15 Steps How To Decorate A Studio Apartment (Complete With Pictures)

How To Decorate A Studio Apartment - Studio apartments pack the meat and potatoes of a house into a small space, combining a bedroom, kitchenette, and living room into one. Decorating a studio apartment for the first time can seem daunting, but the key is to give every inch of space a purpose. Small areas can seem spacious if you know how to trick the eye and use multipurpose furniture. If you appreciate a minimalist style, furnishing a studio apartment might be just what you need.

• Arrange furniture

1. Use furniture to divide your apartment into "sub-rooms". The main room of a studio acts as three rooms in one: bedroom, living room and kitchen. You can create the feeling of three separate rooms by using the furniture to separate areas.

Sofas, armchairs or loveseat can define a “living room” area. Your bed can also separate your sleeping area.

Rugs, coffee tables, or shelves can anchor your apartment furniture and make your apartment subspaces feel more organized.

2. Place the bed directly against a wall. Your bed should be placed either parallel or perpendicular to a wall. Putting your bed in the middle of the room makes your studio feel cramped and cluttered. Consider investing in a day bed or trundle bed if you're short on space.

For extra space, choose a low bed without a frame. This will prevent your bed from blocking windows or taking up extra space.

3. Install moveable partitions. Incorporating partitions can help you divide your studio apartment into separate areas. When guests are over, you can partition off your sleeping area for a sense of privacy. Folding screens or ceiling mounted curtains can take up minimal space in your studio when not in use.

Try to divide the space into aesthetically pleasing proportions. Room parts look most beautiful when they are divided into 1/3 or 2/3 parts.

4. Think vertical with storage. To get the most out of your shelves, choose shelves that are tall and thin. You can use more space for your belongings without choosing a huge storage system. A large bookshelf or wardrobe can serve as a great divider between the bedroom and living area.

Placing tall shelves above doors or windows can also draw the eye upwards (which in turn gives the impression of a larger room) and give you more space in your studio.

5. Choose furniture with visible legs. The furniture you choose can help with the illusion of space. Sofas or chairs with visible legs (as opposed to fabric-covered legs) create a sense of lightness and airiness. The distance between the floor and your furniture helps with an open floor plan.

6. Clear a path. Avoid placing your furniture in the middle of the room where it can block your space from end to end. By pushing most of your furniture to the edges, you maximize open space and avoid a claustrophobic atmosphere. Rate this by walking from one end of the studio to the other. If you can do this without much effort, then you have a clear path.

7. Choose your furniture carefully. When arranging furniture in a studio, choose quality over quantity: too many chairs or sofas in a small space can make you feel cramped. When choosing between two small sofas or a large one, always choose the latter.

• Create space

8. Keep only the essentials. Choosing to live in a studio means giving up unnecessary items. Go through your stuff and only keep your must-haves. Get rid of threadbare clothes, books you no longer read, and furniture that just gets in the way.

Donate your old stuff to a charity to put it to good use. Contact your local thrift store, the Salvation Army, or Goodwill.

If you're struggling to clean up, hire a professional organizer to help.

9. Choose items that are multifunctional. Every inch of floor in your home needs to be used effectively. Investing in durable, dual-use furniture can help you get the most out of your studio apartment. Consider buying a trundle bed that folds down into a sofa or coffee tables that double as benches.

Buy furniture from companies that specialize in minimalist decor or micro-living. You will likely have dual-purpose furniture options suitable for studio apartments.

10. Identify all “dead space” and repurpose it. After creating a basic layout for your furniture and belongings, look for areas of the home that aren't being used. Look for large spots with empty walls or empty corners. Think about how you can repurpose these empty spaces to best suit your needs.

For example, if the right corner of your studio is empty, you can place a beanbag there. You can then convert it into a reading or relaxation area.

Don't overdo it and clutter every area of ​​your home with stuff. A little empty space is good and contributes to the balance of an apartment. Just make sure each area has a purpose.

11. Strategically place mirrors to make the room feel larger. A well-placed mirror can make your home appear twice as big as it is. Placing mirrors opposite a window reflects natural light and makes the room feel more spacious. You can also place a mirror across from a large end table or shelf to make it appear like an entire room is tucked into the mirror.

• Personalize your Apartment

12. Choose light, neutral color schemes. If you can paint the walls, stick with neutral colors like beige or light pastels: neutrals are expansive and can make an apartment appear larger than it is. They also create a feeling of warmth and balance.

13. Vary the decoration with textures. Too many colors can be overwhelming in small spaces. You have to be creative when adding variety to your decorations. Having a single color theme and mixing different textures is the ideal way to add vibrancy. You could buy furniture with intricate carvings and decorate it with fluffy plush cushions.

14. For decorations, follow the "melon rule". Avoid large, garish items when decorating your studio apartment. According to the "Melon Rule," any accents larger than a melon will fill small spaces. Pick a few select items that are larger, but aim for most decorations to be compact.

For example, instead of a large lamp that takes up a lot of space, you could opt for a small desk lamp. So you have enough light to read or work in the dark without taking up much space.

15. Decorate with bold, dramatic art to make the home feel spacious. For studio apartments, beware of landscapes or classic paintings. Instead, choose flashy designs with lots of action. Modern art, especially pop art, is an excellent choice for studio apartments.

Again, beware of pieces with too many color deviations.

The cantaloupe rule doesn't necessarily apply to works of art. Instead of two or three smaller pieces of art, choose an eye-catching canvas that makes a statement. When it comes to art in small spaces, too much hanging on the walls can become overwhelming.