When you live in a studio apartment the lack of square footage can be challenging. Between trying to figure out how to make it look like a real home and not just a singular room and dividing that space from the rest, it can leave you stumped.
You want your small living space to represent your own style. But, you also want it to be a practical space with defined areas. So you’ll find that you’ll need temporary walls or a room divider to create different zones of activities.
How can you accomplish that in an open floorplan? Today, we’ll look at several room dividers and non traditional room divider ideas that will help create separation in your floor space. Not only will they add character to your studio layout, but they’ll also define living areas in stylish and innovative ways.
So whether you’re trying to turn a bedroom into a studio apartment, or transform it into something magical, dividing the space is a good place to start. From your home office to your bedroom and other small spaces, decorating with room dividers to close off a room can be both functional and an element of interior design. Keep reading for ideas!
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When you walk through your front door into your studio apartment, you don’t exactly want to see a bed in the middle of the room. You want your home and everything in it to appear well thought out. But in order to do that you do have to define different areas in the home. And using a room divider to delineate those spaces is a great way to do that. There are a variety of ways you can implement room dividers to create various living spaces in a studio apartment.
Whether it’s using a basic curtain divider for complete privacy, a diy room divider, or utilizing your clothing rack just to function as a separator in between sleeping areas. You can get creative and elevate your small space with the studio apartment divider ideas down below.
Different Types of Studio Apartment Floorplans
Studio apartments come in a variety floor plans and layouts. Depending on the size of your studio apartment and the layout, you may be able to zone out the space in different ways. The most common types of studio apartments are the traditional one-room studio. This type encompasses both the living room and bedroom and even the kitchen space.
Then you have an alcove studio which offers a separate sleeping area, but no wall. Often the sleeping area in an alcove studio is enclosed with a partial wall. Or it’s tucked in a nook that can be hid by curtains that can be hung around the bed area. Then there are tiny apartments which offer an extremely compact living environment. These are typically called micro apartments and are usually anywhere from 100-400sqft. You’ll typically find micro apartments in urban areas that are highly populated like New York.
Knowing what sort of studio apartment layouts there are is helpful in space planning. It’s important to know what the floor space you will be working with looks like. It will help you in the space planning process if you are looking to move into a new apartment. This will also help you determine what different activities your able to realistically do in the space. There are also many studio apartment design ideas to take inspiration from if you’re stumped.
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Small Space Living Solutions
Firstly, when living in a studio apartment, it’s important to establish living spaces. By creating a division in between one room area and another you can achieve this. In doing so it can help you to be more conscious of the space available and the home decor, homeware and other home items that fill it. Everything that fills your small spaces, even down to your closet space and whether or not you can fit a dining table should all be decisions made with intention.
It can also help make you feel more at home and provide you with a clearer vision of how you want to decorate your home to fit your aesthetic. Overall this will elevate your space. So make sure that you’re able to zone out different areas like your entryway from your kitchen, your bedroom from your living room.
Zoning Different Living Areas
Zoning out different living areas in your studio apartment is key. This is especially true when it comes to making the most out of a small space. And in order to be able to do that you need to think of different ways you would like use your apartment for. What are the things that are important to you? How do you want to be able to function in your studio apartment? Do you need to be able to study, work from home, cook? These are all things to consider when zoning out your living areas. It’ll be helpful when you want to create separate seating areas throughout your home.
Before you start to separate the room into different parts, you’ll want to make sure you’re always considering traffic flow in your studio apartment. As far as furniture, look for pieces that are multifunctional and can be easily moved around. You could also consider adding folding screens or curtains to create mini rooms.
Now that we have addressed that, here are some ideas to help you create partitions and privacy in your studio apartment. You can use furniture such as screens, bookshelves, and area rugs to define separate spaces for the dining area, sleeping and living. This will not only help you organize the space better but also create an illusion of a larger room.
Urban Living & Tiny Apartments
With ever-growing housing needs, minimalist living and small apartments are becoming the new normal. And yes, it’s true that one-room floorplans, particularly open concept floorplans, are more difficult to decorate than perhaps a one bedroom or a multi-room home. If what you are aiming for is a grown-up and sophisticated interior look, then it’s even more challenging when all you have are four walls.
But for all of you apartment dwellers out there, don’t despair. With a little creativity, you can easily fake the look of separate rooms without putting up any walls. You simply need to understand how to create and define different living spaces. So go ahead and take a look at some of these room dividers for inspiration on how to create makeshift walls in apartments! And the best part is there are plenty of cheap wall divider ideas! Keep reading for more ideas!
