13 Clever Studio Apartment Ideas to Make Your All-in-One Space the Complete Package Copy Copy

There are your typical design challenges—small bedroom decor ideas, storage ideas, and layout ideas—but brainstorming studio apartment ideas seems to be where some of the most common decor issues coalesce. Decorating a smaller space presents a laundry list of questions: How do you fit a living room, kitchen, and bedroom into one area that doesn’t feel stuffy or crowded? Finding studio apartment ideas that’ll work for you may require a bit of extra ingenuity, planning, and editing, but a stylish and functional end result is absolutely possible—and well worth the extra effort.

To figure out how to make the most of a small studio apartment, we looked to some of our favorite designers who have tackled super-small spaces for their clients and themselves. Take a peek at these studios and steal their tasteful, space-saving solutions, from easy additions that can make a room feel larger, to renovation ideas that will transform your approach to small apartment living. Put these hacks to work and you may find yourself asking, “Why would anyone want multiple rooms?”

1. Play with color and design

A tight floor plan is no reason to avoid bold design choices, so don’t shy away from weaving daring and punchy hues into small spaces. Alex Bass, an interior designer, art curator, and founder of Salon 21, played with color in the living space and bedroom of this studio apartment using throw pillows and artwork. “Small-space living is all about being practical, decisive, and making the most of space without leading to clutter,” she says. According to design experts, unexpected color combinations or wallpaper can add interest and dimension, even in compact rooms.

2. Hide everything

A studio needs to serve a lot of purposes, but it doesn’t need to serve them all at the same time. Find pieces that fold away when not in use, such as Murphy beds and drop leaf tables. Or go all out and conceal everything inside the wall’s niches and built-ins.

3. Bring in rugs

In studio apartments, it can be helpful to create distinctly separate zones for sleeping, eating and relaxing. Drew Michael Scott, LA-based interior design content creator and founder of Lone Fox, has a simple way to accomplish that. “I love using rugs to define and ground a space. It’s especially effective when designing a studio, [where] you’re wanting to create boundaries without walls,” he says. “In this particular space, I used moodier tones in the ‘living room’ area and lighter hues on the bed—but selected a Loloi rug that pulled both areas together and kept the space feeling cohesive and intentional.” Scott recommends choosing a rug that’s on the larger side, which can make the room feel more spacious.