The Smartest Studio Apartment Layouts We Saw in 2018 (2024)

Adrienne Breaux

Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director

Adrienne loves architecture, design, cats, science fiction, and watching "Star Trek." In the past 10 years she's called home: a van, a former downtown store in small town Texas, and a studio apartment rumored to have once been owned by Willie Nelson. She currently lives in her colorful, maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with her partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.

Follow

published Dec 29, 2018

Save

facebook

pinterest

email

comments

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

SavePin ItSee More Images

Our homes have to host many different functions for our lives, from sleeping to cooking to lounging to working, and even sometimes entertaining. It’s hard enough living in a small home, but when that home is literally only one room? It can be tough to relax when you can see every inch of your home from your bed. But some of the most popular studio apartment tours this year showed you don’t have to let the lack of walls dampen your home or living style.

SavePin ItSee More Images

A Creatively Stimulating Bronx Studio Apartment

Jeremy and Elaine have just 450 square feet to work with, but in that small one-room rental they were able to fit in a bedroom, living room, home office, and reading nook. They use a curtain on a curved ceiling rod to help divide the bedroom, the living room is designated by a large rug and a sofa, and the office chair and sofa face in opposite directions, giving a separate space vibe. A leftover corner is turned into the perfect reading nook by adding a chair and ottoman.

SavePin ItSee More Images

A 500-Square-Foot Boston Studio Apartment Is Enviously Chic

Maeve lucked out in the studio department when she scored this enviously bright and airy Boston space with tall ceilings, drool-worthy architectural features, and beautiful wood floors. Why cover any of that up? She embraced the loft-like feel her tall ceilings provide and left the furniture arrangement loose and open.

SavePin ItSee More Images
SavePin ItSee More Images

A Tiny But Well-Designed 365-Square-Foot Miami Studio

Early in the year we shared this teeny studio apartment in Miami. Thanks to the smart use of a desk and a bookshelf, a cozy sleeping nook was created, and on the other side of the shelf, an entryway area carved out. Rugs help delineate the eating and living areas.

SavePin ItSee More Images

Every Inch of This 550-Square-Foot Studio Is Well Designed

This small studio apartment came with a partial wall that divides the living room and bedroom, but it was still wise the way Kaitlin laid out the rest of the space, including a tall table at the end of the sofa instead of a regular height dining table. Oh and that fireplace? Didn’t come with the place! But adding it in helps give the small living area something to focus around.

SavePin ItSee More Images

It’s less about the furniture arranging and more about the brilliant and basic organizing ideas that make Juliette’s tiny studio apartment so successful. It was wise to go for a Murphy bed so that when up, the tiny single room transforms into a cozy lounge.

SavePin ItSee More Images

A 250-Square-Foot L.A. Studio Feels So Much Larger

Rebecca makes smart use of her teeny studio apartment by not wasting any interior space on lounge furniture; she takes advantage of a small outdoor area to create a living space, allowing the rest of the studio to serve sleeping, working, and cooking functions. She also wisely uses a rolling cart and a folding tray table just outside of her kitchen closet to add much needed storage and work surface.

SavePin ItSee More Images

325 square feet doesn’t feel cramped in Lauren’s small studio, where she uses a small loft to add more space. “It’s perfect for when guests are visiting as it provides additional sleeping options, and I can comfortably sleep four in my apartment when necessary,” she wrote.

SavePin ItSee More Images

A 500-Square-Foot NYC Studio Has an Ingenious Room Divider

One of my favorite studio apartment room dividers I saw this year was in Elaine’s small home, where she installed window shutters to carve out an entryway on one side and bedroom on the other. It’s an interesting way to have visual division but not block out light entirely.

SavePin ItSee More Images

A Tiny 300-Square-Foot Studio Apartment Is a Jewel Box

Heather’s home showcases how to use a bookcase to divide a small studio apartment. It’s basic, but it works beautifully. And using two here to create a corner helps sell the feeling of two different functioning spaces in the same room.

