#studio apt. ideas

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Trompe d’oeil murals make Calvin’s 500 sq. ft. New York City studio one-of-a-kind. Before entering the studio, there’s a long hall with lots of storage closets with straight doors that are detailed.

Calving called in a talented friend to help him with the painting. He wanted a dramatic and bold entrance painting it a moody and peachy Benjamin Moore “San Antonio Rose.”

His admiration for Indian block-print textiles led the color palette, creating a rich yet cozy feeling throughout the home.

Calvin’s home is filled with vintage pieces. 

He likes to show friends & family that a space can be cozy & inviting with rich colors, layers, and visual interest.

He wants his home to tell his story.

The apt. walls are paper thin, so he put acoustic panels on either side of the sleeping area and covered them with curtains.

The curtains hid the panels, but also created a visual separation of the living and bedroom spaces.

His artist friend did the bathroom art.

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/trompe-loeil-murals-in-500-square-foot-nyc-studio-37191951

[hometoursandotherstuff]

As soon as I saw Marty’s studio apt., I knew it had to be in New York City. Where else could she decorate like this?

Marty says her 249 sq. ft. studio is joyful and she loves to share it with others.

She spent days combing through antique stores all over Brooklyn to find her dresser.

On the bed is an antique Mennonite quilt. She has Pennsylvania Mennonite ancestry and the neon colors were impossible to resist.

Buying the quilt saved her from taking up quilting and yet another hobby.

Gatherings are a challenge, but she believes space and resources are meant to be shared.

If she could, she’d have more space, but she approaches what what she does have with abundance and shares that.

Look at how she covered up the dated oak cabinets.

The bath is so cute with the pink flamingo paper and mint green shower curtain.

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/249-square-foot-nyc-studio-with-collage-walls-37182448

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Bailey’s Upper West Side New York City 200 sq. ft. studio is inspired by English Country décor. 

She loves the cozy, almost cluttered, look of English country décor.

This studio has a lovely old brick wall and fireplace, which is quite a find. Bailey likes to sit in this corner chair and people-watch as she eats breakfast. 

Her love of reading prompted her to fill the space with books.

A tiny end table serves as a workspace behind the couch.

A lot of her furnishings were handed down thru family members and they have also influenced her style.

A dresser doubles as a nightstand. 

With no kitchen storage to speak of, Bailey uses a vintage bookcase to store kitchenware. 

Even the tiny hall to the bath is utilized for storage. Very efficient use of space along with the style she loves.

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/200-square-foot-nyc-apartment-tour-photos-37107593

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Tour of Steffi’s 500 sq. ft. studio apt. in Seattle, Washington. She’s been here 3 yrs. and is totally in love with it. I can see why. 

An angry Fiona Apple greets you as you walk in the door. To the right is a closet and to the left is a bathroom.

After Fiona, is Beck. The apt. has a music theme.

From there you enter the studio.

You’ll notice favorite song titles and lyrics. She likes gloomy and moody art for the kind of visual she wants b/c she likes things to have a little bit of a dark edge.

The couch is used as a room divider, and b/c a regular coffee table would be too big, she uses an accent table and it works fine. 

Death Note books, one of her favorite animes, are throughout the space. Other manga is around, too, b/c she thinks it looks cool.

Steffi likes to use coffee table books to express the things she’s into. 

She also likes to pile throw pillows on the couch to make it comfy, like it’s giving her a hug.

On the other side of the couch is the bedroom where the music theme continues with sound wave prints. 

In this corner she has a Triforce representing the Legend of Zelda.

And, there’s also a pic of Taylor Momsen from her favorite band, “The Pretty Reckless.”

Then, more music imagery of her favorite singer/songwriter, Poe. The table has an vintage gothic look.

Next is the sitting nook that the cat claimed as her own.

Wow, the decor behind the desk is from The Container Store and was a pack of 4 for $9.99. 

The teeny kitchen is nice, though. At least it has a full size stove, sink & fridge, plus storage.

The bath is a typical tiny studio apt. bath, but Steffi feels that she made it look pretty. I can’t believe all the wonderful things in this small apt. Amazing job of decorating.

https://www.modamisfit.com/modamisfitblog/studio-apartment-tour

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Maitri’s 450 sq. ft. studio apt. in New York City is so cheery! 

She liked it so much when she walked in that she said yes to the agent before she even checked the bathroom and closets.

Color is her biggest inspiration and starting point. 

Maitri says she cannot live in a white box and her style is girly maximalism.

You can never tell if the apt. came this way or if she painted it, b/c in NYC you can decorate. Love the fridge. 

Storage was a challenge so she used a whole bunch of sleek lockers in different colors and sizes in corners and small spaces. Not only do they look cool and colorful, but they also hold a lot of stuff.

She saw so many apartments that were tiny, dark, and dingy, so that’s why she immediately said yes to this one.

Normally, a desk is not placed in the kitchen, but since she has a big window in the wall between kitchen and living room, can look into the living room and see out the window. Plus, it uses up extra space in the kitchen, which is a good size for a NYC apt.

