29 Insanely Smart Studio Apartment Ideas You Haven't Thought of

Not sure how to make the most of your small studio apartment? Here are 29 crazy good studio apartment ideas that are actually worth copying.

When it comes to studio apartments, it can be challenging finding ways to make your space feel both cozy but practical at the same time. Not to worry, I am sharing all of the best studio apartment ideas you can recreate to make the place of your dreams without compromise.

You are going to find out all of the best ways to create the perfect studio apartment from studio apartment ideas for guys, studio apartment ideas Pinterest, studio apartment ideas layout, and more.

These are the exact studio apartment ideas you need to see to inspire you to create the perfect studio apartment that matches your lifestyle.

This post is all about the best studio apartment ideas for a practical space.

Best Studio Apartment Ideas:

1. Multi-Functional Space

One of the hardest parts about working with a small space is being able to fit everything you want without it feeling crowded or overwhelming. One of the best ways to mix functionality with comfort is to make your space multi-functional by having furniture pieces and decor that serve more than one purpose.

This idea is great because it makes the most of the vertical space available by adding a small lofted bed that serves as a sleeping area without having to give up a living space.

2. Light and Airy Color Palette

The smaller the space, the lighter the color palette should be to create the illusion of a more open and bigger space. Lighter colors will help your apartment to feel less cramped and smooshed together. But a lighter color palette doesn’t mean you can’t add pops of color in your pillows, throws, or bedding to bring some character to your space.

3. Loft Bed

Having a loft space in your studio apartment makes such a huge difference, allowing you to have a more private area for your bed while keeping the downstairs entirely open for a living space.

A lot of times studio apartments with lofts will also have tall ceilings which immediately makes the place feel so much bigger.

4. Utilize Every Nook

With such a small space, it’s important to make sure you are utilizing every corner and nook to get the most out of it and create the most practical space. This doesn’t mean overcrowding your apartment with extra useless items, but finding new and creative ways to make use of every inch of space made available to you.

5. Storage Furniture for More Space

Storage furniture is the way to go when it comes to small spaces. No matter how much storage space you think you have, it’s almost never enough. You can find almost any piece of furniture with some type of storage. Even if you think you don’t need more space now, you probably will in the future and it’s always a nice to have.

6. Add Built-Ins

If you have the space, built-ins can be such a lifesaver when it comes to practical storage. Whether it’s behind your bed or in place of a TV stand, you can pretty much incorporate built ins anywhere you have wall space.

If you’re looking for easy built ins that you can build and install yourself, Ikea has some great cost-effective options and different layouts depending on the type of space you’re working with.

7. Curtains for Privacy

Curtains are a super easy way to create privacy in your studio apartment. It’s also not super permanent so you can easily take them down whenever needed.

If you still want to be able to see the rest of your apartment with the curtains closed, sheer curtains will give you just the right amount of privacy without it feeling like you’re isolated from the rest of your space.

8. Easy to Move Furniture

If your furniture is easily moveable, it will give you more options to change up your layout whenever you feel like you need a change.

Even if it’s just making a small change like moving the couch to face a different direction, small changes in layout can make it feel like a whole new space and will keep you from feeling like you’re living in a static place.

9. Keep the Colors Light

Keeping your apartment light and bright when it comes to color scheme doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate fun colors to compliment your space. There are tons of lighter colors like this eucalyptus color on the cabinets that adds so much character to the room while still making it feel clean and open.

10. Maximize Vertical Space

Never underestimate the power of a bohemian themed outdoor area. It incorporates a lot of neutrals while adding fun textures and using a lot of round and soft edges to make your space feel inviting and peaceful.

11. Low to the Ground Furniture for the Win

If your apartment has low ceilings, one way to make it feel more spacious is by choosing low to the ground furniture. You would be surprised how big of a difference this can make. Even if you don’t have low ceilings this is a great hack to make your space feel bigger.

12. Use Windowsills as Shelves

Windowsills are a great place to add extra decor and use as storage. It’s like a built in shelf that serves as a multi-purpose space. If it’s large enough, you can even use it as an additional seating area.

13. Get Creative

Studio apartments may seem very limited working with such a small space, but it’s also an opportunity to get creative with your space. For example, use a divider that also doubles as decor. This idea is not at all permanent, super stylish, and will make your bed feel like it’s in a different room.

