An apartment is a common term, but the word “studio apartment” has been gaining a lot of popularity in India. A studio apartment is a concept that has a modern appeal attached to it. Studio house design is a configuration that enables everything you need for a comfortable lifestyle while saving space.
A studio apartment is a single room turned into a bedroom, living room, kitchen, study, office, or something else. A studio apartment is an ideal option for individuals living alone and looking for a small space that is close to their office or university because it is affordable, stylish, aesthetically pleasing, and accommodates all the necessary amenities.
7 Amazing Ideas for Cosy Studio House Design
According to Nezar Mabrouk H. Soub & Ipek Memikoglu (authors of the journal article -Exploring the Preferences for Micro-Apartments), the design of studio apartments is thought to be important because it can have an impact on your comfort. The micro-apartment must have flexible furniture and offer the owner a cosy studio apartment to live in.
As we all know, decorating small spaces can be a challenge, so here are some guidelines for a studio house design that allow you to create one that is not only beautiful but also functionally easier to live in.
Check out some space-saving design tricks. Following are 7 cool tips for studio apartment design and minimalist small studio apartment decor that will help you make your small space look beautiful.
- Make a Plan
- Partition is the Key
- Multipurpose Furniture For Studio Apartments
- The Sense of Being Larger
- Scale Play
- Play with Shapes
- Utilize the Negative Spaces of Studio Apartment Design
01. Make a Plan
When living in an apartment, it’s not how much space you have, but how well you utilise it. Studio apartments typically range in size from 500-600 sqft. The first step is to have a systematic sketch of the whole place. Also, jot down your requirements so that you can allot spaces accordingly. Next, prepare a studio apartment plan and then design the entire space in such a way that each area is functionally combined.
Following is the list of primary requirements for almost every studio apartment, based on which you can design your space.
- Kitchen
- Bedroom Space
- Study or Work Station
- Dining Area
- Living Room
02. Partition is the Key
In a studio apartment, there is no separate space for the living room, bedroom, and kitchen, so the first thing to do is to divide the space according to the living space you need. Different materials can be used to demarcate spaces creatively. The most popular types of partition walls are built of various available materials. Here are some innovative room divider ideas for studio apartments to segregate the space.
- Curtains as Room Dividers
- Sliding Doors
- Floor-to-Ceiling Bookshelves
- Glass or Wooden Screen
01. Curtains as Room Dividers
This is the easiest way to divide a room without taking up extra space. Curtains add much-needed privacy to your space. They are available in a variety of colours and patterns and give the vibe of a cosy studio apartment.
02. Sliding Doors
As per the studio apartment plan, this is an attractive way to expand your living space while keeping your feeling of privacy. They take up less room than regular doors and don’t require additional space to open or close.
03. Floor-to-Ceiling Bookshelves
This is a great way to make a space functional. You can use the creative bookshelves that are available on the market. There are different types of bookshelves, and you can organize them in amazing ways. Bookshelves can be used for storage as well as a room divider.
04. Glass or Wooden Screen
A glass or wooden sheet not only divides the room but also makes the space visually open, without feeling cramped or claustrophobic. A glass screen as a room divider idea for studio apartments allows light to pass through while also separating the space.
03. Multipurpose Furniture For Studio Apartments
When designing a studio apartment, the furniture for studio apartments is of utmost importance, as you will need them in your day-to-day life.
- Bed, Sofa, or Couch
- Table and Chairs
- Storage Shelves or Wardrobe
- Kitchen Cabinets
- Kitchen and Other Electrical Appliances
- Desks
You can find plenty of multifunctional furniture or smart furniture or folding furniture for studio apartments in the market, which can save a lot of space. For example, there is a sofa bed or bed with storage space and a foldable wooden chest that can be used as a tea table or even a work desk. You can use it whenever you need it, fold it up, and store it behind a door, or in a corner.
The multifunctional furniture creating space, defines the multipurpose usage of a specific area with various forms of multifunctional furniture used, to support or assist the given area in achieving the goal of ease and fulfilling the demands required to be satisfied, says Dr. Pooja M. Pathak & Ms. Vanshika Nahata (authors of journal article – Study and Design of Dual Utility Space: Studio Apartment in Indian Context).