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1. Shelving + Storage Units
Installing a shelving unit along one wall to create bookshelf walls or storage and display space can really add height to your space simply by optical illusion. Drawing your focus upwards with high shelving or a storage unit can create the illusion of a high ceiling particularly open shelving in my opionion. This is great if you need large room divider ideas.
A shelving unit could potentially work if you’re dividing a room with one window. You’d want the unit to be opposite the window so as not to block light and ideally with a bit of space in between the common area.
Not only does this make your space appear larger vertically, but it’s also a double duty idea and can also add functionality and style to your living space. This is a great idea if you can only utilize temporary walls in your space because they’re functional and movable.
Also consider using bookcases in this fashion too, for a cozy small home library that also works as a divider. I also love the idea of a bookshelf as the backdrop for a dining room or even a reading nook, makes it extra cozy. Often times in a smaller space, you do have to consider what the visual will be of a guest stepping into the entryway of your home. So a bookcase could be a great visual design element.
A studio room divider bookcase could be just what you need to separate spaces. if you have plenty of books and knick knacks. If you haven’t already checked out our post 10 Ideas For A Small Home Library it’ll definitely give you some book storage inspiration. There are also wall mounted shelves that are better suited as more narrow room dividers.
2. Furniture Placement
Another way to separate spaces and create distinction in your studio is to use furniture and the placement of furniture, to separate spaces. For example, you might put a sofa in the middle of the space to serve as a barrier between the living area and the sleeping quarter or the dining room. The couch as room divider option is an obvious and sometimes the only option in a studio apartment.
A coffee table or ottoman may also be used to separate areas. Often times you’ll notice a console table or a bedside table in between a sofa and a bed separating the two spaces. You could also utilize a dining table to provide distance between living spaces.
3. Lighting Placement
Another way to create separation is by utilizing different lighting fixtures in each area. This will help to create a distinct feel for each space. Place lamps in different areas of the room to create distinct light sources that also have different purposes. Check out our post on How To Use Light In Small Spaces .
4. Curtain Partitions
Some sort of hanging room divider idea is another great option. There are many different hanging room divider styles and patterns to choose from including those panel screens. Another obvious one would be to hang curtains from the ceiling to create a false wall.
I also find that when doing this, adding an accent wall to the space will make that delineation that much more prominent in the space. Use curtains to create a divide between your living and sleeping areas.
This is an easy way to add some privacy without making the space feel closed off. Use a screen or curtain to section off your living and sleeping areas. This is an easy way to create a bit of privacy in your apartment. And if you’re in need of curtains to function as studio apartment dividers-Ikea is a great place to get some affordable curtains.
5. Wooden Wall Paneling
A wooden wall paneling might be a perfect room divider to D.I.Y. You can find these panels at most home improvement stores and it’s a great custom room divider idea. Once you have your wood frame panels, you can paint them or stain them to match your existing decor. Then, simply screw the panels into the wall to create a temporary wall that looks great and functions well and a floor to ceiling room divider.
6. Standing Room Dividers
To separate your living and sleeping areas, get a free standing room divider or folding screens. These are great ways to add extra privacy and also some pizzazz to your space. A folding screen is incredibly versatile in that you can move it around if needed and they don’t take up too much space when not in use. Additionally, you can create your own diy free standing room divider.
Room dividers are a great way to create the illusion of separate rooms without actually having to build walls. You can find room dividers at most home goods stores or even online. They’re great for separating an open space. Use it for your office space or for your sleeping area. It’s a super simple option and you can easily swap it from one side of the room to another.
Accordion dividers and folding screens are typically available in a variety of shapes and sizes, so they may be adapted to any situation. A room divider can function as both a short wall and an area delineator in the same space. They can also be so incredibly decorative and stylish in their own right and be a central focal point as well.
You’ll see that often times an accordion room divider will be divided into 3 panels. However, there are also some wider options aside from the 3 panel room divider with additional panels. You can be on trend with the rattan room divider Ikea has in stock or super whimsical with a boho chic style, their are room dividers in all kinds of styles. You can find everything from a simple design to a bold pattern statement piece.
