Limited space doesn’t mean limited options
Whether you own your studio apartment, or are renting it out, there are both temporary and permanent upgrades you can make to give it an open feel, while still putting your own personal touch on the space. From finding creative storage solutions to choosing complementary paint colors, check out some studio apartment ideas to make the most of your existing square footage.
Think outside the box when deciding where to house your items and innovative ways to store them to make the most of your space.
Use up vertical space by installing open shelves throughout your space. These particular shelves are installed on brackets to easily customize the spacing based on your storage needs.
Cabinetry built into the walls is a clever way to get extra storage, without taking up valuable floor space. This integrated bookshelf maximizes horizontal space in the apartment’s sleeping area while keeping clutter at bay.
Save your closet space and tuck your linens in a drawer built into a platform bed frame. Or, tuck bins and baskets under the bed to store your cozy flannel sheets in the summer, and silky shams during the winter.
When you’re working with limited space, it’s important to house your items in designated areas to minimize clutter. Storage baskets promote organization and are portable, so you can move them around if you need to open up the space.
Short on cabinet and counter space in your kitchen area? Set up a freestanding storage unit to keep your kitchen gadgets in one place. If you have the option, choose a taller unit to maximize vertical space to keep your dishes, glasses, and pots and pans contained.
When you have a studio apartment, certain areas can blend into the others. For example, your living space can migrate into your sleeping space, which can be a challenge when you’re trying to do separate tasks. Find ways to store your items when not in use to create a divide among the different zones in your space. For example, this cabinet unit hides the TV, so you can keep it concealed when not in use.
Bright lighting can make a small space appear larger. Hang lights from the ceiling, adorn the walls with modern sconces, and even illuminate the underside of your cabinetry to elevate the ambiance in your studio apartment.
Check out some furniture pieces that can help you make the most of your space.
Bring that casual, yet leisurely feeling you get when eating at your favorite pub to your studio apartment’s dining area. High-top tables are not only fun to eat at, but they are compact in size. Tuck the barstools underneath the table when you’re not eating to give you extra room to move around.
Functional furniture doesn’t have to be bland, so look for pieces that are practical and visually appealing. This unit doubles as a shelving unit on the bottom and a clothing rack on top, which works well in areas with limited closet space.
A murphy bed, sometimes referred to as a wall bed, is the quintessential furniture option for a compact space. The mattress folds up into the unit when not in use, and is easily pulled out when you need to sleep. What’s more, you can often find a combination piece that turns into a table or desk when the mattress is tucked away.
Work-from-home office by day, taco Tuesday dining table by night—think of ways you can use your furniture pieces to adapt to different situations, so you don’t take up too much space with pieces that can otherwise serve multiple functions.
Not only do floor pillows bring a cozy bohemian vibe to your apartment, but they’re practical when you have limited space. Keep them in a conversation-style arrangement when you have guests, then tuck them in a corner when you want to open up the floor space. The best part? It’s an easy way to add a pop of color or whimsical pattern to your room.
Furnishing an apartment can get expensive. Rather than buying all new pieces, look for second-hand items that can have multiple uses. For example, this hutch also serves as a cabinetry unit to house kitchen gadgets in the dining room area. Moreover, hooks on the doors are a creative way to hang utensils, rather than taking up useful drawer space.
Change up a small studio apartment’s floor plan, without taking on a major demolition project. You can go for temporary room dividers that are easily set up and taken back down. Or, opt for more permanent solutions to create different living areas. Check out our article about creative room divider ideas for a comprehensive list, but here are a few ideas to consider.
Glass doors on a track can create obvious division within a studio apartment. The square geometric pattern works well with the contemporary design of the area and makes eye catching shadows when the light reflects off the glass.
A traditional folding screen can help you switch up the layout of the apartment. Not only does it conceal areas you want to be kept more private, but it helps to direct foot traffic. This natural wooden screen doesn’t overwhelm the space and keeps consistent with the overall styling of the area.
Partition the space by installing a wooden slat room divider. While this option is more permanent and requires more effort to add, it serves as a visual point of interest, in addition to dividing up the space.
This modern shelving unit adds privacy and creates an obvious separation between the office space and the sleeping area. However, the open shelves allow for light to shine through, so the room isn’t darkened by the piece.
A pony wall is a half wall that can be set up to delineate a space, add privacy, and direct foot traffic. Use one in a small studio apartment to give the illusion of separate spaces in an otherwise open-concept layout.
Bring greenery into the space while creating division at the same time. Planters can be placed hugging two separate areas to delineate the room.
Use color to your advantage as a way to create an open and airy interior, while still showing off your personality).
Don’t feel limited to only picking light colors for your apartment, and consider deeper hues to make the space feel more intimate. Rich green walls pair well with neutral furniture and accents to create a cozy, yet impactful design statement.
White-on-white is a proven interior design option for small spaces because it reflects light, creating the illusion that the space is bigger and more open than it actually is. Use a monochromatic white color scheme on the ceiling, walls, furniture, and accents to highlight the clean lines within the room.
Designate a wall in your living space to serve as a focal point to stand out amongst the other walls in the room. This floral mural against a black background introduces a visually striking design into the space. You can choose to paint an accent wall, hang permanent wallpaper, or opt for peel and stick wallpaper that can be easily removed.
Fill your living space with personality and opt for a vibrant color, like this cobalt blue, that is sure to make a splash. Even though it’s an adventurous paint choice, it works well when paired with light colored furniture and coordinating decor.
If you’re unable to paint the walls of your apartment, you can still create a cohesive color scheme by incorporating colors from nature in your furniture and accents. For example, the sage green accent chairs and caramel leather couch become the focal point against the apartment’s white interior walls.
Choose accessories and accents that are not only a reflection of your personality, but can give the illusion of a larger area.
Jazz up a wall in your apartment by hanging a large tapestry. This brings color and texture into the room and creates a boho aesthetic (with little effort on your part). The best part? They can be easily taken down and moved to a different spot if needed.
Trick the eye into believing you have more square footage by hanging mirrors on the wall. A floor-to-ceiling mirror placed next to a light source is a hack used by interior designers to make the space feel like it's infinitely larger than it actually is.
Pick out artwork that is a reflection of your personality to hang within the space. Don’t be afraid to choose larger pieces, as you can integrate them into the overall design of the space. For example, the artwork in this room varies enough throughout the different living zones, but because of complementary patterns, it provides a cohesive look.
Bonus points: The vertical shiplap ceiling helps to open up the room even more.
If an all-white color scheme feels too stark for your preferences, opt for neutral tones instead. A creamy ivory paint color, combined with a sandy brown couch and wooden coffee table adds warmth to the room, but is still light enough to make it feel larger.
Don’t forget about the impact that houseplants can have on the overall aesthetic of your space. Not only do houseplants look nice, but they can improve the air quality of the room. Check out some of these Hard-to-Kill Houseplants so you can reap the benefits of fresh greenery (without a lot of work).
