Home » Misc » Studio apartment arrangement ideas

Studio apartment arrangement ideas


12 Perfect Studio Apartment Layouts That Work

By

Deirdre Sullivan

Deirdre Sullivan

Deirdre Sullivan is an interior design expert and features writer who specializes in home improvement as well as design. She began her career as an assistant editor at Elle magazine and has more than a decade of experience. Deirdre contributes content for brands including The Spruce and Realtor.com, and has been a featured speaker at various conferences.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 09/30/20

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto 

Just because your studio is less than 600 square feet, doesn't mean it has to feel like a tiny dorm room. In fact, there are a multitude of creative ways for utilizing the space you have and making it feel more open and ample. Of course, you can't magically expand your apartment's footprint (unless you knock down your neighbor's walls). But with a little space planning and the right décor, you can maximize every square inch of your place to create the grown-up home you deserve—no remodeling required!

The apartment layouts below show how easy it is to work with what you have and successfully decorate a small space. The possibilities are limitless—even with a shortage of square footage.

Watch Now: 5 Design Tricks for a Studio Apartment

How to Maximize Your Space in a Studio Apartment

25 Studio Apartment Ideas for Decor and Layout

By

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel is an interior design expert who has covered architecture, interiors, and decor trends for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Lonny, and the American and international editions of Elle Decor. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Published on 09/15/21

Hotel Henriette

Whether you find yourself living in a studio apartment out of choice or necessity, small space decorating can be a challenge in a super-sized world. But it can also be fun to embrace the creativity that comes from having constraints, and rewarding to create a functional and elevated small space. Here are some clever tips for decorating your studio apartment that will help you maximize your space without skimping on style.

13 options with photos, tips

Designers told about the main rules and the most common mistakes in studio interiors

Photo: KUPRYNENKO ANDRII\shutterstock

A studio, as a rule, is a small apartment without interior partitions, except for a bathroom. Such a layout creates a feeling of more space, but during repairs, difficulties often arise here, since in the absence of walls it is necessary to zone the space with the help of non-standard design solutions and decor. nine0003

We tell you how to competently create a studio interior and visually enlarge the space.

Studio design errors

adv.rbc.ru

Incorrect scale

The most common and most critical mistake in the design and decoration of studio apartments, even among professional designers, is an incorrect assessment of the scale of solutions to the size of the room, said Sergey Petrov, head of Design Bureau No. 1. “If you have the slightest doubt, have we not applied a lot of everything? Imagine that the room is two or three times larger. If you understand that the interior is starting to look better and more adequate, then you definitely went too far with the design,” Petrov clarified. nine0003

Correctly calculate the size of the furniture (Photo: Robert Kneschke/shutterstock)

Overloading with furniture

When designing a studio apartment, do not litter and overload the interior with decor and furniture. “Saturation of objects will narrow the space and create visual noise. It is better to opt for concise simple forms. The same applies to decoration: do not overload the interior with various decorative elements so as not to crush the walls, floor and ceiling - this will also visually narrow and reduce the space, ”recommends Stepan Bugaev, founder of the Flatplan service. nine0003

Don't go overboard with furniture and decor (Photo: InnaFelker/shutterstock)

Extra partitions

Another common mistake in studio design is extra walls and partitions that don't make any sense, Bugaev clarified. According to him, it is preferable for studios to use open joint spaces, otherwise the room will become visually smaller. nine0003

Avoid partitions that don't make sense (Photo: Alexey Slyusarenko/shutterstock)

Multi-colored floor

Another common mistake in studio design is overdoing the colors and flooring materials. It should be decided in advance whether there will be one material on the floor in the entire studio or whether different zones are needed, Bugaev advised. According to him, in studio apartments it is better not to use more than two materials on the floor. nine0003

Do not use more than two studio floor coverings (Photo: LadyRhino/shutterstock)

Lack of cabinets

A very common mistake when renovating a studio apartment is the wrong design of storage systems, when there are much more things than cabinets, said Victoria Maslyuk, designer of the Balcon studio. According to her, it is worth using closed storage as much as possible so that the effect of a mess is not created. nine0003

Don't forget to buy large storage systems (Photo: KAZLOVA IRYNA/shutterstock)

Studio design basic rules

The design of small apartments requires a lot of attention to create balance and harmony. Designers Sergey Petrov and Victoria Maslyuk listed 13 basic rules you need to know if you are designing a design studio.

