How to Decorate a Studio Apartment

How to Decorate a Studio Apartment


Preview for 4 essential tips for decorating a small space

Contrary to popular belief, you may Live large in a small space. Figuring out how to decorate a studio apartment comes down to the balance of the floor plan (be it an open-plan apartment).

(loft apartment or alcove studio) with your work/personal wishes and storage needs. Yes, you can transform a small space into a living room, kitchen, bedroom and office simply by rethinking how you furnish and decorate your home. Through smart planning, smart storage, and smaller furniture, you can create more space to relax.

While studio apartments have their challenges, they can all be overcome. Properly furnishing a studio apartment will make your home feel more like a chic second home than a college dorm. Are you worried about privacy? Bring a stylish room divider. Not sure if you can integrate a work-from-home station into your small but beautiful dream space? A folding floating desk fits practically anywhere – and is much easier on your back than sitting on a bed or sofa. The right color or artwork can highlight architectural and design features you want to highlight – and help hide any weak points (especially in a rental property). All of these improvements can also increase the value of your home.

We’ve gathered the inspiration you need to decorate your studio apartment from interior designers who have mastered the art of thinking big and living big. Your days of frustration and inability to relax at home are over. These 33 genius studio apartment decorating ideas prove that your home can look and feel like a mansion.1

Hang “floating” art

Studio apartment with traditional design

Interior designer Max Sinsteden made sure his sleeping area stood out from the rest of the studio apartment by hanging a floor-to-ceiling curtain and then hanging a “floating” painting to make it stand out even more. “I hate seeing a bed from the front door, so I put up a curtain to separate the room. When you close it, you really feel like you’re in a Paris hotel,” he says House beautiful. The living room he designed is ideal for relaxing with friends.

2

Think big

Apartment designed by Keith Carroll

Nick Parisse

If you love buying antiques and can’t stand the thought of hiding your collectibles, then don’t! Designed by Keith Carroll, this 250-square-foot, classic, late 19th-century Manhattan walk-up apartment showcases the charm of filling a room even when space is at a premium. “I always tell my space-constrained clients to think big,” says Carroll. “I did this with a large armoire, an antique mirror and a console table – large pieces visually enlarge a small space.”

3

Skip the section

White living room designed by Leanne Ford

Leanne Ford Interiors

Think about a fun way to create additional seating that doesn’t take up floor space. Designed by Leanne Ford Interiors, this versatile and organic space is a lifesaver for anyone who loves hosting guests but doesn’t know where to put them. Two small stools serve as coffee tables, pillows stacked on a ledge serve as makeshift softa, and a swing hangs from the low ceiling

4

Elevate your bed

how to decorate a studio apartment

Nicolas Sargent

Take your dreams to new heights with a swinging daybed like the one in this room designed by Tiffany Brooks for the Kips Bay Palm Beach showhouse. It saves floor space and adds a playful element to your room.

5

Create a background

how to decorate a studio apartment

Joshua McHugh

Give your studio a great atmosphere with high-impact textiles on the walls and floor. This mural creates a feeling of space. Pared-back furniture, like the chaise longue and simple side table in this space designed by Raji RM, ensures the focus is where it belongs.

6

Add a barn door

how to decorate a studio apartment

Mylene Fernandes

Designer Shari Francis separated a bedroom alcove from the adjacent living room with a sliding barn door. It provides some privacy and helps define dedicated spaces for different activities.

7

Install a glass partition

Studio apartment with glass wall

Fantastic Frank

Or if only part of the room has windows (and privacy isn’t an issue), try a glass shade – it provides just enough visual separation to the room while still allowing plenty of light through.

8th

Use a room divider

Orange bedroom with room divider

Thomas Loof

If you want to partition an open loft or studio apartment but don’t want or can’t install permanent partitions, use a folding screen to create the illusion of privacy and separateness. Designer Maureen Footer also emphasizes vertical space in this apartment with a super-tall bed cornice. “There’s no room for fear in a small space,” she says.

9

Make a mini mud room

Ideas for small entrance areas

Tamsin Johnson Interiors

Even in a studio, there should be an area for your big performance. This foyer designed by Tamsin Johnson proves that all you need is a corner and not a specific foyer. All you need is a chic mirror, an accent chair, an umbrella holder, and a few hooks. If you don’t have space for that, a mirror and a pedestal with a small storage area for keys and mail will do.

10

Be resourceful

minimalist studio apartment

Fantastic Frank

Use a partial room divider to provide some privacy when changing, and opt for a narrow sofa for extra seating when guests come over.

11

Take advantage of architectural features

Window corner

Shadow Degges

Every single centimeter counts, so take full advantage of the architecture of your studio apartment. The radiator on your window? Invest in a pretty radiator cover and fashion a cushion so you can use it as a window nook for reading and relaxing. (And you can forgo the bulky couch that takes up half the studio!) Stack the pillow and add a pendant light for tasks like Jae Joo did here.

12

Customize a workspace

William Brockschmidt, Brockschmidt Coleman

SIMON WATSON

A custom fold-out desk is the perfect solution for small office spaces where you can work at home. Simply close it and store it away when you want to convert your home office back into a living room, dining room or bedroom. Designed by Brockschmidt & Coleman, this example proves that any corner can look and feel sublime, regardless of size.

13

Use a varnish color

how to decorate a studio apartment

PHOTO: Tessa Neustadt; DESIGN: Leanne Ford Interiors

So you need to transform a big white box into a suitable living space? Here is your design, presented by Leanne Ford Interiors. Different floor coverings in the seating area reinforce the idea that the room has “rooms.” If you can’t replace your floors, that’s not a problem. Just add a rug.

14

Hide your bed

Studio apartment with hidden bed

Fantastic Frank

If your studio apartment is too small to accommodate both a small sitting area and a bed, consider a DIY trundle bed or a solid platform with a trundle bed underneath. In this room, the wooden platform makes room for a sofa, so there is seating instead of the bed (so it doesn’t have to feel like a bedroom if you want to have guests over). It is similar to a wall bed, but easier to build yourself.

15

Choose curtains instead of doors

Design of a small studio apartment

PHOTO: Max Kim Bee; DESIGN: Leanne Ford Interiors

Installing a sliding door would take up valuable space. Instead, hang a curtain to create privacy around the bed. A more sheer fabric ensures light can still pass through and doesn’t weigh down the space, like in this Leanne Ford loft.

16

Think in zones

Bedroom with orange end bench and television

Reath design

A bench at the end of the bed signals a conversation area and keeps your sleeping area separate from the lounge area. To save space, Reath Design used a small side table instead of a coffee table.

17

Use smart storage

Design of a small apartment

Fantastic Frank

Open shelving is also a great way to utilize your vertical space. And curtains hanging from the ceiling add an extra level of privacy to your sleeping area.

18

Make it your happy place

Studio apartment ideas

Krsnaa Mehta

Designer Krsnaa Mehta painted every wall in his apartment a bold jewel tone, hung statement pieces of art, and mixed tons of fun prints. The actual furniture pieces, while bold in design, feature slimmer profiles so they don’t take up too much space.

19

Go dark

Entrance area with bookshelves and dark walls

Although light walls are usually the first choice for opening up and brightening up smaller living spaces, a dark coat of paint can actually work wonders. Here, photographer Björn Wallander used a deep chocolate brown color to give the studio a cozy, intimate and warm atmosphere.

20

Let your furniture float

small studio

It may not be your first instinct, but floating furniture instead of pushing it against the wall can make a room feel larger. For example, placing a desk at the end of the bed represents the transition to a new activity zone and eliminates the need to stare at the wall while working.

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