How to Decorate a Small Studio Apartment

A studio apartment is a great option if you're living on a strict budget or in a city with a flooded real estate market. While decorating a single-room living space can present unique design challenges, there are easy and inexpensive ways to create a beautiful, restful space you can call home. By using a few simple design strategies, you can find room for all of your everyday activities without feeling like you're drowning in a tiny sea of clutter.

Go Big on Neutrals When decorating a studio apartment, consider neutral, light colors, which tend to make a room feel larger than it actually is. Selecting lighter tones for walls and larger furniture pieces will also add a sense of unity and structure that will anchor the space. To add inexpensive drama without making the room seem closed in, consider an accent wall that highlights a unique wallpaper pattern, bold paint color or oversized poster or painting. If you want to add bright hues to your neutral color scheme, incorporate them with pillows, chairs, side tables and throws. No Played-Out Layouts The layout and furniture in your studio apartment will have a major impact on how well your space is used. Create designated areas for sleeping, watching TV, entertaining and working. Even if those zones overlap, this will add structure and flow to your home. Small, affordable furniture pieces are usually more practical for a studio pad. For instance, a full-size bed rather than a queen or king size will allow for more room. You might also consider a loveseat instead of a full-length sofa. Dual-function or hideaway furnishings can help you use your space more efficiently. Consider a steamer trunk as a coffee table, for example. Other good choices are bed platforms that house drawers, Murphy beds that can be hidden away during waking hours or hinged dining tables that fold flush to the wall when not in use. Keep Looking Up Use high ceilings to your advantage in a cramped studio apartment. Inexpensive loft beds are a great option, some with the added bonus of dedicated shelving or office space pre-built underneath. A hanging pot rack will free up room in your cabinets and keep pots and pans in easy reach. Think creatively when considering what else can be hung from your ceiling. For instance, you can display your favorite wardrobe pieces from a rack to show them off, boutique style. Don't forget your walls, where shelving can provide added space for storage and display. Free-standing bookshelves are shelving options that can pull double duty as room dividers. Cut out the Clutter Clutter can overwhelm a small space. Donate or throw out anything you no longer need or use. Rotate seasonal decorations and clothing by putting them in containers or bags that can be vacuum compressed--then store them out of sight until you need them. Think of items you already own that might work to cache the chaos. Suitcases can be filled with odds and ends, and a bed can be lifted on blocks to allow for greater storage to be placed beneath it. Don't forget dead spaces where you can keep things out of sight. Doors are a great spot for shoe organizers, and the spaces behind or beneath your sofa and beside your refrigerator are ideal for stowing away small ladders or cleaning tools.

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