Styles

Contemporary studio design No.

1

It's better not to experiment with styles in a small studio, modern style or minimalism is most suitable for such apartments, said the founder of Flatplan. “It will be difficult to implement a classic interior, classic rounded elements take up a lot of space. Use natural shades as an accent, ”Bugaev recommended.

Design studio in modern style No. 2

The studio apartment in the photo was intended more for receiving guests, and not for permanent residence, because the owners live outside the city, Petrov said. “Therefore, the premises are made as open as possible. The bedroom is separated from the living room-kitchen by sliding frosted glass partitions. The bed is made like a big soft podium. The kitchen does not have a regular dining table, but there is a large radial bar that separates the cooking area and makes communication more informal,” the designer said. nine0003

Studio design in the style of minimalism

Minimalism will be an excellent solution for a studio apartment. The hallmark of this style is smooth plain surfaces without protrusions and decorative elements. Pure white, black, dark gray or steel should be used as a base palette in decoration and furniture. You can complement the monochromatic interior with bright accents - these can be armchairs or pillows on the sofa. An important role in a minimalist apartment is played by multifunctional furniture: a folding sofa, a transforming table or retractable chairs will allow you to effectively distribute square meters. nine0003

Loft style studio design

Loft style studio features an open floor plan and minimal use of partitions. In an apartment with such a repair, communications, such as pipes, ventilation or load-bearing beams, can be left undecorated. In the decoration of the walls, it is worth using more rough and unfinished materials, such as concrete, brick or unevenly applied plaster, emphasizing the original appearance of the attic. Furniture for a loft studio should be predominantly in neutral colors. But unusual bright objects from modern designers and even antiques will also look great here. nine0003

11 Ideas and 144 Real Photos

A typical studio apartment - a giant ugly junction of tiles and laminate between the kitchen and living areas, eternal smells and scattered things. Isn't this the design of the studio you imagined? Ok, then you have to follow 11 rules, which we will justify both in theory and with real photographs.

Rules

A list of things that you should at least think about before starting a renovation in a studio apartment:

  1. Decide on the floor. Will it be laminate throughout the studio, or do you want tiled areas. You need to think about this even before redevelopment. the length of the joints is important.
  2. Bed? Didn't think? For some reason, it is customary in our country to refuse a bed in favor of a sofa, this is not even considered abroad. At least think about it. nine0052
  3. Bar counter - standard. Convenient and modern solution, repeatedly tested in practice.
  4. Trying to fit in as many closed storage spaces as possible. Otherwise, there will be an eternal mess.
  5. Deal with ventilation (more on that). This is important in an ordinary apartment, but in a small studio it is simply critical.
  6. Furniture is desirable to order. Yes, more expensive, but it saves meters, which also cost money, and it pays off.
  7. Household appliances with combined functionality: washer-dryer, multicooker, oven with microwave function. nine0052
  8. If the question arises of where to place a washing machine, then the first candidate for an exit is a bath. Perhaps a shower area / cabin is enough for you. As practice shows, who has both a bath and a shower, the first one is used very rarely.
  9. Never use drywall partitions. Sooner or later you will need to hang something on them and you will break off. Only gas silicate blocks (standard) or brick (if you need maximum strength).
  10. Choosing modern design styles, classic styles for the interior of a studio apartment do not fit well. nine0052
  11. Materials and colors are only natural and imitating. Bright saturated colors are only pointwise, in small quantities and preferably in textiles. Although natural shades are more than enough for a stylish design.

Let's go through the non-obvious points.

Sex selection

Why is this the 1st item?

