Studio Decorating Tips

Studio apartment layouts demand innovative and resourceful thinking. I'll be discussing how to furnish a small dwelling here on my blog. Tips on how to make the most of a small living space and creative layout options for a studio apartment are provided. As well as text, this article features a plethora of images that will inspire your studio apartment's interior design.

Although studio apartments are typically smaller, that doesn't mean you can't have a lovely and practical space. The tips in this article will show you how to make the most of a small space. Okay, so what is a studio apartment, exactly?

For those who are unfamiliar, what exactly is a studio apartment?

The kitchen, bedroom, and living space in a studio apartment are all condensed into one compact space. However, some studios feature a full kitchen. This apartment is still a studio because the living area and bedroom are combined, despite the fact that there are now two separate rooms.

Though I myself spent my first year of independence in a studio, the common perception of a studio apartment is that it is only suitable for students.

My goal in this article is to demonstrate how to make a small apartment suitable for living, entertaining, and sleeping in a chic and comfortable manner.

Ono/Historiska Hem

Layout Concepts for a Studio Apartment

In the beginning of the process of designing your studio apartment, you should consider what you need and want in a place to live. If you plan it out properly, a studio apartment can serve as your permanent home with plenty of room to spare.

Do you enjoy hosting dinner parties and cooking? Then, the kitchen and dining room must be your top priority. To what extent do you use your home as a place of work or study? Establish a respectable workspace.

This doesn't imply reducing other luxuries in your micro-apartment; rather, it's a matter of deciding which ones are most important to you and devoting space and resources to them.

In this article, I will discuss the best color schemes for a studio apartment, show you how to create distinct areas within a studio, and provide some practical advice for making the most of a small living space.

Separating a Studio Space

To make it seem like you have more space than you do, you should divide your small studio into a living/dining area and a sleeping area.

A studio apartment's limited square footage allows for a variety of creative space-splitting options. Loft beds, bookcase dividers, and imaginative use of color and fabric are just a few examples. Check out the following for some creative ways to section off a studio.

Using bookcases to section off a studio

An elevated IKEA Billy bookshelf makes for a pleasant reading nook (photo by Bjurfors).

Put a bookcase at the end of the bed, and voila! Having carved out a private space for your bedroom Make a design statement with your bookcase by filling it with plants, books, and other one-of-a-kind objects (photo credit: Mikkel Dahlstrm).

Image of York Street

In order to section off rooms, many people use the IKEA Kallax bookcase. It's efficient not only because it makes private spaces for storage, but also because the open cubicles let in light and make the area feel less claustrophobic.

Photographed at an IKEA A simple open bookcase (photo by Lindsay Brown) can serve as a makeshift partition between the sleeping and dressing areas. create: Sandy Wen

A fantastic example of do-it-yourself skill is shown above. With the addition of a plywood bookshelf, a studio can pass for a one-bedroom.

The windows ensure that no natural light is lost, and the cabinets beneath them provide much-needed extra space for a tiny house's crowded closets.

This bedroom (photo credit: IKEA) features open shelving to create a quieter, more secluded space for sleeping.

Using rugs to section off a studio

Rugs are a great way to demarcate space. They are commonly found in the studio's sitting area. Besides serving as effective dividers, they enrich a room with personality and depth.

image by: Jacqueline Clair

The bright area rugs not only add style to the otherwise monochromatic studio apartment, but also serve to visually separate the space into a living room and bedroom.

Photographer Jonas Berg and stylist Emma Fischer.

The carpet delineates the sitting area and adds a splash of color to the otherwise monochromatic studio.

The sitting area in the studio is delineated by a large striped (IKEA) rug. pictures by Bjurfors Stadshem photo

Not only does the rug serve as a divider, but the artwork can also serve this purpose. To demarcate spaces, hang art only above the sofa and leave the bedroom's walls blank.

Amelia Widell's rug in this room's alcove (photo by Andrea Papini) creates a warm and inviting spot to relax.

Studio space can be partitioned using (relocatable) screens.

