Decorating
Space-Savvy Living in Studio Apartments
These chic studio apartments prove you don't have to scrimp on style to maximise functionality
Good things come in small packages, goes the saying, and nothing exemplifies this better than an inspirational studio apartment that manages to squeeze in every last function and still remain super stylish at the same time.
Whether you like clean and modern or rustic and lived-in, it’s wise to call in the experts if your studio needs a rethink, as they will have the planning know-how to get the most out of your space. Check out these chic, space-savvy and practical studios that might have you stripping back and downsizing before you know it…
Whether you like clean and modern or rustic and lived-in, it’s wise to call in the experts if your studio needs a rethink, as they will have the planning know-how to get the most out of your space. Check out these chic, space-savvy and practical studios that might have you stripping back and downsizing before you know it…
Simplify your palette
Using an all-over colour palette is a great way to harmonise a single space, where the minimum of fuss and clash is required for stress-free living. White is foolproof, natch, but for something more moody and sophisticated, try going dark, and consider using the same shade on walls and the floor as in this beautifully flowing mini home.
Other style tips to steal here include the built-in kitchen units that meld invisibly into the architecture – note the up-to-the-ceiling design, wasting no valuable storage space – while an orange breakfast bar and shelving adds an on-trend citrus note to all that grey.
More: Get in the Mood With Fifty Shades of Grey
Using an all-over colour palette is a great way to harmonise a single space, where the minimum of fuss and clash is required for stress-free living. White is foolproof, natch, but for something more moody and sophisticated, try going dark, and consider using the same shade on walls and the floor as in this beautifully flowing mini home.
Other style tips to steal here include the built-in kitchen units that meld invisibly into the architecture – note the up-to-the-ceiling design, wasting no valuable storage space – while an orange breakfast bar and shelving adds an on-trend citrus note to all that grey.
More: Get in the Mood With Fifty Shades of Grey
Be multifunctional: first it’s a home office …
For a minimal look, build in as much concealed storage as possible to hide clutter out of sight. In this micro apartment, clever, foldaway and pull-out furniture has shoehorned in a multitude of different functions and zones.
A wall of space-enhancing, mirrored doors open up to reveal a neat, discreet office area, which can be closed away at night once the nine to five graft is done and dusted.
How to squeeze in a home office anywhere
For a minimal look, build in as much concealed storage as possible to hide clutter out of sight. In this micro apartment, clever, foldaway and pull-out furniture has shoehorned in a multitude of different functions and zones.
A wall of space-enhancing, mirrored doors open up to reveal a neat, discreet office area, which can be closed away at night once the nine to five graft is done and dusted.
How to squeeze in a home office anywhere
… then it’s a bedroom
Then, when evening arrives, a canny, pull-down bed appears from one wall for a serene night’s sleep.
Plump for a palette of cool, harmonious greys and whites to boost the illusion of space, and accent with just a dash of vibrant colour and pattern to pack in your personality.
Then, when evening arrives, a canny, pull-down bed appears from one wall for a serene night’s sleep.
Plump for a palette of cool, harmonious greys and whites to boost the illusion of space, and accent with just a dash of vibrant colour and pattern to pack in your personality.
Big up bespoke
A wall of built-in units can provide both storage and display space in one neat area. Harness the expertise of a specialist who can tailor your storage requirements precisely to your needs, with shelves, units and cupboards that stretch right up the ceiling and from corner to corner.
Then soften the look of all that functionality with beautiful, patterned textiles, statement seating and retro lighting. This way, sitting next to your oven to watch TV will seem like the most natural thing in the world…
More: Built-In Joinery Takes Homes to the Next Level
A wall of built-in units can provide both storage and display space in one neat area. Harness the expertise of a specialist who can tailor your storage requirements precisely to your needs, with shelves, units and cupboards that stretch right up the ceiling and from corner to corner.
Then soften the look of all that functionality with beautiful, patterned textiles, statement seating and retro lighting. This way, sitting next to your oven to watch TV will seem like the most natural thing in the world…
More: Built-In Joinery Takes Homes to the Next Level
Soften your studio
At the other end of the spectrum, this pretty, French-inspired sitting room is proof that compact studio rooms don’t need to be filled with sleek, geometric lines and super-modern fixtures, if that isn’t your thing. If you prefer a softer aesthetic, sprinkle the space with carved wooden mirrors and lamps, squishy sofas, weathered timbers and a washed-out palette of buttermilk, duck-egg blue and soft white.
The key in this apartment is the bespoke dividing unit, which subtly sections off the living space from the sleeping den while building in valuable storage and adding rustic texture to boot.
At the other end of the spectrum, this pretty, French-inspired sitting room is proof that compact studio rooms don’t need to be filled with sleek, geometric lines and super-modern fixtures, if that isn’t your thing. If you prefer a softer aesthetic, sprinkle the space with carved wooden mirrors and lamps, squishy sofas, weathered timbers and a washed-out palette of buttermilk, duck-egg blue and soft white.
