While there are a lot of ways you can optimally decorate a small studio apartment, sometimes the best space-saving solution might be a custom one and this small yet beautiful apartment in Sweden is a great example of that. This small studio apartment includes a kitchen with a dining table, a desk that can be folded into the wall, and a loft bed with an integrated wardrobe that slides out.
n just 23 square meters (about 250 sqft) the owners have created a cooking space with a dining area that seats four people, a place to work from home, a sofa section, a bedroom area, and lots of smart storage space.
A beautiful beige kitchen with lots of storage space
The beige kitchen cabinets are planned out in a layout that includes both upper and lower cabinets to ensure ample storage space in the kitchen. The beautiful exposed brick wall has an elegant white trim on top of it and the upper cabinets extend towards this trim, for a beautiful and finished effect.
The beige kitchen cabinets are paired up with white countertops and chrome hardware for a fresh effect in the space that balanced out the warm beige tones and the wood tones in the dining chairs.
A custom secretary desk with added storage space
On the narrow wall next to the dining table, you can find a tall storage cabinet that is painted in the same beige color as the kitchen cabinets. The table can be folded away when it’s not in use, allowing more space in the sofa area of this smart layout.
A custom loft bed with an integrated wardrobe that slides out
The high ceilings in this lovely apartment allow for a loft bed on a second level, which optimizes the use of floor space. The custom wavy shape of the bed adds an organic and playful element to the interior design, which comes back in the organic shape of the light wood coffee table.
The area behind the sofa is a storage module, which can be accessed by sliding the loft stairs back.
The empty wall in between the loft bed and the DIY secretary desk is an ideal spot for a gallery wall, which adds a colorful element to the playful space.
A laptop storage and charging station is attached to the wall of the sofa area.
Part of the storage module underneath the loft bed can be slid out, allowing easy access to a clothes rack and laundry bag next to the stairs. Even the area underneath the steps is used for storing wine bottles, which can be taken out from the side of the stairs.
This beautiful studio apartment with grey walls is a perfect example of how mixing modern and antique furniture pieces can have such a unique and personal effect on an interior. Especially when you live on a smaller surface, it’s important to add character and to make your home look unique.
The modern furniture pieces in the sleeping and living area of this studio home are mixed with a beautiful antique dresser and a small antique desk. These antique pieces add a beautiful warm tone against the warm grey paint color on the walls and give the color palette a richer appearance, while the modern striped lounge chair adds a trendy element to the space.
A sofa area with a moss-green sofa and stripes on the modern lounge chair
The sofa area is placed on top of a warm grey area rug that visually separates this area from the home office and sleeping section. The rug complements the wall color nicely, while the moss-green sofa adds a beautiful color variation to the setting.
The warm beige rice-paper pendant, the modern striped lounge chair, and the gallery wall above the sofa add a unique and personal touch to the interior, while the radiator covers add a classic element to the space.
Mixing modern and antique furniture in the home office space of this studio home
The beautiful antique desk in the area next to the window is paired up with two simple wooden boards that rest on wall brackets for holding books and accessories above the desk. The warm wood of the antique furniture pieces and the lighter pine wood of the wall shelves warm up this office nook, while the white bentwood chair stands out against this setting.
A simple sleeping area with a small bed and beige tones warming up the grey walls
The small sleeping area on the other side of the room is paired up with a vintage black wall lamp, a simple stool, and a beautiful beige art print that stands out against the backdrop of the grey wall color. The white bedding and bed skirt is paired with a combination of throw pillows in beige, yellow, and brown to match the warm wood tone of the hardwood flooring.
A small kitchen dining area with a white antique wall shelf
The small kitchen dining area features a beautiful antique pendant lamp in combination with a white-painted vintage wall shelf and modern oak dining chairs around the table. The sheer white curtains in front of the window and the subtle chequered tablecloth on the table give this setting a soft appearance against the sage-green kitchen wall color.
A simple entryway with a peg rail
Since the entryway is rather small, a combination of a subtle peg rail for hanging jackets and a simple black velvet pouf is enough to create a space to put your shoes on and hang your coats.
This small yet beautiful apartment with white plank floors has the most subtle grey paint with green undertones on the walls, with a large trim below the ceiling to accentuate the height of the small apartment. White floors are a great choice for small apartments and studios as they will reflect the daylight and make your space appear bigger.
