smårum

Smårum, literally "small rooms" in Swedish, designates a housing typology and interior layout characterized by multiple compact, self-contained rooms in a dwelling rather than a single large, open-plan space. The term is used descriptively in architectural and social housing discourse to distinguish compartmentalized interiors from larger, flexible living areas. It often appears in discussions of historical stock and as a contrast to contemporary apartment layouts.

Historically, smårum prevailed in urban Swedish housing from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century, especially in working-class and lower-middle-class blocks. Typical floor plans featured several small rooms, a separate kitchen, and a corridor or hall connecting spaces. The emphasis was on functional division of space, ease of construction, and maximizing the number of dwellings per building. Living rooms were modest in size, and daylight access varied by unit and site. Over time, policy and taste shifted toward larger, more open-plan spaces, reducing the number of rooms in new construction.

Today, smårum is primarily a historical reference in discussions of Sweden’s architectural and social history. It is used to describe older stock and as a contrast to modern open-plan apartments. In contemporary renovation, owners and designers may seek to increase perceived space by removing partitions or reconfiguring rooms, while in planning contexts smårum serves as a descriptor rather than a formal classification.