7. Clothing Rack
Using a clothing rack to partition your bedroom off is one of the most stylish ways we’ve seen yet. As far as functional studio apartment dividers, these get the job done. The added bonus is you can display some of your most fashionable pieces as added decor. Finally, don’t forget about storage. Creating extra storage space in your studio apartment will help to keep the space feeling clean and organized which is another plus!
8. Industrial Glass Divider Wall
Glass dividers for rooms are definitely a favorite room divider. As far as a design concept for floor to ceiling option, aesthetically small apartments instantly look elevated using these industrial grid glass wall. They give a very Scandinavian interior aesthetic, which we’re very partial too on this blog- and they look super chic.
I’ve definitely spent a lot of time sifting through scandi design pictures of room dividers and many a glass wall partition on Pinterest. Also these definitely feel like upscale room dividers and definitely accent the space. This is a great way to separate the living room from the bedroom and honestly always looks good even with a small living room. Not the most economical, but you can find a cool D.I.Y. from The Sorry Girls on YouTube.
9. Entertainment Center
Use an entertainment center or a TV stand to create a divide between your living room and sleeping area. This can be a great way to add some extra storage and still have a place for your TV. Plus, not only do you have a place for your tv but, it can help to create a more cohesive look in between a living room and the rest of the open floor plan layout. Adding a tv to a small living space can be tricky but an entertainment center can help to make it work. Just be sure that you aren’t blocking any large windows or any natural light in the living room or family room space.
10. SLIDING DOOR PARTITION
Sliding doors are a great room divider option as far as movable wall partitions go. They save space, provide privacy, and come in an array of styles to match your decor. You can choose from traditional barn-style sliding doors or modern minimalist sliding doors with glass panels.
If you’re looking for something unique, there are even sliding door room dividers made with steel frames and fabric curtains! Installing sliding room dividers is fairly simple – just find the right track system to fit your room size and style. And when you’re done using them as room dividers, they make great closet doors too!
11. Colorful Rug
Using colorful rugs to divide a studio apartment or a room can be a practical and aesthetically pleasing solution. By strategically placing rugs in different areas, you can create distinct zones within the space, effectively dividing it into separate functional areas. This can be particularly useful in a studio apartment where there are no physical walls to separate different living areas.
Colorful rugs not only serve as visual dividers but also add a vibrant and lively touch to the overall decor. You can choose rugs in different colors and patterns to create a sense of individuality and personality in each designated area. For example, a bright and bold rug can be used to define the living room area, while a softer and more muted rug can be placed in the bedroom corner.
This not only helps in visually separating the spaces but also adds warmth and texture to the room, making it feel more inviting and cozy. Overall, using colorful rugs as dividers is a practical and stylish way to maximize the functionality of a studio apartment or a room while adding a touch of personality to the space.
12. Loft Bed
Combine the openness of a loft with the functionality of a studio. A loft studio apartment offers a sense of spaciousness and flexibility. The absence of walls and partitions allows for creative freedom in designing the layout and utilizing the available space.
With the right furniture arrangement and clever storage solutions, a loft studio apartment can be transformed into a multi-functional living area, accommodating separate zones for sleeping, dining, working, and entertaining. Adding some industrial charm of exposed brick wallpaper can creating a trendy and modern living environment.
13. CANOPY BED
Using a canopy bed as a way to divide a room in a studio apartment can be a stylish and functional solution. The canopy bed not only serves as a focal point but also creates a visual separation between different areas within the space. By positioning the canopy bed strategically, you can create a sense of privacy and define distinct zones, such as a sleeping area or a cozy reading nook.
The draped curtains or fabric panels of the canopy bed act as a physical divider, providing a sense of enclosure without completely closing off the space. This allows for an open and airy feel while still maintaining a level of privacy and separation. Additionally, canopy beds come in various designs and styles, allowing you to choose one that complements your overall decor and adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to your studio apartment. Overall, using a canopy bed as a room divider in a studio apartment is a practical and visually appealing way to create separate functional areas while adding a touch of luxury to the space.
So there you have it! There are many options for portable partitions and room dividers. A few easy ways to fake the look of separate rooms in your studio apartment utilizing different ideas to create a unique room divider. This might be particularly helpful too if you are working from home and need a bit of separation between your home office and the rest of your space.
With a little bit of creativity, you can easily create the illusion of more space and privacy in your apartment. Room dividers are also a great opportunity of course to display another decorative accent in your home. Try out a few of these ideas to see what works best for you and your space. For more creative room divider ideas check out 6 Functional Ways To Divide A Room Or Studio Apartment.