SavePin ItSee More Images

An Artist’s “Natural History Museum” Style NYC Studio

This studio apartment is helped in the division department by a slight floor level change in the living room area, but it’s Sara’s smart use of three rugs to distinguish the three separate areas that makes the space so successful. Also clever was the novel use of a large corner desk as a mid-room divider.

Filed in:

The Smartest Studio Apartment Layouts We Saw in 2018 (2024)

FAQs

What is the layout of a studio apartment? ›

A studio apartment, or studio flat, is a living space containing a single main room, plus a bathroom. The main room functions as the kitchen, living room, office, and bedroom for the unit, with no walls separating the rooms.

Is it hard living in a studio apartment? ›

For young people living on their own for the first time, studio apartments are ideal because of their affordability. However, it's definitely challenging cramming everything into 300 square feet. As long as you remember to be creative and stay organized, you'll figure out how to live in a studio apartment in no time.

Why do people love in studio apartments? ›

Affordable in Hidden Ways

Not only will studios be less expensive to rent than a one-bedroom, but they're also less expensive to heat and cool. This means spending less on utilities and more money in your pocket. Less square footage also means spending less money on furniture.

What is a decent studio apartment size? ›

While the size of the typical studio apartment varies from city to city, renters can usually expect to find a place that's between 400 and 600 square feet. Due to their small size, studios are usually well-suited to a solo occupant; though larger studios and those with an L-shaped floor plan could work for a couple.

Where is the best place to put a bed in a studio apartment? ›

Ideally it would be placed as far from the door (and also as far from the kitchen) as possible. If there's a little nook or secluded corner in your apartment, that's an ideal spot. 2. Lofting your bed can save you a ton of space, but it is not for the faint of heart.

What are the disadvantages of a studio apartment? ›

There are less lights, less electric, and way less space to heat and cool. So that sad, giant bill you get every month will shrink quite a bit. Rent is also usually much cheaper. Con (or maybe a pro): Studio apartments usually don't attract families.

Can 2 people live in a studio flat? ›

A couple can live in a studio apartment comfortably enough, if there is a large enough set space for a double bed. Generally though, most couples prefer the added storage and separate bedroom space of a 1-bed.

What are the cons of living in a studio? ›

Cons of Studio Apartment

The combined living, sleeping, and dining areas can feel cramped, especially for more than one person. Lack of Privacy: There's little room for privacy in studio apartments. The sleeping area is typically not separated from the living areas, which can be challenging when having guests.

Why are studio apartments so small? ›

Square footage is one of the primary factors in the cost of a property, so having such a small space means studio apartments are typically inexpensive. The smaller square footage is preferable to some people, who find it easier to clean, heat, and cool.

Is a studio OK for a couple? ›

It can have its challenges, such as limited time to yourself and not much breathing room. Living together in small spaces tends to magnify disagreements and irritating habits. However, it's possible to remain amicable and even grow closer if you're savvy about it.

What is a studio layout? ›

A studio apartment is defined as having one big open space that includes the living area, kitchen, and sleeping area, with a separate bathroom. This great room allows having an open floorplan with plenty of space to make a combination of living and sleeping space.

What is the minimum floor area for a studio flat? ›

By law a studio flat has to be 70 square feet to house one tenant, and two tenants require minimum floor space of 110 square feet. A typical studio flat is around 250 square feet. The largest studio flats (excluding loft apartments) are usually about 600 square feet.

What is the difference between a studio apartment and a single room? ›

In a studio, you have a room used as both a bedroom and sitting room because the sofa can be turned into a bed for sleeping in. At one end of the studio, you have a small kitchen and a toilet and shower room. A one bedroom apartment has the kitchen and bathroom or shower room, then two extra rooms…

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duane Harber

Last Updated:

Views: 6507

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duane Harber

Birthday: 1999-10-17

Address: Apt. 404 9899 Magnolia Roads, Port Royceville, ID 78186

Phone: +186911129794335

Job: Human Hospitality Planner

Hobby: Listening to music, Orienteering, Knapping, Dance, Mountain biking, Fishing, Pottery

Introduction: My name is Duane Harber, I am a modern, clever, handsome, fair, agreeable, inexpensive, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.