The adaptability of screens makes them a great choice for a small space like a studio. It is portable, so you can hide whatever you want (you know, to hang clothes or other items (like when you haven't done the dishes or made your bed), and to hang these things from.

Pictured: The Makleri Lobby

The benefit of screens is that you can remove them whenever you like. Having not yet made your bed Okay, let's tuck that away, but if you prefer a completely open studio, you can always just roll up the screen and store it.

Incorporating a folding screen like Pella Hedeby's that she made with an IKEA Ivar for a more organic feel in the studio (instructions available here).

The use of a loft bed to section off a studio

Choose a loft bed to create a private sleeping space in a small apartment if you don't mind the extra climbing and aren't too worried about falling out of bed each night. It's a space-saver and keeps your private quarters hidden.

A loft bed and a comfy seating area beneath the bed in a brown and red IKEA studio apartment. A great hygge room is characterized by a combination of textures, warm colors, and cozy furnishings.

capture by: Alvhem

There's a walk-in closet beneath the loft bed in this girly pink studio.

Henrik Nero, interior designer and photographer, in his lofty studio. Ragnar Omarsson (photo by)

If extreme heights aren't your thing, settling for the middle is an option. Small but efficient, Pella Hedeby's studio for IKEA features a loft bed at the middle height and storage space below.

image: Amazing Frank

This is a project for the do-it-yourselfers out there. It's multifunctional as a loft bed, sofa, and shelving unit, and it's mobile for convenience.

You can trust IKEA to maximize a limited amount of space. The loft bed in this IKEA studio apartment doubles as a comfortable seating area and a convenient storage space for books.

This Scandinavian-style studio apartment has a loft bed, which allows for a sizable desk and living area. The curved loft bed is a lovely design detail.

In this house, the alcove was converted into a loft bedroom with storage below.

Scandinavian minimalism, complete with a loft bed perched above the kitchen and a tiny dining area. The loft steps serve a dual purpose as extra closet space.

Decorating a small bedroom?

Curtains can be used to create separate living areas in a studio.

A studio apartment's use of a curtain to create a division between living areas allows the occupants to conceal an unsightly feature. In addition to serving as a divider between the living room and the bedroom, it can be used to conceal messy bookcases. And bringing some texture into a home is always a good idea to add warmth to a space

picture: Amazing Frank Photographer: Ellie Koleen

The bedroom area of the studio above has been elevated, and a curtain can be drawn to separate the sleeping quarters from the living quarters.

Genevieve Garruppo (photo by:

Multiple partitioning options are available in this studio. Room decor consisting of a large rug in the living area, a curtain around the bed, and a bookcase to demarcate the workspace

By drawing a curtain over the space behind the sofa (photo by Benjamin Edwards), a private sleeping quarter can be created.

Sheer curtains are another option for making your bedroom feel more private without sacrificing any of the natural light that comes in through your windows.

A (glass) wall can be used to partition a studio.

To divide the sleeping quarters from the living space, I installed Ivar cabinets from IKEA and a glass wall from an industrial building supply store.

Image by: Bjurfors

Living and sleeping quarters are separated by a thin glass wall. Glass walls allow light to enter even if the room is enclosed, which is useful if there is only light coming in from one side.

Putting up a half-height wall won't make your bedroom feel small or dark while still providing the privacy you desire. And you can hang pictures or a TV on the wall.

Bjurfors/Alen Cordic photo

Set up a canopy bed to section off your studio

With a canopy bed, you can divide your bedroom into distinct areas, and you can use the space above your bed for anything from displaying your wardrobe to growing plants.

Chelsae Anne has a stunning canopy bed in her bedroom.

Space-split a studio apartment with strategically placed furniture

You can divide up your studio into distinct areas simply by rearranging the furniture. You can avoid having to constantly stare at your bed if you position your sofa so that it faces the foot of your bed (and if you want, you can even use a screen to further conceal your bed).

The sofa in an industrial studio apartment is set at an angle to the bed, creating a sleeping area. Separate the living and sleeping areas of the studio with a cozy rug.

As far as compact furniture goes, IKEA is unrivaled. In the image above, you can see a studio apartment with a sofa (or bed) and a desk in the corner.