She placed the bed next to the window so she can people watch from the bed.

There’s not enough closet space so her favorite piece is the IKEA closet. The small clothes on the bottom belong to her Pug.

The dresser, which she painted pink, is also from IKEA.

This is nice, a big shower and modern sink. 

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/honey-i-dressed-the-pug-new-york-city-studio-apartment-tour-photos-37102143

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Thanks to clever planning Kissenia & partner Kim turned a small studio apt. into a home for a family of 3. They have been living in this 600 sq. ft. space for 6 yrs.

Kissenia’s favorite part is the hall, b/c when she wanted a trendy banana leaf wallpaper, but couldn’t spend the money to buy the pricey paper, she took a friend’s suggestion and painted the wall black, then handpainted the leaf herself.

The biggest challenge they have living in a studio is size, storage, personal spaces, and combating natural messes that occur with three people living in a tiny space.

They manage by giving everything they own a home; if it doesn’t have a home it’s a mess and it needs to go.

They make great use of under-bed storage, rotate seasonal items, and rearrange frequently to keep up with their evolving needs.

Their style is a little bit of everything, but if Kissenia had to narrow it down, she would say it’s thrifted, boho, natural, grandma, and a little mid-century.

She’s drawn to a lot of neutrals, but is also not afraid of color. The combination is what she think makes it all work.

Their bed was their indulgence and big ticket item.

The couch was the other splurge and they feel that those two things are worth the investment.

Kissenia’s tip is hide your mess in plain sight by incorporating necessary items into your decor.

“Baskets and bins are your best friends. Rotate seasonal items to eliminate clutter and closet and under-bed storage are key. Make a system as to where things go to keep things practical,” says Kissenia.

Never stop thinking of new ways to maximize your space.

By turning the hall closet into her son’s bedroom, Kissenia created a home for their family of 3.

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/thanks-to-smart-planning-and-a-closet-turned-bedroom-a-family-of-three-is-living-big-in-a-tiny-studio-37085896

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Imani’s 490 sq. ft. apt. in Washington DC is a mix of free things she found on the street, family heirlooms, and strategic purchases. It culminates into a neutral and cozy, yet eclectic, vibe.

Imani is on a mission to get people to paint their small apts. black. (If you’re lucky enough to be allowed to paint.)

She says, “My decision to paint the apartment black is pretty different because I live in a studio apartment.”

"I think people who live in small spaces should try to make their apartments look/feel interesting rather than larger." It looks more like a very dark gray, though, so it’s softer than pure black.

"It was a bold choice (that could have gone terribly wrong), but I think it paid off." Notice how she used a bureau in the living room, which is a great storage idea.

“I’ve painted ⅓ of my studio black and it looks great and special. Paint can go a long way to make spaces feel different, but no amount of “Chantilly Lace” is going to make 300 square feet feel like 900 square feet. Make it interesting. Also, don’t buy that cheap ass couch!“

“I’m cheap, but I do believe in investing money on a good couch.”

"I spent $1000 (tax and delivery included) on this velvet sofa from IKEA and it was a great decision."

“I love my china cabinet. My grandma passed away and this was hers.”

Imani says the pink peel and stick wallpaper in the kitchen is a favorite product in her home. "I’ve always been in love with pink kitchens, and I’m thrilled I have one of my own."  This is a lovely apt., isn’t it?

Small hall is like a dressing room with a closet and door to the bath. 

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/490-square-foot-d-c-rental-studio-apartment-photos-37019121

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Finding an affordable apt. in a city is challenging, especially when the smaller apts. are broken up and oddly-configured. Maleeha was lucky to find this 400 sq. ft. studio in New York, b/c her cousin knows the landlord. This is how she beautifully dealt with a weird layout.

Since she was a little girl, she dreamed of living in New York City, and moved to this bright Brooklyn apt. from Chicago.

She had to make this apartment special and comfortable because she works from home and loves to unwind and relax after work with a good book and some mint tea (blech!).

She describes her style as cozy/eclectic.

She didn’t love the finish of the coffee table, so she painted over it with clear gloss to make the finish a bit nicer, but she’s still not satisfied with it, and may repaint it. I rather like it- it’s pink!

There’s a giant pillar in the middle so the space isn’t rectangular. I love those nearly-invisibly-wired lights.

Maleeha was able to find a layout that works for her, but had to make some sacrifices such as not being able to have a couch large enough to lay on. It’s a love seat but anything bigger would have made the space too crowded.

I love the colors she chose.

Her kitchen is a dream for a small apt.- a double door fridge, full stove, and a dishwasher. You can’t beat that.

Her favorite feature is the windows. She loves to wake up to natural light.

Since the loveseat is so small, she often pushes the bed in closer to the TV, adjusts the pillows, and turns it into a big couch. I’m not thrilled w/the bed being there, but unless she bought a Murphy bed, there’s not much choice.

The cute little bath. Love the shower curtain.

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/400-square-foot-bright-brooklyn-studio-apartment-photos-36980033