How to Decorate a Studio Apartment

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.

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.”

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.