Because there are no doors between the rooms in a studio apartment, which means that it will not work to join different floor coverings under the doors. So their choice is especially important. nine0003

The standard and best value for money studio flooring is laminate. And in the hallway too. Yes, it is also possible in the kitchen area, although you have to be more careful - he is afraid of standing water. No, of course there are tiles in the bathroom, but there is a door there, and there are no problems joining the laminate and tiles in a narrow place under the door leaf. How NOT to do it:



Modern laminate can withstand all loads in kitchens and hallways without any problems. Making a junction of laminate and tile somewhere other than under the door is the worst idea. We wrote about this in detail in tile or laminate in the kitchen and tile or laminate in the hallway. There is free space in the studio, which means that the joint will be long and always in sight. It's also inconvenient to remove. Dirt will still clog under it, moisture will get in. nine0003

In a studio apartment, laminate and tile joints are allowed only under the doors.

Parquet is another matter, it can and should be joined with tiles. Firstly, the parquet fits perfectly with the tiles. both materials are fixed with glue, secondly, the parquet is very delicate and it is really not worth laying it in the kitchen and in the hallway.






Studio apartment with bed

Just because you have a small apartment doesn't mean you shouldn't sleep comfortably. Many underestimate the importance of such simple things. In Europe, you will not see studio apartments without a bed, but with a sofa. Yes, in a small apartment there may well be no sofa. The main thing is the convenience of the owners, you live here after all. nine0003








The bedroom, of course, will not work - the bed will have to be placed in a corner or a niche. Or surround it with furniture. Or make a barrier. Not even to the ceiling. Standard practice in any studio is to leave no gaps between pieces of furniture. Where possible, we put everything at close range. The interior from this will not be perceived closely, rather the opposite.







Now we visit less and less. Cheap telephone communication and the Internet have done their job. We also meet with friends more and more often somewhere on neutral territory. And if we bring home, then we sit in the kitchen. In general,
at least consider the idea of ​​abandoning the sofa in favor of a full double bed.

If a comfortable sleep is more important to you than the temporary convenience of guests, choose a bed.







and another studio from Scandinavia:





Planning

The most interesting design of the apartments are the area of ​​25 square meters. m. and 30 sq. m. meters, because more, already quite odnushki, where you can divide into zones by walls, and not by partitions. Print out the plan of your apartment on sheets and arm yourself with a pen. Connect acquaintances and friends to this, you can hire a designer to draw up a project. The stage of creating a layout and arranging furniture is incredibly important. nine0003

Zoning

Zoning in a studio apartment is done primarily for real (technical) separation of zones, and not visual, as many people think. Hence the conclusion: the more people will live in an apartment, the more important zoning becomes. The most extreme option, when zoning is simply critical and any tricks and ideas are used, are children. It is in the layouts of studio apartments with children that you can peep the most interesting ideas. And we have photos of a couple of cool examples:









and another studio with two children redesigned from a one -room apartment:






for dividing the walls of the wallpaper. If you decide to redevelop and demolish the partition, then you are great. Many fear this, and completely in vain. Redevelopment is not very expensive, but the benefits are significant. And it is not necessary to demolish the entire wall. To make the space look unified, partial demolition is enough. In some apartments, for example, Khrushchevs, it is impossible to demolish the wall at all - it is load-bearing. nine0003

The load-bearing wall between the kitchen and the living room is not yet a reason to refuse redevelopment into a studio.

In this case, a partial demolition project is made and agreed with the strengthening of the remaining part. It sounds scary, in fact, experienced builders will do it without problems. It is also easy to beat this in design:


Another option for separation is a sofa instead of a partition. The sofa is placed with its back to the kitchen, the TV is on the opposite wall.

It's clear to demolish, but what about building. You need to somehow zone the room. Building partitions and walls is also not a problem. The price of installation and dismantling is approximately the same - $ 6 per square meter. The cost of gas silicate blocks is approximately $3 per sq. m.. You can redo the layout of your studio apartment as you like, demolishing the walls and erecting new ones, and all this will cost around $500. A small price for creating a project for your specific needs. nine0003








Narrow rectangular apartments with 1 window

Two main options to end up in a studio apartment: demolish the walls in a one-room apartment (for example, Khrushchev or Stalin) or buy it immediately without walls. There are fundamental differences between them, at least in the number of windows.