The separation of the sleeping and living areas is as easy as placing a small low bookcase behind the bed. photograph by: Melanie Rieders

The separation between the living room and the bedroom is accomplished by a vintage L-shaped Arne Vodder desk.

Separate living space achieved by placing an antique sofa at the foot of the bed. I really like how it is angled, which can be practical if your studio is small.

Anna Spaller (in a photo)

The studio's living and sleeping areas are subtly but effectively separated by the sofa.

Use the crannies in your studio to create separate areas.

The nook in your studio apartment is an amazing luxury. If your studio needs distinct areas, this is what you need. Although the bedroom is the most common use for the nook, a home office can be set up in the corner of a studio apartment if its occupants frequently conduct business from home. In this article, you will see some creative ways to set up a small office at home, such as using a nook or closet.

Pictured: BOSTLHM

Those lucky homeowners up top have a cozy little nook that can be made into a double bed and hidden away with a curtain. Obviously, the nook's primary function is to house a bed, but it can serve other purposes as well; for instance, if you share a studio apartment with another person and you conduct business or pursue academic pursuits from home, you could partition off a small work area in the nook. For example, a hobby room that you don't want people wandering into

A bed built from IKEA Malm dressers provides extra room and storage in a small apartment.

As you can see up top, if your studio doesn't already have a nook in the floorplan, you can easily make one by incorporating a closet wall. When the sun goes down, you can lock the doors and get some shut-eye.

image: IKEA

Bedroom alcove with dark paint and slanted ceiling; can be partitioned off with a curtain.

Studio apartments can be subdivided using color to create separate spaces.

The use of a paintbrush is another option for delineating space. As an optical trick, you can create the impression of a distinct area by painting one section a different color. (if you want your studio to have an air of tranquility about it, use just two colors from the same palette. Read on for more info about color schemes.

Studio with multipurpose and adaptable furnishings

If you have a small space, like a studio, you need furniture that can serve multiple purposes. I've already mentioned the aforementioned bookcases, which serve both as a room divider and a storage area.

Multi-use home furnishings

The brand-new PLATSA bedframe from IKEA That's because it's a system you can tailor to your specific requirements. There's a closet with open shelves up top, but you can customize it by adding more or less shelves, or even drawers. It serves many purposes and can be used to make a private bedroom. As an added bonus, there is space for additional items under the bed, which is perfect for those with limited floorplan options. Optimize the available area.

Balázs Glódi (photo by)

Modular sleeping quarters featuring a versatile pegboard wall and ample under-bed storage

VT Wonen (photo by:

One can use the space above their bed as a desk or bookcase.

Sofa-bed-equipped studio

A murphy bed in a small apartment

If you're short on floor space and would like to conceal your bed during the day, a murphy bed is the way to go. In the morning, all you have to do is turn it upside down, and you'll have a lot more room to move around in.

This studio's murphy bed is concealed by custom-painted panels, making it both a space-saving solution and a stylish focal point (photo by Elaine Musiwa).

A workshop with collapsible desks

A folding table is perfect for a cramped apartment. There are a number of ways you can implement this space-saving concept. You can buy a variety of foldable desks and tables (like the IKEA Norden), build one yourself, or even mount one to the wall.

IKEA's Ivar system in action in a custom-built office When you're done using the table, simply fold it up (also, awesome paint concept). )

In addition to being a mirror when folded up against the wall, this folding table can also be used to display artwork (as demonstrated in a tutorial available on Handimania).

The Urban Outfitters fold-out desk is a stylish and practical mid-century modern design.

Studio apartment color schemes

While the majority of resources on studio apartment decor will tell you to use a pale color palette, I find that limiting. Please don't take this as me suggesting that there is only one acceptable color scheme for a small space like a studio apartment.

While some people may prefer a bare, neutral aesthetic, others may want to make a bold statement with brightly colored walls in their homes. Worry less about the opinions of others and more about your own needs. What hues do you find most uplifting and want to see every day?

If you like a lot of bright colors in your home, that's fine, there's no rule against it. You can use a variety of methods to bring color into your home, such as painting the walls, purchasing and arranging colorful furniture, and accessorizing with colorful fabrics and accessories.