The key in this apartment is the bespoke dividing unit, which subtly sections off the living space from the sleeping den while building in valuable storage and adding rustic texture to boot.
Make storage multifunctional
The key with compact spaces is to be clued-up about making the most of every last inch of space. In this room, the owners have used storage to create a modern, modular vibe with glossy, fuss-free surfaces, perfect for a sky-high city crashpad. Take inspiration and build in low-level, skinny storage beneath windows that can double up as display shelving or bench seating on top, and use neutral-coloured units that work from living room to kitchen.
Also consider a freestanding unit like this, which can be utilised on both sides for TVs, technology and stashing your bits. This way it can double as a zone divider; here the TV is cleverly housed inside a box so as to provide a screen between the bed and the rest of the space.
The key with compact spaces is to be clued-up about making the most of every last inch of space. In this room, the owners have used storage to create a modern, modular vibe with glossy, fuss-free surfaces, perfect for a sky-high city crashpad. Take inspiration and build in low-level, skinny storage beneath windows that can double up as display shelving or bench seating on top, and use neutral-coloured units that work from living room to kitchen.
Also consider a freestanding unit like this, which can be utilised on both sides for TVs, technology and stashing your bits. This way it can double as a zone divider; here the TV is cleverly housed inside a box so as to provide a screen between the bed and the rest of the space.
Revel in a rustic look
This might be a one-space holiday home, but it’s crammed with inspiration for all-year-round studio apartment owners who crave a rustic, laid-back look.
The eclectic choice of furnishings and fixtures adds bags of character and prevents the space feeling like a tiny box, while the single-wall kitchen demonstrates that you don’t necessarily need wall-to-wall units for a good-looking and practical open-plan cook space.
One important tip in a teeny space like this: the open shelving and busy accessories will work best if you are extremely tidy…
This might be a one-space holiday home, but it’s crammed with inspiration for all-year-round studio apartment owners who crave a rustic, laid-back look.
The eclectic choice of furnishings and fixtures adds bags of character and prevents the space feeling like a tiny box, while the single-wall kitchen demonstrates that you don’t necessarily need wall-to-wall units for a good-looking and practical open-plan cook space.
One important tip in a teeny space like this: the open shelving and busy accessories will work best if you are extremely tidy…
Separate with subtle sheers
This beautifully modern apartment is crisp, serene and stylish for 21st-century studio life. The white, clean-lined furniture offers a classic silhouette, while the little luxe additions – the rug underfoot, clusters of glass globes overhead and oversized, reflective mirrors – give it the grandeur of a larger space and make it soft and supremely liveable, too.
But the star of this scheme is a simple one: the long lengths of barely there sheers can be drawn to create a subtle divide between the two-tier living and sleeping areas and just as easily pulled back to open up the room.
This beautifully modern apartment is crisp, serene and stylish for 21st-century studio life. The white, clean-lined furniture offers a classic silhouette, while the little luxe additions – the rug underfoot, clusters of glass globes overhead and oversized, reflective mirrors – give it the grandeur of a larger space and make it soft and supremely liveable, too.
But the star of this scheme is a simple one: the long lengths of barely there sheers can be drawn to create a subtle divide between the two-tier living and sleeping areas and just as easily pulled back to open up the room.
Divide and conquer
A clever yet unassuming half wall can work wonders in studio apartments. Either fixed or floating, a semi-wall will subtly zone off different functions without the need for a space-encroaching hinged door and will create an extra valuable surface for mounting TVs, mirrors and pictures. It can also be the perfect place to slot in concealed storage if it’s thick enough.
TELL US
Do you live in a studio apartment that works brilliantly for all your needs? Please share your insights in the Comments.
MORE
8 Studios That Prove Small Can Be Stylish
Mental Tricks to Help You Outsmart Your Small Space
German Houzz: Small-Space Living in Munich’s Old Town
A clever yet unassuming half wall can work wonders in studio apartments. Either fixed or floating, a semi-wall will subtly zone off different functions without the need for a space-encroaching hinged door and will create an extra valuable surface for mounting TVs, mirrors and pictures. It can also be the perfect place to slot in concealed storage if it’s thick enough.
TELL US
Do you live in a studio apartment that works brilliantly for all your needs? Please share your insights in the Comments.
MORE
8 Studios That Prove Small Can Be Stylish
Mental Tricks to Help You Outsmart Your Small Space
German Houzz: Small-Space Living in Munich’s Old Town
If you can’t expand outwards, try another angle; if your ceiling height allows, look skywards instead. Borrowing a slice from the top half of the room and creating a neat, chic mezzanine level will significantly increase your floor space.
The set-up in this apartment allows for a dedicated bedroom area to be tucked out of the way of the living room and kitchen. The largely white palette creates the illusion of more space, while a peppering of pastels adds a pretty note.