30 Design Ideas for Your Studio Apartment

Step up your studio apartment's style with our tips for making the most of the space you have, adding hidden storage and beautifying every corner.

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By: Kamron Sanders

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Create Max Style in Minimal Space

While your studio apartment may not be short on style, it's almost certainly short on one thing: space. To help you make the most of it, we're sharing 30 design ideas and studio apartment layout ideas to make your little apartment feel bigger and function better.

Utilize Every Single Corner

Put your forgotten corners to good use with a cozy banquette, a comfy chair or a storage bench. This is the simplest way to add lots of seating without taking up lots of square footage. Corner your style with our tips, below.

See More Photos: How to Decorate in Corners

From: Zoe Feldman Design

Get the High-Ceiling Look With Paint

If you love dark, moody colors, but you’re afraid of feeling closed-in, you'll love this visual trick. By painting your dark color of choice at the bottom of the wall and painting white at the top to match the ceiling, you blur the lines of where the walls stop and the ceiling begins. Bring on the moody vibes!

Fall in Love With Low Furniture

While high ceilings don’t contribute any extra square footage, they sure can make a space feel bigger. If you don’t have the luxury of high ceilings and want to pretend you do, opt for low furniture wherever you can. The more space between the furniture and the ceiling, the bigger your apartment will feel. Get the lowdown on styling small living rooms, below.

See More Photos: Small Living Room Design Ideas That Will Maximize Your Tiny Space

From: Barbara Vail

Make Use of Multifunctional Furniture

Double-duty furniture pieces are an absolute must in studio apartments. Don’t just choose a bed — find one that has built-in storage underneath. If you don’t have room for a dining table, choose a coffee table that’s big enough for you to sit at when you have your meals. Find more of our favorite storage furniture pieces, below.

learn more: Furniture That Doubles as Storage for Every Room in Your House

Max Out Vertical Space With a Gallery Wall

Stretching a gallery wall all the way to the ceiling is a great way to emphasize the wall’s height, making the ceilings feel higher than they are by drawing the eye upward. Want to go the extra mile? Place smaller pieces toward the top to create the illusion that they’re further away. Get our tips for styling your way to gallery wall greatness, below.

From: Kate Lester Interiors

Use a Bookshelf as a Room Divider

With the openness of a studio apartment, sometimes it’s hard to establish a defined floor plan. A great way to do this is to carve out an area with a large piece of furniture like a bookshelf. Plus, who doesn't love some extra storage? Divide and conquer like a pro with our tips, below.

See More Photos: 40 Clever Room Divider Ideas

From: Anthology Interiors

Use a Couch as Table Seating

If you’re lacking adequate space for a proper dining table, we promise you aren’t doomed to couch-bound meals every night. Well, not technically. Instead, utilize your sofa as a comfortable seating option for you and your dinner guests, then slide the table away for a more relaxing environment post dinner.

From: Jaclyn Joslin

Bring the Outdoors In

Going big with your houseplants can make your space feel larger than life. The tall, spreading branches will direct eyes outward and upward, tricking the brain into thinking the space is bigger. Learn the secrets to growing great houseplants, below.

learn more: 9 Keys to Success for Caring for Happy Houseplants

Then, Take It to New Heights

No room for houseplants? Hang them from the ceiling. This way, you can have all the benefits of a variety of houseplants (hello, oxygen!) without sacrificing a single bit of floor space. Find the perfect spots for hanging houseplants, below.

See More Photos: 15 Picturesque Homes for Your Hanging Plant Needs

From: Michelle Gage

Go Bold With an Accent Wall

Creating an accent wall in a small studio is a great way to create visual interest. In this bedroom, a bold jungle wallpaper brings in a vacay, any day vibe. An added bonus? The accent wall serves as a giant piece of art. Ready to add an accent wall? Find inspo, below.

See More Photos: 25 Stylish Bedroom Accent Wall Ideas

From: Mollie Openshaw

Hang Up Some Stylish Storage

Give yourself some extra storage with floating shelves. By creating a shelf arrangement like this example, you can make use of the limited space in any area of your apartment. One of our favorite hacks? Skip the entryway furniture and opt for floating shelves that will keep your everyday essentials in order. Find your perfect fit, below.

Or, Hang Up Your Bike

It’s next to impossible to find space in a tiny studio apartment for a big, bulky bike. To save some serious square footage, consider treating your bike as a piece of art. The bike is still easily accessible, but also completely out of the way. Learn how to build your own wall bike rack, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: DIY Wall Bike Rack

From: Regan Baker

Put Your Backsplash to Work

Short on kitchen storage? Put the unused space between your upper and lower cabinets to good use with a rail system. From kitchen tools to tablet docks, it’s easy to find an accessory for storing nearly anything you can think of. For even more storage, DIY your own backsplash storage system using a pegboard with our how-to, below.

From: LABLstudio

Let In Maximum Natural Light

When dressing your windows, go sheer whenever possible. This way, you gain lots of privacy while only sacrificing a little bit of that precious natural light. Learn more ways to get the most out of your window treatments, below.

