The best way to find the best studio apartment layout or any small living space for that matter is to visualize your day-to-day life in it. What you value in a living situation can be enough to determine how to start looking for your studio apartment.
To find the the best studio apartment layout define your needs in the space. Visualize day-to-day activities in your space and start looking at different apartment floor layout to get an idea of what you’re looking for in a studio apartment.
My advice for finding your perfect studio apartment layout:
1. Write out your list of wants and needs:
This sounds obvious, but it’s really the first and most important step. You need to take some time to think about what you need in a living situation. Then try to go through your wants vs. needs list and determine which rank. This will help you start narrowing down your search.
2. Visualize your daily routine at home:
Once you have an idea of what you need, it’s time to start thinking about how you want to live in a space. If you’re someone who likes to entertain, you’ll want a different layout than someone who works from home all day. Consider how you’ll use the space and what kind of furniture you’ll need. This will help inform your search for the perfect studio apartment layout.
3. Search for floor plans that you can work with:
Once you know what you need and how you want to live, it’s time to start looking for floor plans. There are a few different ways to do this. You can search online, in magazines, or even talk to a real estate agent. This is where your list of must-haves and nice-to-haves will come in handy. Make sure the layout you choose has everything you need and as many of your wants as possible.
Where Do You Tend To Spend The Majority Of Your Time In Your Home?
Let’s begin here. Where do you typically find yourself spending the most amount of time in your current home? This can be a good place to start because then you can make a list of your must-haves in a studio apartment layout. For instance I spend a lot of time in both my bedroom where I also have a small office and my computer.
I spend most of my time there if I’m not grabbing something to eat. Sometimes I even eat at my desk while I watch something entertaining online. So I know that I’m going to need an area that I can visualize a little office space. If I can see that in my space then I can go from there. Interestingly enough and to my point a study in 2018 showed that while many Americans want a larger living space, they only really spend most of their time in a few spaces. Wherever you spend your time, you can always create a beautiful space.
Not All Studio Apartments Are Created Equal
The next thing to ask yourself is probably how much you value that separation of rooms. If you grew up in a home with many rooms chances are that you’re going to want that same type of feeling when looking for your studio apartment layout. If this is the case you should look for apartments that use creative ways to section off areas.
This can be done in a few ways, and I already touched on one of them which was using a room divider or screen. But another way is by utilizing different flooring materials or even furniture placement to create the illusion of definition without actual walls. I know when I was searching for my studio apartment layout ideas I saw a lot of people using large area rugs to define spaces. You could also use bookcases or other shelving units as room dividers.
For many it’s no big deal, but for me it’s a must. There are plenty of studio apartments that look a lot like a one bedroom apartment sans the door. So my personal preference in a studio apartment is one that has some sort of barrier between my bedroom and the rest of the living space.
What You Can Learn From Small Space Living
The same study I mentioned earlier also suggests that one of the main motivations for a larger living space is being able to store things. Seems that we tend to equate a larger living space with more storage. But what if I told you that this doesn’t have to be the case? In fact, one of the best things about small space living is that it can teach you how to live with less and be more intentional about the things that you bring into your home.
It posits that people value being able to place their stuff in the extra room in a home. Of course one of the issues many people run into living in a studio apartment or compact living spaces is the lack of storage. Luckily there are many ways to add storage to your small living space. You can easily find storage solutions for every space in your home check out Studio Apartment Organization: 21 Storage Tips & Tricks for more tips.
If you’re ever in need of an in person inspiration then head over to IKEA. IKEA model rooms are more than inspiring, they are cozy and full of items that can be purchased right in the store which is oh so convenient. Check out some of these studio apartment layout inspirations down below and let me know which is your favorite!
The Open Concept Studio Apartment
These two studio apartments are an excellent example of how you can even designate space in an open concept floor plan. The first is quicky and fun with color, but obvious very intentional in zoning out the living space.
The second works with the different architectural details in the layout to designate different living areas. This next example also does an excellent job of utilizing different rugs to section off a room within a room. Creating zones at home with rugs also do a great job at delineating spaces.
The Installed Partition Studio Apartment
I absolutely adore the look of industrial glass paneling. There’s something very Scandinavian about interior glass wall panels and this style that just creates the entire space for me. From a visual standpoint, a glass wall is a very aesthetically pleasing feature used to separate a space.
Midcentury wooden slats or paneling have been all the rage this year and with good reason. Very simple in it’s appearance, installing wood paneling or wooden slats to just about any space instantly elevates the look of the space. Decorative wood panels or a wood slat wall can really give a studio apartment that extra bit of architectural aesthetics it needs to feel complete.
Source Pinterest
Curtains and drapes are still the easiest way to create separation in a room with minimal effort. I do believe that curtain fabrics and the quality and style of drapes can make a world of difference.
For instance you could go for the simple pinch pleated drapes or some shabby chic curtains for dramatic flair. But there are plenty of ready made curtains online to choose from. Oh and don’t forget, the closer to the ceilings you place your privacy curtains, the larger your space appears.
Source Bed Bath & Beyond
Source Pinterest
The Discreet Studio Apartment
Installing a murphy bed is still a wonderful way to maximize your room space by putting away your bed when not in use. This is obviously very handy in a small living space. We love the idea of this hidden bed system tucked away amongst a library of books. There’s something so cozy about this murphy bed with bookshelves and we’re here for it.
Source Shade Degges
Murphy beds are not what they use to be, they’re so much better. In fact, they are the best bed for studio apartment layouts. modern take on the murphy bed with it’s sleek lines and simple hardware. We love the fact that this murphy bed is tucked away in a beautiful decorative living room cabinet. This is a great example of how you can have a murphy bed without it taking away from your decor.
Source Pinterest
The Loft Studio Apartment
Talk about elevating your living space. Loft layouts are a clever way to transform a small living space by elevating a space. Loft layouts are awesome because they make the most out of a space by adding vertical height. They’re great for their functionality and how they make the space appear larger. This particular lofted layout takes advantage of the high ceilings. We love the wood paneling detail that tucks away the sleeping area.
Source Pinterest
Loft layouts can definitely illustrate that there is always a way to maximize your living space.
Source planet-deco.fr
In conclusion , there are many ways to lay out a studio apartment to make the most of your space. It’s all about being intentional with your furniture placement and utilizing the architectural details in your favor. I hope these tips help you find the perfect studio apartment layout for your needs! What is your favorite studio apartment layout? Let us know in the comments below!
