A studio apartment is often defined both by its size and its open concept. Studio apartments are typically 450-600 sq ft in size. There’s usually a kitchenette along one of the walls with one separate room for the bathroom.
There are some clear benefits to choosing to live in a studio apartment. Compared to most one and two-bedroom units, the rent is more affordable and heating and cooling costs are lower. There’s less area to clean, and everything is within easy reach. And yet, open-concept studio apartments feel spacious when they are well-lit and have higher ceilings and over-sized windows.
Renting a studio apartment may also leave room in the budget to invest in more upscale decor. As you embark on your decorating adventure, take stock of your needs and habits. What is most important to you? Answers might range from cooking to binge-watching Netflix to entertaining guests. Or, your apartment might serve mostly as a nighttime respite from an active lifestyle. Regardless of your priorities, it’s easy to have fun decorating your studio apartment. Do you prefer a living space that’s bright and open, or cozy and intimate? If so, accentuate a feeling of spaciousness with light-colored furniture and accessories. Darker tones work well if you prefer cozy and intimate surroundings.
Read on to learn how to maximize your studio apartment space based on your needs and desires.
Divide and Conquer
Consider flexible options as you divide your living space. Hinged panels make great dividers. Or, you can adapt tall window shutters for that purpose. Define your bedroom space with a curtain on a curved curtain rod, so you can open and close it as desired.
A floor-to-ceiling bookcase also makes a great divider. Consider an open design that allows light through. A divider three or four feet wide is more than enough to create a little privacy between the sleeping area and the rest of your apartment. Or, consider a stepped divider that is higher near the wall.
You can also define spaces without dividers and curtains. Use a rug to anchor living and sleeping areas, or you can further visually define your kitchen area with a breakfast nook.
Svelte and Slender
Maximize your living space with discreet yet strong designs. For example, go with metal-framed rather than wood-framed chairs. Metal delivers strength without bulk. Clear acrylic furniture is perfect for maintaining a feeling of openness. You’ll find an amazing array of such items, including trunks, desks, chairs, and coffee tables.
With a little creative effort, you can fashion a bedroom, living room, home office, and even a reading nook from the available space. A sofa serves as a low-rise divider, for example. Add a chair and an ottoman to a quiet corner and you’ve got a reading nook. Curvy chairs and tables break up the linearity of the walls.
Go Vertical
Living spaces are often described in terms of square feet. Thinking “cubic feet” is often more appropriate, particularly if your studio apartment has a higher ceiling. For starters, make good use of all that wall space. Rely on shelves and hooks to keep things off the countertops and the floor. Elevate furniture, particularly the bed, to create even more storage. Place your mattress on a folding metal bed frame to gain as much as a foot-and-a-half of clearance.
Versatile Furniture
Make every inch count and leave no space unclaimed! Turn your decorating into an adventure. Consider ottomans and coffee tables with built-in storage, as low-profile furniture clears more vertical space. Add a rolling cart or other furniture on wheels, or look into collapsible items like folding tray tables.
Light It Up
Think “light and bright” as you do your interior decorating. Consider translucent curtains that diffuse daylight rather than blocking it. LED lighting is energy-efficient, and it generates little or no heat. This is a distinct advantage in the summer. Mix both direct and diffused lighting to instill the feeling you desire. Finally, consider a large, well-placed mirror to create the illusion of more openness.
Still looking for ideas and inspiration? Consider these studio apartment case studies from around the country.
Studio apartments with Desirable Amenities
Draper and Kramer’s portfolio of luxury properties includes some gorgeous studio apartments:
Hubbard221 – Chicago, IL
The studio apartments at Hubbard221 feature nine-foot ceilings. The floor-to-ceiling windows further accentuate the open floor plan. Relax on the expansive rooftop terrace, which includes a pool, cabanas, hot tub, grilling stations, and fire pit. The community’s lower levels offer bike storage, a bike repair station, a pet spa, and a dog run.
Crest at Las Colinas Station – Irving, TX
The modern, spacious studio apartments at Crest at Las Colinas Station are 600 sq ft and up. Over-sized windows complement the open floor plans and the kitchen area offers granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. A full suite of shared amenities includes an outdoor pool with a tanning shelf. The community is conveniently located along DART, the light-rail system.
EVO Apartments – Richmond Heights, MO
The EVO Apartments are less than 10 miles from downtown St. Louis. Residents enjoy community amenities like a heated outdoor saltwater pool with private cabanas and an indoor rooftop sky deck with iconic views of the St. Louis Arch. EVO even offers a dog/pet spa with pet-washing stations. There are multiple bike trails and outdoor spaces nearby for outdoor lovers to explore.
1350 North Lake Shore Drive – Chicago, IL
Enjoy stunning views of the skyline and the lake from your studio apartment on Chicago’s Gold Coast. Residences at 1350 North Lake Shore Drive feature stylish in-home amenities. You’ll find stainless-steel appliances, large closets, plush carpeting, or wood flooring. All residents enjoy access to the rooftop deck, grilling area, and a fitness center that is open around-the-clock.
Draper and Kramer offers a wide selection of luxury apartments. Browse our complete portfolio of properties or better yet, contact us to sign up for your virtual apartment tour!
Compared to most one and two-bedroom units, the rent is more affordable and heating and cooling costs are lower. There’s less area to clean, and everything is within easy reach. And yet, open-concept studio apartments feel spacious when they are well-lit and have higher ceilings and over-sized windows.