14. Add Shelving

Shelving never fails as a great storage solution that also makes the most of empty wall space. You can use shelves to display art, hold books, and other decor to spruce up your apartment.

15. Get Rid of the Kitchen Table

While kitchen tables are a nice to have, they also take up a ton of space. You can easily turn this area into a sitting area or living room. This is especially helpful so you don’t have to sacrifice your “bedroom” area for a couch.

16. Barn Doors for Seperation

Barn doors are a super cute way to create a completely separate space in your studio apartment for added privacy. If you want it to feel completely closed off you could

17. Murphy Bed to Save Space

When everything has to fit in one room, you realize just how much space a bed takes up. If you want to be able to transform your sleeping space to a living space without having to sacrifice a ton of room, a Murphy bed makes it easy to change your space from day to night. Plus a lot of Murphy beds have built in storage. It’s the best of both worlds.

18. Mounted Lighting

Mounted lighting is a great way to keep your apartment bright without taking up any floor space with a stand alone lamp. It can also add a lot of style to your space and serve as decor. There are so many different light fixtures to choose from to fit your apartment perfectly.

19. Make Decor Cohesive

The reality is, with all of your furniture and decor in one place, keeping it cohesive will make your apartment feel put together and clean. It’s also a great way to make your apartment feel uniquely yours. If you want a soft and warm theme, go with a bohemian decor scheme, if you want your apartment to feel super clean and simple, go for more of a modern theme.

20. Be Smart With Storage

One of the biggest issues you’ll probably run into having a small living space is the limited amount of storage. You don’t realize how much storage space you need until you’re trying to cram all of your belongings into a couple of cabinets. So if you have an empty space above your bed, add cabinets or shelves. Wherever you can, try to add some sort of storage unit. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

21. Don’t Be Afraid of Unconventional Layouts

Don’t worry about traditional layouts when it comes to your studio apartment. Find a layout that works with you and your lifestyle. It doesn’t need to look perfect, it just needs to work for you.

22. Combine Function and Style

The theme for the best studio apartments is style and function. When you can combine the two together, you’ll have a place that is both practical but also aesthetic. The easiest way to do this is by choosing furniture and decor that is multi-purpose. The more functions something can have, the better. And if you can keep it aesthetic or add your own style on top of that, it’s a win-win.

23. Try a Day Bed

Day beds are great because they can serve as your bed and your couch all in one. A lot of times you can’t have both a couch and a bed in a studio apartment, so you might have to sacrifice one for the other. A day bed allows you to enjoy both in the same place.

24. Create Intentional Division

Creating division in your apartment doesn’t necessarily mean building a wall and adding a door to create a completely different room. It can be a simple divider and it doesn’t even have to add privacy. It can simply be something that makes you feel like you are entering into a different space. This could be as simple as a curtain or more permanent if you were to choose a glass-paned divider.

25. Double Duty Sofa

Unfortunately a studio apartment doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for guests. But if you still want to have the option for friends and family to stay the night, get a pullout sofa that can turn into a bed for an extra sleeping space. It doesn’t even have to be a full sofa, you could also get a love seat that turns into a small bed.

26. Accent Wall

If your apartment complex doesn’t allow you to paint the walls, you could create an accent wall with stick-on wallpaper. It’s basically contact paper for your walls that makes it feel like you used wallpaper, but is much easier to install and peal off. An accent wall also gives you a chance to tie in colors from the rest of your apartment and make it feel cozy.

27. Utilize the End of the Bed

If you have space at the end of your bed, you can put an ottoman, dresser, or even desk. Think of it as another wall space. You can never go wrong with a storage ottoman at the end of your bed that also doubles as additional seating.

28. Incorporate Lots of Mirrors

Mirrors do a great job of opening up your space and making it feel brighter, no matter how small. They reflect light, which will automatically fill your apartment with beautiful natural light during the day. You can even copy the studio apartment inspiration above and create a gallery wall with mirrors.

29. Use Curves and Soft Edges

If you want your small space to feel cozy and inviting, pick furniture that incorporates a lot of curves instead of hard edges. This small detail will give more of a playful feel and does a good job of making any space feel instantly more comfortable.

This post was all about the best studio apartment ideas for a practical space.

29 Insanely Smart Studio Apartment Ideas You Haven’t Thought of