11 Room Ideas That’ll Make a Small Studio Apartment Feel Like Home

Living in an apartment certainly has its perks.

When something breaks, you call your landlord. When you’re ready for a change of scenery, you finish out your lease and move. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars replacing windows or appliances or lighting fixtures — not your responsibility.

There is one downside:

When you live in a studio apartment, it can be hard to make it feel like a home.

But it can be done.

Ready to learn how? Here are 11 room ideas that’ll make a small studio apartment feel like home.

1. Hang Mirrors

The smaller your place, the more you should make use of mirrors. This is an age-old trick that never goes out of style, and that’s because it works. Mirrors are the easiest way to make a small space look and feel bigger than it is.

The size of the mirror matters. A small mirror on a wall might not make much of an impact, but a big mirror can make a huge difference in how you (and others) perceive the size of your studio.

If you can position a mirror to reflect your windows, even better. That will give your one-room apartment an even bigger, grander feel.

2. Add MultiPurpose Furniture

When your living room is your bedroom and your bedroom is your dining room, it’s best to make use of multipurpose furniture.

You can maximize space and use the same room for several functions just by adding some dual-purpose furniture.

Look for chairs or tables with concealed storage compartments.

Invest in a Murphy bed that you can hide in the wall or buy a daybed or a couch that you can convert to a bed at night.

Buy an expandable table that you can use as a desk during the day and a dining table when guests come over.

Items that transition from one purpose to another will allow you to enjoy a small amount of space in different ways.

3. Decorate With Light Colors

Smaller spaces always look bigger with light colors. Paint your walls neutral shades of white, light grey, pale blue, or beige. By keeping your studio neutral in color, you’ll create the illusion of more space.

Need to add pops of color? Do so with accessories and accents like rugs, throw pillows, and tabletop décor.

4. Divide Your Studio Into Different Spaces

Tired of sleeping, eating, working, and watching TV all in the same room? It’s time to divide your studio into two different spaces.

Place a room divider or a tall bookshelf by the side of your bed to give your studio two-room appeal.

Want more privacy? Suspend a curtain from the ceiling to separate your studio into two separate rooms.

By sectioning off your bed from your living area, you can create two separate spaces with ease. This one simple trick is a great way to make a tiny one-room apartment feel more like home!

5. Create an Accent Wall

Make your studio look more stylish by creating a focal wall or accent wall.

Hang wallpaper. Paint a mural. Paint one wall a pop color. Mount adhesive wall panels to add some texture.

Your accent wall doesn’t have to be big; it can be the smallest wall in your apartment. In fact, it doesn’t even need to be an entire wall. Sometimes, just sectioning off a portion of a wall can create a unique look and divide your studio into two separate spaces.  

6. Maximize Vertical Storage in Your Kitchen

When floor space is limited, it’s important to make the most of the vertical space you have. You can do this in any area of your apartment, but it works especially well in a kitchen.

Add a pegboard to hang kitchen tools and utensils. Mount a hanging rack on the ceiling to display and store pots and pans. Add floating shelves all the way up the wall to store dishes and glasses or display decorative accents.  

The more you make use of wall space, the less cluttered your apartment will be.

7. Add Artwork

The best way to make a tiny studio feel like home is to add some personal touches, and there’s no better way to do that than by hanging artwork.

Need a focal point that catches the eye and takes the attention off the fact that your space is small? Hang a large frame or canvas above your couch — the bigger, the better!

Want to make an even bolder statement? Hang artwork or framed prints in unexpected areas, such as the bathroom and kitchen.

8. Create a Reading Nook

If you have any extra space, create a special place to read and relax that’s not your couch or bed.

Add an accent chair with an ottoman, or hang a hammock in a corner by the window. This will give your studio a cool, cozy feel and create a place that’s just for unwinding and relaxing.

9. Decorate With Plants

Plants work in any space. They add color and natural style to the home, and they don’t have to take up a lot of room.

Place a few small potted plants on a windowsill or hang a few in front of your window. This is a great way to add some decorative elements and make use of vertical space.

10. Cover Your Windows

What you put on your windows can make or break the entire vibe of your apartment. 

The smaller the space, the more important it is to keep it light and bright. Opt for airy, white curtains or lightly colored drapes that let the sun shine in and brighten up your space.

How you hang them makes a difference, too. 

You can trick the eye and make your apartment look bigger just by mounting your drapery rod above your window. When you measure to buy curtains, don’t measure the window. Instead, measure the distance from the ceiling to the floor.

11. Keep It Organized

The less space you have, the more important it is to be organized. If you allow clutter to collect in your studio, it won’t take long before it starts to look like a college dorm.

Declutter, organize, and clean your apartment on a regular basis. The less “stuff” you have lying around, the better it will look and (the better you’ll feel when you’re there).

Conclusion

The trick to making a studio apartment feel like home is to make it look like it contains several spaces for different purposes.

With just two or three of these decorating tips, you can turn your studio into the multifunctional space you’ve always dreamed of!

Author Bio:

Adam Marshall is a freelance writer who specializes in all things apartment organization, real estate, and college advice. He currently works with The Lofts at Brentwood to help them with their online marketing.