Studio apartments are the most common type of apartment many people get the first time they move into their own place. Whether you’re just starting out in your first place or moving to a smaller apartment for economic reasons of living in a large city, studio apartment living can present unique challenges, especially when it comes to decorating and storage. Decorating a small apartment can be a challenge. You want to maximize the space to make it a more comfortable living space.
Here are some studio apartment design ideas to do just that!
1. Paint in bright, light colors
Light and neutral colors will give the illusion of space and airiness, so paint your walls whites, beige’s, or muted pastels. Painting the walls a dark color will make the walls stand out which is not good when you are working with small spaces. Light walls will trick the eye and make it seem as if the walls disappeared.
Tip: Use mirrors. The reflection will enlarge the space. Put a long mirror at the end of your hallway to give the illusion of length.
2. Find unconventional hidden storage solutions
Keeping everything in its place is key when living in a small apartment. Take advantage of space under your bed and under cabinets. An easy storage idea is to hang things on the inside of cabinet doors or closet doors, like in the image below.
3. Use room dividers
The best way to make your small apartment seem larger is to use dividers. This will create the illusion that the apartment has more rooms that it actually does. Use a large bookshelf to separate the space between your living room and your bedroom. It will make it seem as though your apartment has separate living spaces and will keep guests from using your bed as a couch!
4. Let in the light
Opening the drapes and investing in light fixtures and lamps will help your studio apartment feel larger, cleaner, and more welcoming. Most studio apartments don’t have more than one or two windows, so take advantage of the natural sunlight and use sheer curtains instead of heavy drapes.
5. Invest in Flexible furnishings
Pull-out couches, coffee tables with storage units, foldable chairs….these are all great furnishings that can be flexibly used for either storage space or for other purposes.
6. Use Walls for storage
Put shelves on the wall. It’s great for storage and for showing off your book collection, photos, or art collection.
7. Add artwork to the walls
Art on your walls can do pretty impressive things in a small space. It can anchor the furniture, provide color and texture, draw attention from the size of the room, and add personality and style to your studio apartment. A large print on one wall will make the room seem larger than it is.
