Studio apartments, especially small ones, become more and more frequent today. If you are hesitating over buying or renting such a dwelling as it might seem challenging to decorate it and organize storage, we have a whole bunch of decor and design tips that will make your life easier and that will help turn a small studio into a functional and comfortable space for living.
Color Schemes
We all know that lighter shades make any room look bigger, so stick to such a color scheme for your studio apartment if it’s small, and even if not – such a color scheme will fill it with light, and if you hang or place some mirrors that will reflect it, it will look even bigger. Add soft-colored curtains and lighting like floor lamps for extra brightness. Pay attention to hanging your curtains right: curtains hung well above the window and reaching the floor impart airiness and height.
an airy and chic Parisian studio apartment done with a colorful print rug and a stylish gallery wall
a welcoming and airy studio apartment done in neutrals and pastels with just a bit of black for eye-catchiness
an airy Scandinavian studio apartment done in neutrals and with pastels and some prints for an airy look
an airy Scandinavian studio apartment with touches of pastels, a lovely gallery wall and cool lamps
a small neutral studio apartment done with blonde wood furniture, neutral upholstery, retro lamps and an attic closet
a welcoming and airy studio apartment with a functional storage bed, a creative gallery wall and stylish furniture
a refined neutral studio apartment with a refined ceiling and some colorful touches - a burgundy fireplace, an emerald sofa and a pink chair
an airy and chic Nordic studio apartment with a blue sofa, some grass arrangements and a large floor mirror
Space Dividing
Dividing the spaces in your apartment isn’t a must but if you want to keep some spaces more intimate, this is a solution. There are many types of space dividers, choose those that are functional or at least bring some decorative value to the space. If you are looking for functionality, rock a storage unit space divider but an airy one to let light in, or a half wall that will feature storage and maybe a TV or a panting on the other side. If you want to highlight the style and add chic, rock a glass space divider, airy curtains, a statement artwork. Sometimes dividers in a studio can make a studio seem choppy, cluttered and claustrophobic. If you do feel like you need some division between your living areas, go for dividers that let light through or that are perhaps not super high. This can help hint at a visual division without feeling too closed off.
a high IKEA Billy bookshelf separates a small and cozy bedroom nook from the rest of the space
an IKEA Kallax bookshelf divides spaces and is used for airy and non-bulky storage
a sleeping zone is slightly separated from the rest of the space with an airy industrial shelving unit
a Nordic studio apartment with a sleeping zone separates with a wooden screen from the rest of the space
a sleeping space with stacks of books separated from the rest of the dwelling with airy curtains, which are the easiest idea
a boho studio apartment separated with light curtains and raised above the ground to give some under the bed storage space
Ivar cabinets with an additional glass wall are a very functional and rather private space divider to try
a narrow glass wall doesn't prevent natural light from coming in but still keeps the space more private
a half wall with storage and a TV on the other side won't make your space dark or cramped and looks good
a storage unit like this one will divide the spaces and give you storage space at the same time
a bookcase as a headboard for the bed is a lovely and easy way to divide spaces with functionality
a stylish glass space divider like this one is a chic and airy solution to divide spaces
Sleeping Spaces
If you don’t want to sleep on the sofa or couch you have but want a separate sleeping space for privacy, a Murphy’s bed might be the way. Murphy beds are the ultimate space-saving furniture for studio apartment dwellers! With the ability to fold your bed up into a storage closet or entertainment center, you can easily transform your apartment living space between daytime and nighttime. Another idea is for those who have high ceilings – a loft bedroom is a trendy and ultimate way to create a very private sleeping space. You may also go for a hidden bedroom if the space allows, or build in your bed into a storage unit.
