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Digital creator Charles Mackenzie is known for his weekly videos exploring interior design, lifestyle and fashion. In his latest project, he turns the lens on his own home, a contemporary loft apartment in Toronto, rich with personality and charm. Decorating with a blend of minimalism and mid-century modern influences, Charles brings his signature style to a smaller space. The finishing touch? The arrival of his King Living 1977 Sofa.
With the modular sofa as his anchor, Charles reimagines what’s possible in a compact apartment through five layout ideas. From easing into his morning coffee to hosting friends in the evening, each layout is shaped by how he lives each day. The journey toward his final edit reflects a growing design trend: maximising small spaces with smart and flexible choices that transform flow, function and aesthetic.
Here are five ways to layout and style a small loft apartment, inspired by Charles Mackenzie’s own home transformation.
Layout one
The best layout for comfortable TV viewing
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Place a modular sofa opposite the TV to anchor the space and frame the viewing zone.
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Leave one sofa end open with a chaise or armless module for easy movement and flow.
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Style with low-profile furniture to keep the layout functional, without blocking the view.
Perfect for evenings spent unwinding with your favourite series, this living room layout is all about balance, comfort, and the best spot for TV viewing.
The modular sofa acts as the centrepiece, grounding the room and guiding the layout around it. Positioned opposite the TV, the sofa naturally frames the viewing zone while creating a clear walkway behind it. Leaving one end open with a chaise or armless module ensures the space is easy to move through, perfect for maintaining a continuous sense of flow in a compact floorplan.
Low-profile surrounding furniture: a single armchair, side table and coffee table, are deliberately minimal, keeping the space fully functional without feeling cluttered or obstructing the TV view.
For Charles, this layout came to life with a large rectangular rug in deep maroons and indigos.
"A bigger rug tends to be better in my opinion, and actually makes the room feel larger.”
It’s an insight that holds true, though in his own experience, pairing it with the rich Yowie Chocolate fabric of his 1977 Sofa called for a second take.
“Not every design idea will land, but try it anyway. Furnishing a smaller space requires creativity, and tons of trial and error.”
Layering tones and textures thoughtfully, like opting for a light, organic rug to contrast with deeper upholstery, helps soften the space. Paired with soft, ambient lighting, the result is an inviting setting that feels both composed and comfortable for uninterrupted viewing.
Charles explains, “No big lights. Ever. The goal is to have an even balance of light throughout the apartment.” The effect is not only cinematic, but also perfect for his work-from-home routine, where subtle lamps and lighter tones in rugs and accessories create the ideal backdrop for shooting content and staying inspired.
Layout two
Dividing your living space into functional zones
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Place the sofa chaise along the open side of the room to divide into zones.
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Position occasional chairs at an angle, facing inwards to create a gentle boundary.
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Style with low lamps and diffusers, layering sensory accents to define the zone.
In open-plan homes or loft-style apartments, a zoned layout does more than define the space. It helps to create a sense of calm, supporting focus and energy flow throughout the day. When transitioning from work to rest, subtle shifts in layout can offer the right cues for switching off. For Charles, having a distinct lounge zone means he can film videos with a clean, composed background, then pivot effortlessly into an evening wind-down with a book or playlist.
Charles’ chosen package of the 1977 Sofa is L-shaped, meaning it can be placed against the wall while the extended chaise acts as a subtle divider. This separates the lounge from the dining, kitchen, or even bedroom area in a small studio apartment, keeping the space open yet intentional.
Having swapped to an organic-shaped rug in a lighter, neutral beige, Charles found the living area finally felt cohesive with the gentle curves and soft palette balancing beautifully with the Yowie Chocolate fabric.
“Start with a mood board,” he says. “Pick three colours — a main, a support and an accent. That’s what keeps everything feeling connected.”
An occasional chair helps to reinforce the zone. Instead of pushing the chair flat against the wall, it’s placed at an angle, facing inward. This creates a gentle boundary around the lounge, drawing people in and inviting conversation.
To complete the zone, layer in scent and low lamps. A candle or diffuser brings atmosphere and calm, adding one more sensory layer to this relaxed, well-considered corner.
“We let the space speak to us. You can just feel it,” says Charles. “We didn’t have to force it.”
Layout three
How to best maximise floor space
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Position the chaise module of your sofa in the corner to maximise floor space.
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Style with an organic or curved rug to reveal more flooring and enhance flow.
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Use visually light furniture, like a glass or acrylic, to keep the space feeling open and uncluttered.
The 1977 Sofa’s modular design tempted Charles to switch the chaise and corner modules, helping utilise space and maximise his apartment’s footprint.
“Modularity is huge. We are constantly trying new layouts, rearranging and hosting. The flexibility to have an entirely different layout in a matter of minutes is so valuable.”
This layout similarly places the sofa along the wall, but with the chaise beside the TV console and in front of the balcony doors. While this maximises floor space and makes better use of the square foot, it also allows for easier movement around the room, whether topping up drinks during a gathering or stretching out for a morning yoga flow.
With that said, the layout did call for some adjustments. The placement of the chaise interrupted sightlines to the balcony, limiting natural light and creating a busier feel near the window. With the back of the sofa directly against a wall, dust can accumulate behind and be difficult to reach, so readjusting to roughly 10 centimetres away from the wall helps maintain easier access for cleaning.
