As the average size of newly built apartments in Vilnius has steadily decreased over the past few decades, Paukščių takas, a new residential development nestled in the wooded hills between Žvėrynas and Šeškinė, stands out as a welcome exception. The project offers two-bedroom apartments ranging from 50 to 60 sq. m. According to an experienced interior designer, more spacious homes are not only more comfortable and enjoyable to live in, but can sometimes even be more cost-effective.
According to real estate market analysts, the average size of two-bedroom apartments across Lithuania shrank from 54 to 47 sq. m between 2003 and 2023. The trend is even more pronounced in Vilnius, where it is now possible to find two-bedroom apartments squeezed into as little as 30 sq. m, although the most common size in the capital ranges from 40 to 45 sq. m. Another extreme example of this tendency is the growing number of three-bedroom layouts fitted into just 50–60 sq. m.
This shift has been driven by a combination of factors, including economic conditions, buyers’ financial capabilities, changing apartment layouts, and demand from investors purchasing homes for the rental market. For many landlords, the priority is often not creating a spacious and comfortable living environment for tenants, but maximising the number of separate rooms while keeping costs as low as possible.
However, interior designer Kristė Budraitytė, who has been designing residential interiors for the past 20 years, notes that compact apartments and cramped rooms are not only less practical and less inspiring to live in, but can, in some cases, also result in higher costs for homeowners.
“From a designer’s perspective, the smallest apartments are always the greatest challenge. They require creative solutions – custom-built niches, cabinetry and storage systems for clothes and everyday household items such as brooms, buckets or ironing boards. I recently designed two two-bedroom apartments for a client, measuring 30 and 45 sq. m. Paradoxically, the bespoke furniture for the smaller apartment ended up costing around 20% more,” says Budraitytė.
According to Budraitytė, smaller homes can also lead to additional expenses because people naturally prefer spending less time in cramped living spaces. As a result, they are more likely to seek leisure and work opportunities outside the home—which comes at a cost.
“People simply don’t want to spend all their time in small apartments or invite friends over. Instead, they go out more—to restaurants, gyms, bars or other places around the city—and all of that costs money. It’s also difficult to imagine working comfortably from a cramped home, so you may end up paying for a desk at a coworking space instead. It’s not something we talk about often, but many people end up paying a high price for the healthy work-life balance they can’t fully enjoy at home,” says the designer.
Space for More Than Belongings
For Budraitytė, the greatest advantage of a more spacious apartment is simple everyday comfort. Larger homes easily accommodate bigger furniture, the appliances people actually want, and provide enough storage for everyday essentials as well as seasonal clothing. She jokes that, despite the growing focus on sustainability and mindful consumption, people remain “natural collectors.” Every new purchase or gift creates far fewer compromises when there is enough room to store it without adding clutter or forcing residents to get rid of something else.
“Both homeowners and, unfortunately, even interior designers often underestimate how much space we actually need in everyday life—for storage, household equipment, clothing and cooking. Wardrobes and cabinets may not look particularly exciting in visualisations, but in reality they’re essential. In a larger apartment, there’s simply enough room for everything,” she says.
In her view, however, the greatest benefit of a larger home goes far beyond storage. More space has a significant impact on everyday wellbeing, daily routines and the activities people want to enjoy at home. While these benefits are difficult to measure, she believes that feeling comfortable in your own home—and genuinely wanting to spend time there—is the true definition of luxury.
“People often think they’ll buy a 35 or 40 sq. m apartment, save some money and simply get used to it. But the reality is that it’s hard to adapt to a home that constantly feels too small. We naturally need space—for our eyes, our minds and our relationships. To me, real luxury is not worrying whether there are enough chairs when friends come over, having enough room to practise yoga at home, or comfortably fitting a generous corner sofa. It’s having a naturally lit workspace, a television or turntable that’s the size you actually want—not the size that happens to fit. It’s living in a home with room not only for your belongings, but also for your thoughts,” Budraitytė says.
Listening to Homebuyers
That desire for more spacious homes has not disappeared is also reflected in a survey conducted last year by real estate developer Homa Group among more than 300 Vilnius residents who were either looking for a home or had recently purchased one.