See More Photos: Do's + Don'ts of Designer-Worthy Window Treatments

From: Jessica McClendon

Sub a Desk for a Nightstand

Not sure where to put your desk? Say hello to your new nightstand! Using a desk as a nightstand is a genius way to save space, because *hopefully* you’re never sleeping on the job. Find the perfect desk for your small space, below.

learn more: 15 Small Space-Friendly Desks Under $300

From: Sandie Tsai

Give This Furniture Hack a Go

A Murphy bed is a space-saving staple in homes around the globe. Follow the example above and turn your Murphy bed’s support leg into a shelf. Now when you have guests, your living room can actually look like a living room. Give your bed a flip with our step-by-step guide, below.

From: Adams + Beasley Associates

Or, Consider a Horizontal Murphy Bed

At this point, we’re all familiar with the vertical Murphy bed, but have you seen horizontal Murphy beds? While this variation may only work for some, there is some serious space-saving potential here. View more stylish Murphy bed options, below.

See More Photos: 30 Stylish Murphy Beds That Are Smart, Space-Saving Additions

Turn Your Bed Into a Daybed

If you're short on space, a daybed may be the perfect solution. This way, you can use your bed as extra seating during the day, but cozy up for a good night's rest come evening. Not ready to buy? Create your own by placing a twin or double bed against the wall and piling on large throw pillows for a couch-like look. Learn how to build your own lounge-worthy daybed, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: Create a Lounge-Worthy Daybed

From: Kerrie Kelly

Gain Visual Square Footage With Mirrors

The four walls of your apartment may be limiting, but that doesn’t mean you can't add any more space — visually speaking, at least. Add a large floor mirror to visually double the size of your apartment. This designer trick has been around for ages, so isn't it time you put it to use in your space? Reflect on this idea with some of our favorites styles, below.

learn more: 10 Beautiful Full-Length Mirrors Under $100

From: John McClain Design

Build Up, Not Out

If you have tall ceilings, building a loft is a clever way to add additional square footage to your space. In this example, the owner created a sleeping area in the loft and used the space underneath as a small music studio. Take your bed to new heights with our helpful how-to, below.

Building a Loft Bed

Or, Build Just Slightly Up

Love the loft idea but suffering from low-ceiling syndrome? There’s an option for you, too. Instead of a full-on loft, consider building a slightly lower platform with drawers. This is a fantastic way to increase your storage and make use of the unused vertical space above your bed. Pick out your perfect storage bed, below.

learn more: 10 Best Beds With Storage for Every Style

Create Rooms With Curtains

Curtains are a budget-friendly way to add privacy and a sense of separation to an area without totally closing it off. With curtains, even renters can have that cozy bedroom feeling they miss without forfeiting their damage deposit or breaking their lease. Learn more clever ways to add definition to open floor plans, below.

learn more: 5 Tips for Defining Your Space in a Studio Apartment

Construct Your Own Closet

Unfortunately, many studio apartments are closet-less. If you’re one of the unlucky ones, this chic copper garment rack is the answer to all your clothing storage problems. Grab some copper pipe and get to building your own, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Make a Chic Copper Garment Rack

Or, Transform an Existing Closet

If you’re lucky enough to have a closet and maybe even a second coat closet, here’s an out-of-the-box way to use it that you’ll love. By installing a custom desk and some shelving, your closet can be transformed into the perfect home office. Get more ideas for working in a small home office, below.

See More Photos: 65+ Small Home Office Ideas

Try a Folding Desk

Another smart way to fit a workspace into your studio is to build a folding desk. With some folding shelf brackets and a wide piece of wood, you can make a custom desk that’s there when you need it and tucked away when you don’t. Build your own with our steps, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Make a Hanging Desk

From: Braun + Adams

Opt for Wall-Mounted Lighting

Floor lamps are pretty but, like many things, they take up valuable floor space. Here’s a bright idea: Skip the base and take your lighting to the walls instead. With sconces, pendants and flush mounts, you can keep the glow while kicking unnecessary space hogs to the curb. Light up your walls with our DIY option, below.

Watch the Video: Make a Copper Pipe Sconce

From: Design Development

Don't Forget the Backs of Your Doors

Looking for a space-saving storage solution that won't eat up precious floor space? Look no further than the backs of your apartment’s doors. These blank canvases are ready to be fitted with shelves and filled from top to bottom with anything and everything you can think of. Check out other over-the-door storage options, below.

learn more: The Best Over-the-Door Storage Racks and Organizers

Swap In Some Clear Furniture

A clever way to avoid visual clutter is to opt for clear furniture alternatives. Think acrylic shelves, glass coffee tables and Lucite desks, and you’ve got the right idea. We've cleared the way to fabulous acrylic furniture finds, below.

See More Photos: 10 Chic Acrylic Furniture Buys for Every Room

From: Matthew Cane

Don't Be Afraid of Big Art

There’s no need to shy away from big art, even in a tiny apartment. Put it to use in a main living area in lieu of a mural, or hang a piece above your bed to give the illusion of a bespoke headboard. Feeling creative? Get a few ideas for DIYing your own art, below.

See More Photos: 50 DIY Wall Art Projects

From: Right Meets Left Design