44 Ingenious Studio Apartment Ideas That Make 400 Square Feet Feel Like a Palace
Yes, really.
Contrary to popular belief, you can live big in small spaces. Figuring out how to decorate a studio apartment is all about balancing its particular floor plan (be it an open loft apartment or an alcove studio) with your work/life wants and storage needs. And you don't have to sacrifice on personality or style to do so. One small room can be transformed into a living room, kitchen, bedroom, and office simply by rethinking how you lay out and decorate your home. Smart planning, clever storage, and scaled-down furniture can give you more room to relax.
Studio apartments do have their challenges, like lack of closet space and limited natural light, but they can all be conquered. The right studio apartment decor ensures your home feels more like a chic pied-à-terre than a cramped college dorm room. Worried about privacy? Bring in a stylish room divider. Not sure if you can squeeze a work-from-home station into your small but mighty dream space? A foldable floating desk fits practically anywhere—and is much better for your back than sitting on your bed or sofa. The right paint color or piece of art can highlight architectural and design features you want to show off—and help hide pain points (especially in a rental). All these improvements can help to make you feel more at home in your small space.
We've gathered the inspiration you need to decorate your studio apartment from interior designers who've mastered the art of thinking big and living large—even when the limited square footage says otherwise. Your days of feeling like your apartment is bursting at the seams are over. These 44 genius studio apartment decor ideas prove that you can decorate just as loudly (or quietly) as you'd like, no matter how much space you have.
More Small-Space Design Solutions:
Choose Smaller Furniture Pieces
A spindle-y chair and square side table are right at home in this bite-sized entryway designed by Devin Kirk. Thanks to their smaller stature they don't overwhelm the tight corner and instead feel right at home.
Use Seating as a Side Table
If you love to entertain, you know the qualms of ensuring there's enough seating for all your guests. But in an apartment, there's no attic or basement to store those extra seats in. Instead, use your spare seating as a nightstand or side table to keep it out of the way until your next dinner party rolls around.
Create an Illusion
With small spaces, you sometimes have to trick the eye into thinking there is more space than there really is. In this bedroom designed by Rahman Boozer, these nightstands feature chrome legs that reflect light and give the appearance of them floating.
Place Less Used Belongings Up High
To maximize space in this bedroom, designer Melanie Millner wrapped the cubby-like bookcase built-ins over the doorway. This allows for extra storage space without taking up too much room.
Vary Your Seating
To give an airy and light appearance in this small city apartment, David Frazier opted for many different styles of seating with plenty of negative space. This allows for a less full appearance; a club chair or armchair would've looked too heavy for the small space.
Add Cohesion with Panelling
In order to bridge the various zones in this apartment, designer Rodney Lawrence Wrapped a thin strip of paneling around the entire room.
Wall Mount Your Lighting
Rather than have a floor lamp take up more valuable square footage, Devin Kirk chose to install wall sconces instead for this seating area. This keeps the floors clear which minimizes the look of clutter.
Extend Your Built Ins
In this space, a separate desk would have been too deep for the wall, but a narrow vanity, flanked on either side by matching built-in bookcases, makes for the perfect space-saving solution.
Forego a Kitchen Table
In Bjorn Wallander's 350-square-foot studio apartment, there's no room for a kitchen table. Instead, the photographer chose counter stools that can easily be tucked under the counter when not in use.
Store Knickknacks on Window Sills
One of the hardest parts of decorating a studio apartment is running out of flat surfaces too quickly. Make sure your beloved trinkets get valuable real estate by showcasing them on your windowsill, like photographer Bjorn Wallander, instead of another side table or bookshelf that you don't have room for.
Try a Murphy Bed
Double your square footage by simply folding up your bed when you're not in it. This chic option, designed by Michael Chen of MKCA, boasts a two-tone color palette and a paneled exterior for added architectural detail.
Related: What is a Murphy Bed?
Divide with "Floating" Art
Interior designer Max Sinsteden made his sleep zone feel separate from the rest of the studio apartment by hanging a floor-to-ceiling curtain and then suspending a "floating" painting to distinguish it even more. "I hate seeing a bed from the front door, so I added a curtain to partition that space. When you close it, you honestly feel like you're in a Parisian hotel," he tells House Beautiful. The living room he carved out is ideal for hanging out with friends.
Related: How to Get Good at Buying Art
Celebrate Large Pieces
If you love shopping for antiques and can't bear the thought of hiding your collectibles—don't! This 240-square-foot, late 19th-century classic Manhattan walk-up apartment designed by Keith Carroll showcases the charm of filling a space even when you're low on room. “I always tell my clients with a small space to think big,” Carroll says. “I did this with a large armoire, antique mirror, and console table—large pieces visually enlarge a small space.”
Skip the Sectional
Think of fun ways to bring in additional seating that doesn't take up square footage. This eclectic and organic space designed by Leanne Ford Interiors is a lifesaver for anyone who loves to host guests but doesn't know where to put them. Two small stools work as coffee tables, cushions piled on top of a ledge serve as a makeshift sofa, and a swing hangs from the low ceiling.
Elevate Your Bed
Take your dreams to new heights with a swinging daybed like the one in this room designed by Tiffany Brooks for the Kips Bay Palm Beach Show House. It saves floor space and adds a playful element to your space.
Create a Backdrop
Give your studio a grand feel with high-impact textiles on the wall and floor. This mural creates a sense of expansiveness. Pared down furnishings, like the chaise and simple side table in this space designed by Raji RM, keep the focus where it belongs.
Add a Barn Door
Designer Shari Francis separated a bedroom alcove from an adjoining living room with a sliding barn door. It adds some privacy and helps to define dedicated spaces for different activities.
Install a Glass Partition
Or if only one part of the room is windowed (and privacy isn't an issue), try a glass-paneled screen—it adds just enough visual separation to a space while still allowing plenty of light to flow through.
Use a Room Divider
When you want to break up an open loft or studio apartment but don't want to—or can't—install permanent dividers, use a folding screen to create the illusion of privacy and separateness. Designer Maureen Footer also accentuates the vertical space in this apartment with a super-tall bed cornice. "There's no room to be timid" in a small space, she says.
Make a Mini Mud Room
Even in a studio, there should be a section carved out for your grand entrance. This foyer designed Tamsin Johnson proves that you just need a corner, not a designated foyer. All it takes is a chic mirror, accent chair, umbrella holder, and a couple of hooks. If you don't have room for any of that, a mirror and a pedestal with a small catch-all for keys and mail will do.
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