The survey, carried out together with research and consulting company Hubel, found that the actual size of an apartment—or at least the feeling of spaciousness it provides—is among the most important factors when choosing a home. Respondents ranked apartment size and layout just behind price, location and well-developed infrastructure.
Homa has sought to respond to these expectations with Paukščių takas, a new residential development currently under construction between Šeškinė and Žvėrynas, surrounded by forests, parks and rolling hills. Alongside office, sports and educational facilities, the project will feature just 30 two- and three-bedroom apartments distinguished by their generous floor areas and spacious balconies designed to encourage residents to spend more time outdoors.
According to Eglė Krengauskė, Head of Marketing at Homa, the project’s strategic location and overall concept were intentionally designed for people who truly enjoy spending time at home. Close to everyday amenities yet immersed in nature, Paukščių takas will also be the last residential development that can be built in this neighbourhood.
“Our values are rooted in creating homes where thoughtful design solutions support healthier ways of living and working. In the immediate surroundings, this means a nature-rich location where all everyday amenities are within walking distance, as well as safe and community-oriented shared spaces. Inside the home, we focus on the most important aspects of everyday life – rest, sleep, physical and mental activities, existing and new connections, and simply creating a better quality of daily living. Even seemingly small details, such as having a dedicated place for a turntable and vinyl collection, can shape personal rituals of relaxation,” says Eglė Krengauskė.
Within Homa’s residential portfolio, Paukščių takas stands out for its focus on people who value quality personal time and the space needed to enjoy it. The project’s location naturally supports the lifestyle of active city residents: a gym will be available within the development itself, while the city’s main business districts can be reached easily without wasting time in traffic.
At the same time, the spacious two-bedroom apartments at Paukščių takas offer significantly more room for meaningful everyday experiences. The generously sized bedrooms, reaching almost 15 sq. m, create an opportunity to rediscover the value of quality sleep, while the large kitchen-living-leisure areas are designed to accommodate a variety of hobbies and activities. These spaces also provide enough room for a comfortable, naturally lit home office area.
Even hallways and balconies at Paukščių takas are designed to be more than purely functional spaces. The developer has considered everyday scenarios such as coats and outerwear piling up near the entrance, especially during transitional seasons. From the moment residents enter their home, there is enough dedicated space for clothing and belongings.
The balconies in this project are not intended as storage areas, but as spacious extensions of the living space, reaching almost 10 sq. m. They include lighting and electrical connections, allowing residents to transform them into places to enjoy fresh air, work, socialise or simply slow down during warmer months. Even in colder seasons, details such as a balcony power outlet make it easy to create comfortable festive lighting displays.
A Neighbourhood Growing in Value
Paukščių takas stands out thanks to its unique surroundings. Although several major roads are located nearby, forests begin immediately beyond the development, leading to the recently created Rain Park and the distinctive hilly landscape shaped by glaciers thousands of years ago. However, the wider neighbourhood surrounding the project is equally valuable and continues to evolve.
The nearby National Stadium currently under construction, together with the planned new basketball arena, will eventually offer residents opportunities to enjoy sports events and other activities within walking distance. More importantly, Vilnius City Municipality has announced plans to significantly improve the surrounding infrastructure, including streets, pedestrian and cycling routes, as well as a new pedestrian bridge over Ukmergės Street. The city is also preparing a major transformation of the green areas on Šeškinė Hill, where an educational and recreational “Mammoth Valley” park is planned.
Last winter, representatives from Ober-Haus and Capital, assessing the potential impact of the National Stadium complex on the surrounding residential market, noted that the area is already popular due to its convenient location. Continued infrastructure improvements are expected to further enhance quality of life, while events hosted at the sports complex could add additional investment appeal for property owners.
Returning to the homes themselves, apartment sizes at Paukščių takas start from 50 sq. m and reach almost 60 sq. m for two-bedroom apartments. The six-storey building will also include just four three-bedroom apartments.
Prices at the project start from €3,900 per sq. m, and every resident of Paukščių takas will receive a private storage and bicycle space as a gift. The project is scheduled for completion in autumn 2027, while apartment sales, launched recently, have already attracted significant interest among Vilnius residents.
You can learn more about Paukščių takas on the project website: https://pauksciutakas.com/
The project team can also be contacted by phone at +370 626 19036
Prepared by HOMA. The author of this press release is responsible for the accuracy and legality of the information provided.