Furthermore, loft apartment storage ideas will save space for furniture like closets. Also, as all of us recognise, the wardrobe does take up a lot of space. So, flushing the clothing dresser into the wall or partition of the apartment is the best option. Using sliding doors for the clothes dresser will save space for opening the wardrobe door.
04. The Sense of Being Larger
The only way to make a studio apartment truly great is to make it bigger. The following advice will help them seem bigger.
- Add Mirrors
- Use Reflective/Shiny Surface
- Window Curtains
- Use Wallpapers
- Slimmer Items
- The Colour Schemes
- Hang It – Float It
- Use the Accent Wall
01. Add Mirrors
Take the trick from the magic world and create a minimalist small studio apartment decor. Mirrors not only frame the furniture but instantly create the illusion of a much larger space. Place a beautiful antique mirror in your apartment and make it shine. If you want some outstanding mirror décor ideas, check here.
02. Use Reflective/Shiny Surface
The more it reflects, the bigger the place looks. The living room can have a glass center table, and the kitchen can have reflective and shiny countertops.
03. Window Curtains
Do not let window curtains touch the ground. Keeping a certain amount of space makes the room look bigger. Also, in studio house designs, use curtains with a lighter layer to allow natural light to penetrate the apartment.
Furthermore, there are some effective ways to improve the amount of natural light that enters your home, which are explained in the article below.
04. Use Wallpapers
Scenic wallpaper can help give your apartment a theme and make the space look bigger. Home wallpaper is not only a way to decorate walls; it also adds effects to the interior walls.
To learn more, read the piece below.
05. Slimmer Items
If you see pictures of studio apartments, you will notice that slimmer or less bulky items help increase the aesthetic beauty of the apartment. Use paintings, bed rails, etc with a slimmer width to make the apartment feel light.
06. The Colour Schemes
Choosing the ideal colour scheme is important, as a good decision will make your studio house design look elegant and stylish. It is said that dark colours always make a room look smaller, but dark accent walls can add depth to a room and they work well.
Painting walls in any shade from vivid white to bright yellow is an easy solution to give any room an airier and more open feel. They create the illusion of a space that is bigger and brighter. It is recommended to choose neutral colours for walls and dark and bright colours for furniture.
Also, you can add texture to your room with pop colours. The combination of bright and pop colours makes the room look fascinating. So, if you want minimalist small studio apartment decor, you don’t have to worry if you like blue vases or pink pillows. Just do it.
07. Hang It – Float It
Hang pots and pans directly on the kitchen wall to save countertop and cabinet space. Storage in a studio apartment is important, and a wall-mounted shelf is a great option to save space. The floating shelf looks great and solves storage problems.
Install wall lights and wall-mounted lamps where needed. This will solve the problem of having space to store the lamps. Be creative with every space and use creative storage solutions for your small space. Also, consider loft apartment storage ideas to maximise space and move freely in the room.
The most important thing to pay attention to is making sure the floor is visible. Choose furniture for studio apartments that has visible legs. This will make your studio apartment clutter-free.
08. Use the Accent Wall
The area of an apartment can be defined with an accent wall. You have an option between the wall behind the sofa and the one behind your bed. An accent wall makes a room stand out and completely changes the vibe, making it a cosy studio apartment. We have the following article for you if you want to find out more about wall decor ideas:
05. Scale Play
Scale plays an important role in the interior design of small spaces. So, it gives you the perfect shape for your space when creating a mix of big and small. Therefore, your studio apartment plan should be very precise when choosing lamps, paintings, and accessories; always consider the size of the items in relation to the room.
Going big in a small space is a bit of an irony. Keeping in mind the studio apartment storage ideas, try hanging small paintings and wall hangings on the walls. There can be more than one, but the size of the picture is important because the wall will look longer and cleaner. Follow the tricks provided in the article here to learn how to correctly hang artwork on your walls.
06. Play With Shapes
You need to use curves in a small linear space to break the linearity and make the space interesting. For example, choose a round table over a rectangular or square one, or an Ottoman with storage. This will take up less space and break the linearity. Curves can also be used when planning wall shelves, which can make wonderful studio apartment storage idea.
