One Room, Infinite Options
Scoring your first studio apartment might seem like a styling challenge, whether you’re a student sharing the space or a young professional living solo in the city. But the right styling tricks can expand a singular space, and we’ve rounded up some of our favorite ways to make your next studio apartment feel huge.
Furniture That Divides and Conquers
Create the illusion of multiple rooms with a few well-placed pieces of furniture. Use a couch to divide your living space and “bedroom,” or use a large bookcase to mimic a wall.
A Modern Couch
A low couch keeps the room feeling open while dividing up the space effectively.
- West Elm Finn Sofa; $999
A Bookshelf Wall
Looking for more privacy or storage space? Use a modular bookshelf to create a wall with plenty of storage opportunities.
- IKEA KALLAX Bookshelf; $109
Bed by Night, Sofa by Day
Skip the bedroom altogether by hiding it inside the living room. Play around with couch options, from a styled daybed to a hidden sofa-bed, or even a futon that can convert from bed to seating.
Daybed
Add a row of pillows for this daybed to act as a sofa for company, and remove them to swap it into sleeping quarters.
Hidden Bed
No one would guess the bed is hiding within a modern couch like this one.
- West Elm Bliss Queen Sleeper Sofa; from $2,099
Go Small on the Coffee Table
A bulky coffee table can eat up valuable real estate in a small studio. Opt for a small one, or even a combo of two side tables or two ottomans instead, to keep the area feeling open.
Slim Tabletop
This narrow choice won’t hold up the flow of the studio.
- Zinus Modern Studio Coffee Table; $45.99
Ottomans
One (or more!) of these cubes can go beyond a coffee table proxy—they can act as extra seating, footrests, or hidden storage, and still balance a coffee cup.
Layered Rugs
No room for the furniture divider trick? Try using a few rugs to separate spaces in a studio, like living room from bedroom, dining area from kitchen, etc.
Plush Rug
This modern take on the Moroccan shag rug can add a cozy touch to a living space or bed nook.
- Urban Outfitters Felize Tassel Shag Rug; from $199
Jute Rug
The durable natural material makes for a good choice for high-traffic areas, like an entryway or kitchen.
- West Elm Jute Boucle Rug; from $79
Wheeling Cart
The uses are endless for this super versatile, yet small, piece. Transform it into a coffee cart in the kitchen, a bar cart in the living room, or even a shoe organizer or office supply cart to keep clutter at bay.
Utility Cart
This IKEA classic has a range of colors to choose from, and a price point that tempts us to buy more than one.
- IKEA RASKOG Utility Cart; $24.99
Rolling Cart
This minimal cart is a perfect choice for adding storage to spots like the bathroom or office.
Neutral Palette with a Pop
When a space is already small, sticking with neutral tones makes it feel bigger. Add one piece of statement art you really love (like this woven piece from Meghan Shimek) to keep it from getting boring—plus, in a studio space, one big piece of artwork is all you’ll likely have room for!
Colorful Print
A blown-up shot of swimmers in Hawaii is a beautiful pastel take on centerpiece art for a studio.
Small, Yet Mighty, Kitchen Gadgets
With limited counter space in a studio, there’s no room for bulky tabletop appliances. Instead, focus on one or two small gadgets that you’ll get a lot of use out of in daily meals.
A Small Blender
Love smoothies? This mini blender is a tiny yet powerful blender that can be used not only for your morning breakfast, but for cooking hacks like chopping veggies, pureeing a sauce, etc.
- Magic Bullet Mini; $29.99
Multi-Functional Cooker
- Instant Pot 7-in-1; $99
What can’t a combo pressure- and slow-cooker make? Create a huge roster of meals with this 7-in-1 device.
