For many people, nothing beats the idea of living in the middle of a big city. Unfortunately, what most cities have to offer in the way of restaurant choices, theater, and nightlife, they tend to lack greatly in affordable apartment space. For this reason, a good number of people who choose to live in cities have no choice but to rent one-room studio apartments in order to enjoy the benefits of such happening surroundings.
From a storage and logistical standpoint, studio apartments generally present their inhabitants with a number of challenges. And from an interior design perspective, some studios – especially smaller ones – are nothing short of a decorative nightmare. As the owner and design director of Signature Interiors, over the past 15 years, Mark Needleman has helped his share of clients overcome the limitations inherent in studio apartments to create living spaces that manage to work well and reflect a sense of style.
If you have been struggling to spruce up your studio apartment but have no idea where to begin, then fret not. The following are a few good tips on how to make the most of a studio space and decorate it accordingly:
Keep it separate but tied together
If your studio happens to be fairly decent-sized, then you can try treating different areas of the apartment as separate, dedicated living spaces. Your couch, coffee table, and television can all go in one area to create a miniature version of a living room, while your bed, dresser, and nightstand can be clustered together to form the bedroom area of the apartment. By breaking your studio into distinct living areas, you might end up making it feel more homey and functional overall. However, if you are going to go this route, then make sure to stick to one decorative theme to define your apartment as a single overall space. Opposing shades and patterns are highly likely to clash when placed across the room from each other, so use similar colors for your couch cushions, bedspread, and window treatments for a look that is neat and unified.
Avoid room dividers
Many people who rent studios tend to make the mistake of putting up room dividers or screens in order to section off the various areas of the apartment. From a design perspective, this is usually a bad idea. By putting up “walls” within your studio, you’re most likely to inhibit movement within your living space and cut off natural light sources such as corner windows in the process. If your studio apartment is small to begin with, don’t worsen the situation by sticking cumbersome dividers smack in the middle of it; instead, accept the fact that you’ll have to treat the area as one single room, and do your best to make the most of it.
Buy furniture to scale
If your living space is limited, then you’ll want to keep your furniture on the small side to maximize the amount of open space within your apartment walls. Choose a small loveseat instead of a large sofa, or go for a full-sized bed instead of a queen. The more comfortable standing and walking room a studio has, the more open and airy it is likely to feel.
Adopt a minimalistic approach
If you don’t have much room to work with, then you’re best off taking a minimalist approach to apartment décor. Keep your color schemes neutral or monochromatic, and avoid any patterns, fabrics, or decorative pieces that might end up sticking out like a sore thumb.
Reduce clutter
If you’re already struggling with a lack of space, then don’t make things worse by introducing clutter into the mix. Make a habit of regularly putting all your belongings away, and use built-in shelving and under-the-bed storage options.
Use your walls to your advantage
If your studio isn’t offering you as much room as you’d like, then try creating additional space by using your walls efficiently. Instead of displaying photographs or artwork on a table or dresser top, use your walls to show off your style. And if you’re like most people who need to have a TV on hand, then consider investing in a flat screen to mount on your wall, as that will be a huge space-saver compared to a bulky, furniture-top unit.
Buy cross-functional furniture when possible
To free up some additional space in your apartment, consider purchasing furniture that can serve multiple functions. Some studio dwellers like to incorporate convertible sofas – pieces that are couches by day and beds by night. While the use of cross-functional furniture might help open up the room, be warned that most multi-use items tend to be less comfortable on a whole than their separate, individual counterparts.