One window is found in small studios of an elongated rectangular shape. As a rule, these are new buildings. In such apartments, there are often no partitions at all. 2 main questions in the design of elongated rectangular studio apartments:

  1. Arrangement of furniture
  2. Lighting
Arrangement of furniture

The main rule is that in narrow studios the passage through the entire apartment should be straight. Those. it should be possible to draw a straight line from the beginning to the end of the apartment so that it does not cross any furniture and other obstacles. All large-sized furniture is placed against one wall.








And one more linear studio in a typical European version, where instead of a sofa there is a bed:






The rest of the layout dances from the location of the riser. Most often, a bathroom and a riser are located immediately near the entrance. Then the kitchen set is placed against the wall of the bathroom. The ideal headset option is U-shaped with a bar counter. All other headset options lose directly very much. The same version of the corner kitchen with a breakfast bar is ideal for square studio apartments.













Lighting

It doesn't matter if the studio is sunny or shady, you will have to make a lot of light sources. This is good, light enhances any interior. Given the prevalence of LED lamps, this is practically not reflected in electricity bills.

natural light will always be lacking even for a small area, even during the day, we just need additional minor points. The light that will divide the studio into zones and highlight the right places, and not just illuminate. For this, sources with a lower and middle location are suitable. Wall sconces or built-in hidden LED strips. The latter are generally a godsend in the design of a studio apartment: they are cheap, look stylish and modern, and do not dazzle. But it is necessary to foresee them in the project in advance, then it will be problematic to make taps. nine0003



Under the LED strip, you need a regular output 220V phase and zero + ground, only 2 wires without grounding already go from the block to the tape.

There are two options. Either we allocate a separate place for all power supplies and then do the wiring with 12-volt wires for the tapes, or we breed 220V, but we provide a place for the block at the connection point of each tape. Please note that in the first option, it is undesirable to lead the wires further than 10-15 meters, otherwise the tapes may flicker or burn unevenly. In the second option, the blocks need cooling, and you have access to them, i.e. you can’t just brick it into a wall or drywall. There is a trick for mounting tapes on the ceiling: we have a connection point and a power supply near the spotlight. Then you can always pull it out and get access to the power supply. nine0003

In general, a studio with one window is not such a problem, the main thing is to take care of the lighting.

Ventilation and exhaust

Apartment renovation is not only visual design, but also technical planning. There are no barriers to the spread of odors in the studio, and the division into zones is often conditional. The area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room is small, which means that ventilation must work properly for you. And it's not about the power of the hood.

In apartment buildings, air enters through windows, exits through ventilation ducts in bathrooms and kitchens. If you put the hood on the kitchen ventilation duct, then it will practically stop working when the hood is turned off, because. the natural difference in pressure is no longer enough to pull air through the filters. The result is mold and odor. The solution is simple: a double or tee is placed on the channel, an exhaust hood is connected to one outlet, a check valve is placed on the second so that when turned on, the air does not blow back into the apartment. nine0003


Do not occupy the entire duct with the hood.



Studio design and decoration

Choose contemporary design styles. It is almost impossible to implement and maintain the correct classic interior in the studio. All the same, there will be household appliances, a large concentration of storage places due to the small area,
furniture that is correct in shape, because. classic rounded options take up too much space. It will all look like tracing paper. Of course, the decision is yours, of course, but our advice is modern design styles. nine0003







Here is a stylish modern option for young people:












. White, gray, black, wooden shades. Bright unnatural colors are only dosed in textiles: furniture, pillows, curtains, carpets. Explaining why is long and difficult, just look at the photos. Are there many aggressive bright colors in really stylish modern interiors of studios? nine0003








Don't be smart with ceilings. Plain matte or concrete or decorative concrete look. We have already analyzed the topic of the current design of ceilings in detail.












Conclusions on the design of a small studio apartment:

  1. We pay a lot of time and attention to the project.
  2. We are not afraid of demolition and wall building.

    Learn more