Is your studio apartment starting to feel a little cramped? Would you love to carve out an extra bit of living space that’s airy, modern and functional, all without giving up comfort or style? Great! You’re not alone. People routinely face this challenge of making the most of a tiny living space, and luckily there are numerous space-saving décor hacks that can help you transform your studio into a home that you can love living in. Read on to see how easy it can be.
The Problem with Small Spaces
Living in a studio apartment is the ultimate Tetris game. You’re constantly moving things around, trying to make room for your entire life and not end up with a dumpster fire of chaos and clutter. But don’t fear! With the right ideas, the right furniture, the right attitude, there’s no reason you can’t make a studio apartment feel like a cozy, efficient home.
1: Multi-Functional Furniture
The golden rule of small-space living is multi-functionality. This is the concept of an end table that converts to a storage box and coffee table. In the language of Craigslist, it’s known as a ‘sleeper sofa’, a coffee table with storage, or an ottoman that doubles as a seat and storage.
Example: I have a sofa which you can sleep on at night, but during the day you can use it to sit on. It saves space for other use.
2: Vertical Storage Solutions
If floor space is scarce, look to the sky! Vertical storage such as bookshelves, wall shelves, work benches and hanging storage can make use of the often-overlooked vertical space in your home.
Example: Hang floating shelves above your desk to house books, décor and office supplies, so that your workspace stays clean and tidy.
3: Under-Bed Storage
Natural storage the super-saver for tiny apartments: Build a storage bed, which can house all your off-season clothing, extra bedding and other items you don’t need to access every day. Storage bins, drawers and vacuum-sealed storage bags come in handy.
Example: Low-profile storage bins that fit under your bed are a great way to tuck away your stuff so others won’t see it even though they’re only a couple of feet from you.
4: Foldable Furniture
Lastly, furnish for a small space. Foldable furniture is ideal for small spaces. When it’s not in use, a folding chair can be tucked into a corner, and a folding table or desk can be put away in a closet or slid behind a couch. Look for indoor/outdoor furniture with weather-resistant, easy-to-clean features and fabrics.
Example: a dining table that can be unfolded to make a dining area for a meal and can be folded down when no longer needed to make additional living space.
5: Room Dividers
As long as you can afford it, use room dividers to break up your studio apartment into the kitchen, bedroom, living room, etc. The more your studio looks like four separate spaces, the more it will feel like four separate spaces, and the bigger it will appear.
Your choices include things like folding screens, curtains or open shelving units.
Example: You can use a bookshelf as a room divider to separate your sleeping area from your living area. By doing this, you can get more storage space.
6: Mirrors, Mirrors, Mirrors
And mirrors are a classic move when trying to make a space feel bigger. Of course, mirrors don’t add any physical area, but they do reflect light and make it feel like there’s more room than what’s actually there. It helps to place mirrors in a way that they reflect natural light back into the room and can bounce the effect off other areas.
Example: The following sentence is paraphrased from the same text: A large mirror on the wall across from a window can make your apartment feel brighter and more spacious.
7: Light and Airy Colors
Light colors will make the room feel larger and brighter. Select a neutral color scheme with pops of color as accents. Consider white, beige, light grey and pastels as options.
Example: Paint your walls a light, bright color, and then use colorful pillow covers and art on the walls to add interest without overwhelming the room.
8: Minimalist Décor
Less is more in small spaces and choose large and bulky furnishings sparingly; clean lines are best. Stairs don’t have to be carpeted, but if you do decide to carpet, choose an easy-care color. As for the decor of your new place, try a minimalist approach: go for a few ‘statement’ pieces and keep surfaces clear of small and colorful ‘stuff’.
Example: Decorate your walls, sparingly. Pick one or two favorite pieces and give them space to breathe.
9: Built-In Storage Solutions
Built-in storage solutions are a godsend in a small apartment. Look for furniture with storage built in or custom built-ins if you can.
Example: The bed has drawers running its whole length to keep clothes, bedding and whatnot.
10: Clever Closet Organization
Even closets in studio apartments can be small, but a little organization goes a long way in staying on top of everything. Hanging organizers, shelf dividers and storage boxes keep things from becoming messy.
Example: Put in a second hanging rod in your closet to double your hanging space, and use shelf dividers to keep sweaters and bags organized.
11: Compact Appliances
Regarding kitchen appliances, smaller is always bigger: if an appliance can serve several purposes, save yourself space and invest in it.
Example: A combination microwave and convection oven will take up less counter space than having two separate appliances while still allowing you to prepare a wide variety of dishes.
12: Floating Furniture
Furniture mounted on the wall, such as wall-mounted desks and nightstands, can take up less floor space and make your apartment feel less crowded.
Example: If you have a wall-mounted desk you can have a desk without having to take up valuable floor space.
13: Hidden Storage
Your best friend in the small apartment is hidden storage; find furniture with secret compartments or reengineer your own.
Example: ‘A hollow ottoman can store blankets, books, or other items while doubling as an extra seat.’
14: Streamlined Entertainment Center
If you have an entertainment center, be sure to minimize it, mounting your TV on the wall and using a small, slim console for media storage.
Example: a flat screen mounted on a wall takes up no floor space, and a skinny console can contain your media players and peripherals.
15: Flexible Layout
Lastly, go for a forgiving scale. Experiment with the furniture — and not just positions, but even pieces — as you play with your music room’s shape.
Example: Create different furniture layouts to determine the best use of space and your personal stationery needs.
“But I Love My Stuff!”
‘But I love my stuff!’ you’re probably thinking. ‘How can I get rid of anything?’ The truth is, you don’t have to get rid of everything you love; you just have to be strategic about storing and displaying your things so that your apartment doesn’t feel cluttered and cramped.
“What’s Next?”
With these 15 space-saving decor hacks in your arsenal, you’re one step closer to turning your studio apartment into a functional and stylish space!
But wait, there’s more… Timeless décor abides by strict rules, and compact living spaces have their own unique challenges. And so, we’ll bring you our upcoming article soon on how to personalize your tiny space without adding bulk. There are more space-saving decor hacks to help you make your studio apartment feel more like home.