There aren't many "color guidelines" to refer to if you're having trouble deciding on the right hues.

• Similar in temperature colors look good together. The spectrum of visible light includes both warm (like beige and brown) and cool (like blue and green) hues.
• All black or all white Although a color temperature covers a wide range, it can be simplified by selecting only one or two colors. Similar tones include the soft pink and bright pink of the pink color family as well as the white, grey, and black of the traditional Scandinavian color scheme.
• Color contrasts are visually appealing. By pairing colors from opposite ends of the color wheel, you can make a bold, eye-catching statement. Take pink and blue as an example.

You'll see that there is no one "perfect" color scheme for a studio apartment by looking at the examples provided below.

The purple walls and white furniture in this studio apartment are a perfect example of the concept of contrasting colors. red and yellow versus blue Even though there is a lot of color going on, the result is a lively, cheerful, and uniquely the owner's home (photo credit: Mathieu Lacote).

Switch to the gloomy side This striking studio is decked out in all black, from the walls to the furniture, and even has a canopy bed. White walls in a small house? (Rydman did the styling, and Boukari took the photo)

Jonas Berg (photo by)

This studio is less extreme than the last one we saw, but it too is painted a dark color and furnished with antiques. If you want to make your home more welcoming, try adding some pink as a contrast to the blue. (Check out the ingenious shelf installed over the doorway. )

model: Rima Brindamour

Studio apartment with brightly colored walls and varied textures

Laura Metzler (photo by)

Although it's easy to associate monochrome with sterile white or grey rooms, this is also a monochromatic design. The room is colorful but soothing, with pink walls and a darker pink velvet sofa both from the same color family.

Snapshot: Bjurfors

This apartment's color scheme of grey and green is chilly. When you want to add color but don't want to paint every wall, a statement wall is an option.

Anders Bergstedt (in a photo)

To liven up the basic shade of grey, blue and delicate pink have been added. When put together, pink and blue make a beautiful contrast.

Tendency toward the mellow and light Minimalists may choose a monochromatic color scheme of light greys, beige, and light wood (with a brass or mustard yellow accent) for their studio apartment.

Tips for making the most of a small dwelling

It seems obvious, but if you have a studio apartment, make the most of the square footage you have. Usually, this means you'll have to take an ascent. In this article, I've already demonstrated some loft ideas that can be used to partition off a bedroom, free up additional space, and accommodate a variety of purposes.

Curtains or sliding doors can also be used in place of conventional doors to save on square footage, as the latter require more room to swing open. Don't forget about out-of-the-way places like above and behind doors.

Copparstad on styling, and Boukari on photography

The studio maximizes its storage space by installing floor-to-ceiling shelves along the walls. As an added bonus, the shelves can be used as a desk.

Storage units take up the entirety of one wall in this IKEA room. A curtain is a simple way to conceal the clutter and make the space look neater.

photographer: Jonas Gustavsson

Adding storage and a visual barrier between the sleeping area and the rest of the house can be accomplished with a bed that has drawers or a shelf underneath.

One advantage of a storage bed like the one shown above is the ease with which it can be accessed. Unlike beds with drawers, this choice doesn't necessitate as much clearance around the bed in order to be opened. A must-have for storing away seasonal wear and other seldom-used items.

Shelves are a great use for the often-overlooked area above doors.

What, if anything, can we learn from this guide to decorating a small space like a studio apartment?

• prioritizing your primary home function is the first step.
• evaluate the room's layout to see if there are any tucked-away Would you like to divide the space into various areas? what direction is the source of the light coming from
• Equip your home with multipurpose pieces
• Consider what sort of color scheme you'd like to use in your home (and don't listen to those who say that small spaces must be decorated in pastels).
• go up , as well as make full use of the available room

First and foremost, this post on studio apartment design demonstrates that just because your living quarters are compact, that doesn't mean you have to skimp on style.

If you're looking for more ideas for your studio apartment, The Nordroom has a Pinterest board dedicated to studio and loft apartment ideas, which you can view here.