his partner built their apartment themselves. Every corner was measured, re-measured, and questioned.
“Because it’s limited, we had to think in advance what we really need,” he says.
“And what we don’t need too.”
There’s no excess here. No furniture without purpose. And yet, the space never feels strict or minimal for the sake of it.
“When you have a lot of space, you just throw things randomly,” Gelu explains.
“In a small place, it’s more curated for sure.”
The bedroom reflects that mindset most clearly. It doesn’t compete with the rest of the apartment. It anchors it. Designed not to impress, but to support sleep, closeness, and those quiet moments when the day finally slows down.
Gelu's Picks To Make Small Spaces Work
Why He Built the Bed Instead of Buying One
The bed wasn’t bought.
It was built.
The original plan was a Murphy bed, something that could disappear during the day. But practicality won.
“If we did that, we would have lost space,” Gelu says.
“So we decided to make the mezzanine.”
The construction itself was fast. The thinking wasn’t.
“The frame took maybe four hours,” he says.
“The stairs took a full day. Planning the angle was the hardest part.”
He pauses, then smiles.
“Our hope was that the dog would use the stairs. But I think we were delusional.”
Coco, their six-year-old dog, refuses completely. She sleeps on the couch instead, wrapped in blankets like it’s a full-time job.
“She’s a comfort master,” Gelu says.
“If you give her a pillow, she’s very grateful.”
A Men’s Bedroom That Feels Like a Cozy Cave
Sleeping in the mezzanine feels different from a standard bed.
“It’s warmer up there,” Gelu says.
“Especially in winter. It’s darker. Quieter.”
He doesn’t describe it as playful or temporary. He describes it as safe.
“Like a little cave,” he adds.
“I love sleeping in darker places.”
The bedroom gets morning light, then settles into soft shadow by afternoon. At night, warm lamps take over. Nothing harsh. Nothing overhead.
“We’re much more thoughtful with lighting now,” he explains.
“It creates this cinematic, comforting atmosphere.”
This is where the bedroom becomes emotional. Not just a place to sleep, but a place to land.
Why Bedding Matters More in a Small Space
When the bed is the centerpiece of the room, bedding changes everything.
“It just adds a notch,” Gelu says.
“When you have crispy bedding, a blanket that makes that sound, cozy pillows…”
He pauses, searching for the right words.
“Clean skin on clean bedding. It’s just so nice.”
The Ever Lasting's Assorted Washed Cotton Striped Duvet Cover softens the raw, DIY structure of the mezzanine. It adds texture, warmth, and balance.
“Yes, one hundred percent,” he says when asked if it makes the space feel finished.
“It covers the rough edges.”
In a bedroom you’ve built yourself, bedding becomes the bridge between function and feeling, between project and home.
Sharing a Small Space With Someone You Love, And Two Pets
For Gelu, sharing a small bedroom has never felt like a compromise.
“There are no challenges if you share it with someone you love,” he says simply.
The bed is where conversations happen. Where the noise of the day fades.
“That moment when you go to bed, but you’re not sleepy yet,” he says.
“You just chat.”
Sisi, their fourteen-year-old cat, joins every night. She kneads the sheets, purrs loudly, and chooses her position carefully.
“She goes left,” Gelu explains.
“So she can sleep and stalk us at the same time.”
Coco waits downstairs. In the mornings, all four reunite on the couch, blankets pulled close.
“That’s the coziest moment,” he says.
“She goes under the blanket. The cat goes on top of the dog. It’s perfect.”
A Men's Bedroom Built on Comfort, Not Perfection
Gelu doesn’t believe small spaces automatically make you creative.
“It depends on you,” he says.
“But limitations force you to look for solutions.”
This bedroom isn’t styled to follow trends. It’s designed to last. To feel good at night. To support rest, connection, and real life.
“I live for comfort,” Gelu says.
“And a small space for a bed is not a bad thing. It makes me feel more quiet. More protected.”
The bed is intentional, but never precious. The space is curated, but never cold. And this bedroom revival isn’t about adding more. It’s about choosing better.
In the end, that’s what makes this small bedroom work.
Not the square meters. Not the build.
But the way it holds everyone who sleeps there, human and fluffy companions alike.
If like Gelu you’re also looking for cozy bedding designed for a refined bachelor’s den, explore our men’s bedding collection today.
Summary:
A calm, intentional look at how Gelu designed a small apartment to work beautifully for two people and two pets
How a hand-built mezzanine bed, thoughtful lighting, and minimal choices create comfort without clutter
Why high-quality bedding plays a key role in making small bedrooms feel finished, warm, and lived-in
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FAQ:
What Ever Lasting bedding is featured in Gelu’s bedroom?
Gelu uses Ever Lasting’s Assorted Washed Cotton Striped Duvet Cover and Pillows chosen for its soft texture, warmth, and ability to balance the raw, DIY structure of the mezzanine bed.
Why is good bedding especially important in a small apartment?
In a small apartment, the bed becomes the visual and emotional centerpiece. Quality bedding adds comfort, softness, and cohesion, helping the space feel calm, complete, and inviting rather than cramped.
How can designers or artists be featured by Ever Lasting?
We welcome designers, makers, and creative thinkers whose work reflects emotional depth, slow craft, and a meaningful connection to material and place. Our EverInspired features spotlight individuals who create with intention — those who see design as a form of care and who shape objects that bring calm, beauty, and presence into the home.
If your practice aligns with these values and you feel your story belongs in this series, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach our editorial team at: collabs.everlastingfabrics@gmail.com
Anything We Missed?
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