07. Utilize the Negative Spaces of Studio Apartment Design
Being a small space, it is important to make the most of each space functionally and ensure that no negative spaces are left in the apartment. We often leave unused side corners of the room covered in dust and cobwebs. However, you can use this space for storage in a studio apartment. Two issues are resolved at once by using empty corners of your home. It will decorate the room and there will be no dirty corners. You can also go for L-shaped seating to utilise the corner spaces of your studio apartment.
Another way to use the corners effectively is to add plants. Houseplants add a wow factor to your indoors, improves mental health, and increase productivity. Adding greenery to the room will make the apartment come to life. You’ll experience genuine warmth and a feeling of home.
In the End,
Even though they don’t have as much space, studio house designs are the ideal choice because they are flexible and affordable. You can modify your apartment with a variety of design ideas.
Before making a final choice, consider the pros and cons and evaluate the studio apartments in the context of your own needs and financial constraints. And if you’ve decided to design your studio apartment, consider using the tips and pictures of studio apartments we provided and build a lovely home.
FAQs
01. How to Set Up a Studio Apartment?
Start by creating a floor plan that helps you visualize the space. Choose appropriately sized multifunctional furniture for a studio apartment. Use rugs and curtains to define separate areas, use vertical space by hanging storage shelves. You can use art and lighting to create a cosy and inviting atmosphere.
02. How to Divide a Studio Apartment?
Consider how you will use the space before deciding on a method of room divider ideas for a studio apartment. You can divide studio apartment with some creativity and planning, by using furniture as a divider, hanging curtains, glass or wooden sheets as divider, use rugs to define space and you can also build a partition wall.
03. How to Layout a Studio Apartment?
Experiment with different layouts until you find what works best for your needs and lifestyle. Determine your needs first, and then prepare a studio apartment plan that defines zones for sleeping, dining, and working. Use properly sized multifunctional furniture that has in-built storage. Use natural light and bright colours and decorate your studio apartment with artwork, plants, and home decor.
04. How to Arrange Furniture in a Studio Apartment?
When arranging furniture in a studio apartment, it’s important to maximise space and create distinct areas for sleeping, living, and dining. Measure your apartment and your furniture to ensure everything will fit. Use multi-functional furniture for studio apartments, like a sofa bed, foldable dining table or a storage Ottoman, etc, to save space.
05. How to Make a Studio Apartment Look Bigger?
To make your studio apartment look and feel more spacious and comfortable, prepare a studio apartment plan and incorporate these tips, such as painting the walls, and ceiling in light colours to make the space look more spacious. Use sheer curtains or blinds to let in natural light which makes the space more breathable. You can use large mirrors to create the illusion of depth and space and try to avoid clutter.
06. How to Organize a Studio Apartment?
To organise your studio apartment, start by creating zones for various activities, such as sleeping, eating, and working. Maximise storage with multifunctional furniture pieces like a storage Ottoman or a loft bed with built-in shelves and keep your space clutter-free by regularly purging unnecessary items and investing in space-saving solutions, like hanging organisers or under-bed storage boxes.
07. How Can I Decorate a Studio Apartment on a Budget?
To decorate a cosy studio apartment on a budget, use inexpensive decorative items, such as throw pillows and wall art, or shop from second-hand stores and online marketplaces for bargains on furniture and décor.
08. How to Maximise Space in a Studio Apartment?
A few tips for storage in a studio apartment: Make use of vertical space with tall bookcases or wall-mounted shelving for storage as well as a room divider, and consider using furniture that can be easily moved or folded away when not in use.
And before you leave, check out some of our amazing articles that will help you elevate the interior of your house.
9 Secrets of Perfect Interiors for Your Home!
Minimalist Interior Design Style: 7 Interesting Ideas for Your Home!
Author Bio
Sonam Maheshwari – Sonam Maheshwari is a civil engineer and a sustainability consultant by profession. She believes that writing fuels her enthusiasm for anything she does. As a Writer, Editor, and Researcher she has worked with various global design and digital platforms. Passionate about sustainability and green buildings and she is an IGBC-accredited professional, She is also the co-founder of Constructivist which is a sustainability consultancy firm.