Living in a Tiny Studio? Here Are 12 Ways to Make It Work
Use every square inch to its full potential.
Use a Bookshelf as a Room Divider
Courtesy of IKEA
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 in your studio with a large piece of furniture like a bookshelf. In this example from Ikea, they're using a tall shelf to block off some space for a home office.
Turn Your Bed Into a Daybed
Floral Pillows Complement Geometric Wallpaper in Feminine Studio Apartment
Natural light filters into this small, feminine space, making it feel brighter and larger. Since the fun, geometric wallpaper is the anchor for the design, white bed linens, floral pillows and colorful stools were added to break up the pattern and bring some additional color into the space, creating an interesting, fun, unique design.
Photo by: Susie Herr
Susie Herr
If you’re short on space, you can turn your bed into a daybed. This would allow you to use your bed as a couch during the day to create extra seating options in your studio. You can simply create your own daybed like designer Susie Herr did here, by placing your twin or double bed against the wall and using large throw pillows to create a couch-like look.
Designate an Accent Wall
Contemporary Studio Apartment With Accent Wall
This Upper West Side studio began its life as a bland white box. Now, soft cream on the walls continues to the ceiling beams, adding depth and dimension to the space. The hand-painted pinstriped paint treatment is both easy to produce and easy to cover up, an ideal combo for a rental. Removable wallpaper by LABLstudio forms a focal point on one wall, and layered bedding exudes youthful, casual charm.
Photo by: Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
Creating an accent wall in a small studio is a great way to create some visual interest. In this example from LabLStudio, they used a bold, abstract wallpaper to define the space in the bedroom. The accent wall serves as a giant piece of art.
Try a Loft
If you have tall ceilings in your studio, building a loft is a killer way to add some 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.
Create Your Own Closet Space
Nick O’Neill, Courtesy of Laurel & Wolf
Studio apartments often have limited closet space. However, this example from Laurel & Wolf reminds us that you don’t necessarily need a closet to store your clothes. If you’re lacking closet space, consider using an empty wall to create an open-air closet. Using different drawers, shelves and hanging racks can allow you to create the perfect "walk-in closet."
Get Creative With Shelving
Contemporary Built-In Wine Rack
A custom built-in provides ample storage in the open dining room and sets the stage for entertaining. We love how the piece integrates storage for both wine bottles and glasses in a simplistic fashion.
Photo by: Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
Another great idea for an open wall in your studio is creating a unique shelving unit. LabLStudio created some additional storage space in the kitchen with this simple, custom wood shelving unit. Wine bottles are stacked but still accessible, and wineglasses are neatly arranged.
Keep Your Bike — Just Store It
Wall-Mounted Bike Rack
The main room in the apartment is multi-use; it's a living room, a kitchen and a dining room. In order to preserve valuable floorspace, the designers opted for a wall-mounted bike rack.
Photo by: MATTHEW WILLIAMS
MATTHEW WILLIAMS
It’s next to impossible to find storage space in a tiny studio apartment for a big, bulky bike. In another genius project by LabLStudio, they show us how you can actually treat your bike as a piece of art. Hang a bike rack on your wall, and proudly display your bike under a colorful painting. The bike is still easily accessible, but it's also completely out of the way. Best of all, it’s not taking up any of your limited floor space.
Don't Be Afraid of BIG Art
Feminine Apartment Living Room
Large-scale artwork fills this small apartment living room with color. A pink Nina Ricci dress and sequin shoes were used as accessories to personalize and add a feminine touch to the transitional space.
Photo by: John Dolan Photography
John Dolan Photography
There’s no need to shy away from big art, even in a tiny studio apartment. Right Meets Left Design gives us a gorgeous example of how to use big, bold art in a small space. You could also try a big art piece like this above your bed in lieu of a headboard.
Use Curtains to Define Your Space
Cozy Studio Bed with Luxurious Fabrics
A readymade bed was painted and built-in to look like custom cabinetry. Airy, floral curtains separate the bed from the rest of the apartment
Another easy, no-fuss way to define your space is with curtains. Jarret Yoshida Design used gauzy curtains to create a private sleeping area in this studio.
Make Use of Every Corner
This charming corner banquette in a space designed by Kristi Nelson helps bring home the point that in a studio, you need to make sure you’re efficiently using every square inch of space. Banquettes are a great option if you need to create an additional seating area or if you only have a tiny amount of space to create your dining room area.
Wall Shelves Are Your Friend
Wall shelves are another great way to define areas and create extra storage space. Since they're available in various sizes, you can create a wall shelf arrangement like this one which isn’t evenly stacked but makes great use of the limited space above the sofa. A simple wall shelf is also a great solution next to your front door if you don’t have enough room for any entryway furniture.
Focus on Double-Duty Furniture
Eclectic Mudroom With Bench Storage
This eclectic white entryway houses a functional mudroom featuring a contemporary storage bench. Wooden shelving is situated above the bench, creating additional storage options. Colorful geometric patterns are used to keep the space feeling lively and trendy.
In a studio apartment, it makes sense to choose as many double-duty furniture pieces as you can. 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. And if you're going to get a bench, make sure you follow TerraCotta Design Build’s lead and get one with additional storage inside.
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