Experimenting with the visual weight of the room, Charles offset the corner bulking with transparent furniture, styling a glass coffee table to keep the look airy. In spaces that risk feeling visually crowded, framing the view rather than blocking it can restore balance. Opt for lower-profile sofa modules, avoid tall backrests near the window zone, and introduce a curved rug to reveal more flooring and maintain a sense of openness.
Styling should be clean and minimal. One tray with a sculptural object and a book on the coffee table is enough. Anything more can make the small space feel cluttered. Add softness and balance with a tonal cushion or a draped throw at the corner of the chaise so the module feels inviting rather than intrusive.
As Charles puts it, “Every layout you try that doesn’t work gets you one step closer to the ideal home for your needs.”
Layout four
Styling a compact space to enhance the light
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Position your modular sofa to face the window or balcony to enhance the light and embrace the view.
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Layer natural textures: timber, linen and ceramics, with greenery to create indoor-outdoor flow.
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Style small corner lamps with a soft ambience to balance the weight of the light.
As the previous layout limited light, positioning the modular sofa to face a balcony or window allows natural light to pour in, making a space feel more expansive. For small apartments, this kind of spatial openness can make all the difference, bringing in depth and atmosphere without needing additional décor.
However, this layout is less suited to TV viewing. With the sofa facing away from the screen, and natural light filtering in throughout the day, screen glare can become an issue. But when the goal is to create a mood that feels open and bright, it can be a trade-off worth making.
“You want the space to always be easy on the eyes, and you want the light to serve a function,” says Charles.
In his apartment, the natural light plays a practical role: gently defining and extending the living space, while overlooking Toronto’s cityscape.
Styling leans into natural textures to complement the view. Timber, linen and ceramic accents bring warmth to the space, while plants near the windows help to frame the outlook: a tall fiddle leaf or cascading greenery draws the eye outward, reinforcing the indoor-outdoor connection. Botanical accents also have the added benefit of improving air quality and introducing a gentle sense of vitality into the home. If more privacy is needed, a sheer curtain or tall, delicate palm works as a soft screen without interrupting the light or view.
“We are really looking to balance the weight of light in our space, with small lamps in corners, and task lights near our coffee machine, computer, record player. They cast a cosy glow over the open space that contrasts to the energising natural light from the windows.”
Layering light in this way reinforces softness, inviting a sense of rhythm and intention that carries from morning through to night.
Layout five
Charles’ final edit
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Configure your sofa modules for multidirectional lounging and shifting focal points.
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Consider smart storage solutions, like a freestanding TV, to free up the console surface.
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Mix contrasting materials to reflect your style and add a personal touch.
Charles’ chosen layout for his loft apartment unites the practical advantages of layout one while adding originality and style. The modular sofa remains central, keeping the space easy to move through, but the introduction of an organic-shaped rug softens the form of the 1977 Sofa and brings a sense of fluidity that layout one lacked.
“The idea that we have the ability to create a new layout sparks our creativity in itself, and allows us to play with new focal points, pieces, plants, or art that we otherwise may have not had room for.”
Having the corner module on the left and the chaise on the right allows for multidirectional lounging, and the freedom to shift your focus while your whole body is supported by the form of the sofa. You can stretch out with your head resting on the arm to watch the sunrise out the window, then face the TV for a movie night, depending on your mood or time of day.
This layout also incorporates dual consoles, a feature unique to this version. With the TV freestanding and not placed on either, both consoles can be styled freely and used for storage, a smart and important consideration for compact living rooms. One could hold a console setup while the other displays books, sculptures or a tray with stacked personal objects.
“The decision of which shelf or storage console to install is where you can add that personal charm with décor and let your own style speak."
For Charles, that personal touch includes candles on decorative trays, a collection of vintage records and an evolving library of cookbooks, fashion volumes and fiction.
“I love when a small space is curated and decorated in a unique way.”
To complement the layout’s flexibility, the styling leans into material contrast. Plush fabrics are paired with chrome finishes, while matte ceramics sit alongside translucent furnishings. The effect is layered but cohesive, allowing light, personality and practicality to coexist in one well-balanced space.
With the effortlessly removable and machine washable covers of the 1977 Sofa, Charles also selected a second set in a lighter, neutral bouclé fabric. In contrast to the deeper chocolate tones of the Yowie fabric, the Biscotti finish of the new Leura S covers introduced a softer palette, well suited to a seasonal, summer refresh.
Interior design, at its best, reflects not only how we live, but how we aspire to. For Charles Mackenzie, that philosophy came to life in his own loft apartment, where trial, error and curiosity helped shape a series of living room layouts that balance comfort with creativity.
These five configurations offer considered ways to style a compact apartment, each one a thoughtful step toward creating a small space that feels open, personal and, through subtle shifts, beautifully resolved.
“Another piece of advice is, don't rush,” Charles shares.
“Styling a small space with limited floor space can feel like a constraint at first, but don’t be afraid to try a new layout or piece. There aren’t constraints on creativity. That’s the beauty of interior design. You get a glimpse into someone’s world, and a taste just by viewing their space.”
For more styling inspiration:
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Be sure to follow Charles’ design journey across his channels.
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Explore the best furniture for maximising small spaces.
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Read interior design ideas for compact apartments.
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