a stylish space divider that gives much storage space and a bed that is raised on a platform to give more storage space
a pink studio apartment with a loft bed underneath a loft walk-in closet is a very smart solution to rock
a Scandinavian studio apartment with a bed raised on storage units is a very clever and cool idea
a creatively organized loft bedroom and an additional closet hidden under it are a great solution for a studio apartment
a white Scandinavian studio apartment with a loft bedroom, a small dining and kitchen space underneath
a stylish sleeping space composed of IKEA Malm dressers to maximize the storage and keep it hidden at the same time
a Murphy's bed hidden with curtains and a Murphy's desk on the wall for a small apartment
a Murphy's bed hidden with colorful boho panels is a lovely idea to make your sleeping space private
a raised bed on drawers for storage and separated with sliding glass doors from the rest of the space
a stylish solution of building a bedroom into a sleek storage unit will help you keep it more private and separated
Furniture
It’s usually considered that large scale furniture isn’t for small spaces but it’s vice versa as getting many pieces you will clutter the room. Fewer larger pieces will make your studio airier and bigger, just choose only those items that you really need and want. Besides, prefer multi-functional pieces as furnishings that serve double duty are big lifesavers in studio apartments. Use your dining table as a desk, make your sofa your bed, prefer transformable sofas with storage or with more seating space if needed.
several large scale furniture pieces don't clutter the studio apartment and fulfill all the necessary functions
this quriky table can double as a desk, and large scale furniture don't clutter the room keeping it comfy
large scale furniture pieces and a wall-mounted desk that doubles as a dining table make maximum of this space
this comfortable sofa doubles as a cool bed, which allows not to buy an additional piece
large scale yet sleek storage units, a large sofa and a table don't clutter the space and make it welcoming and light-filled
a dining table that doubles as a desk is a smart and easy solution for any studio apartment
a cool storage space divider - a tall bookshelf - is a very functional and smart storage solution
Storage
Keeping the storage open is the key to making your studio look bigger: open shelving is also a great way to use your vertical space and to leave you more floor space. Use your walls to add hooks or pegs so you can hang functional items as well as decor. Show off your wardrobe creating a makeshift closet if a walk-in closet isn’t available. And use your ceiling to hang things like pot racks or storage netting to gain even more storage space. If your studio apartment isn’t small, you may declutter it hiding and building in everything, it will look neater and chicer.
long open shelves allow much storage space but look airy and non-bulky at the same time
open shelves for the kitchen zone save some space and some additional shelves over the bed plus drawers in the bed give enough storage space
a shift closet, a raised bed for hidden storage and some shelves attached to the pegboard give enough storage space
long open shelves don't clutter the space and give enough storage to this little studio apartment
a large open storage unit composed of shelves takes the whole wall but is hidden with curtains, which is a very smart solution
an open closet with a dresser is a smart solution that doesn't clutter the space and lets natural light go in
a small kitchen organized with a pegboard for vertical storage and an open shelf is a very smart idea for a studio apartment
a tiny hidden pantry helps to keep the clutter out, and a vertical shelf allows storing various small stuff
a cool makeshift closet made with a large metal piping unit looks airy and stylish and adds to the bedroom style
a bed built into an airy and not too large storage unit features many drawers for storing accessories and other stuff
a turquoise open storage unit used as a closet doubles as a bed headboard and ads color to the studio
a makeshift closet looks airy and separates the parts of this studio apartment, which is a great idea
Decor
Don’t avoid large scale art as such art catches an eye and takes over the whole space making it look bigger. A couple of colorful accents will enliven the space, so put a bold chair or a bright stool somewhere. As for architectural quirks you may face – take full advantage of them as every single inch counts! Have a radiator by your window? Invest in a pretty radiator cover and customize a cushion so you can use it as a window nook to read and relax in. There’s a bay or bow window? Make a windowsill reading space or turn it into a banquette seating! Get inspired!
a bay windowsill turned into a comfortable seating for reading or having meals plus additional storage inside
a monochromatic gallery wall with large scale art pieces is a stylish and chic idea for a studio apartment
a bay window space turned into an alcove for the sleeping space with much natural light
a windowsill dining and working space with additional storage takes little space, which is ideal
a neutral studio apartment accented with a single yellow chair looks very stylish and elegant
a boho woven screen separates spaces and doubles as a decorative element making the space more chic