The furniture and soft furnishings in this small flat are picked out in a white or light color palette, with a few green plants that bring out the subtle green undertones in the paint color.
A combined living and sleeping space with grey paint with green undertones on the walls
The white sofa combined with the white pendant light, white area rug, and white lounge chair provides the living space with a bright appearance that is contrasted by a few dark wood elements and black tones in the accessories. The light wood coffee table adds a soft note to the color palette, while the greens add a fresh touch.
A single bed in a subtle sleeping area
A single bed is placed opposite the sofa. The bed can be used to sit on when guests are coming over and the window with the beautiful fabric curtains separates the two functional areas nicely from each other.
The white linen bedding combined with the bed skirt and the beige and grey tones in the throw pillows pairs up nicely with the grey paint with green undertones on the wall.
A small home office space with a black Ikea Vittsjö desk
The addition of the simple yet popular Ikea Vittsjö desk in black is perfect to provide the small apartment with a home office section. The black of the desk and table lamp contrasts nicely with the light wall color and the green and brown tones in the flower and art print bring out the green undertones in the grey paint in a wonderful way.
A small dining table with black dining chairs in the kitchen
The narrow kitchen is just wide enough to place a small round dining table in front of the window, enhanced with two compact wall shelves to store kitchen accessories. The light wood of the dining table combined with the black dining chairs and the simple white pendant light makes for a cozy setting that is freshened up by the addition of green plants on the window sill and on the table.
A contrasting black storage wall in the hallway
Just like in the rest of the apartment, the plank floors in the hallway are also painted white. The black wood storage wall in combination with the black folding bench and the black mirror adds a powerful contrast to this setting that is warmed up and softened out by the natural materials in the rug storage and basket.
The black wood wall is great for attaching hooks to store jackets and bags and it also protects the wall from scratches.
While having a dedicated room in your apartment or house as a home office is the ideal scenario, you often have to fit a work spot in your bedroom, living room, or kitchen when you live on a smaller surface.
Floating desks are great for small space living, as you can fit a desk anywhere in your interior without it taking up too much space or completely changing your interior design. Wall-mounted or floating desks not only take up less floor space but also give your interior a lighter look.
Take a look at the inspiring interiors with floating desks integrated into the list below to give you a head start on creating your own small workstation.
A wall-mounted desk combined with shelves in the same color as the wall
This beautiful turn-of-the-century living room with greige walls has a small, integrated home office section created by combining a wall-mounted desk in light oak wood with floating shelves in the same color as the wall for a tone-on-tone look.
Floating desks are great for creating a minimal space to work from. You can maintain a clean and organized workspace for a sleek look in your interior and a desk that doesn’t look out of place when it’s combined with other room functionalities.
The black chair combined with the black accessories on the open shelves adds a beautiful contrast against the greige walls and wood floating desk, matching the overall decor of the living room.
Styled by Emma Fisher, photographed by Fredrik J Karlsson for Alvhem
A modern floating desk as a space-saving solution
This modern floating desk is made by Menu and offers you an instant spot to create a small desk or even a standing desk if you hang it up higher on the wall. While these solutions are not great for fitting a desktop computer, they do make for a great laptop surface and are perfect for small-space living.
The black bracket that holds the surface of the wall-mounted desk adds clean and simple lines to the design, which is matched by a slim black table lamp and darker tones in the art prints on the wall.
This bedroom corner next to the window has been transformed into a small and cozy workspace, by adding a DIY floating desk that is made to fit the wall. The blue-grey wall color is used on the floating desk and on the gallery wall shelves above it for a finished look that ties the workspace together.
The rounded corners on the worktop by the window streamline the design and make the wall desk fit in the space perfectly. The two shelves on the wall are decorated with beige and brown tones that add a warm touch to the cool undertones on the wall and desk.
A 2-person floating desk in a niche space in the wall
Wall desks can be big or small and the niche spot in this apartment allows a 2-person workspot. Depending on the weight capacity, you might want to add an extra wall bracket in the middle, but if you paint them in the same color as the wall, they won’t be very noticeable anyways.
Decorate the minimal space with artwork leaning against the wall to turn floating desks into a beautiful interior element while they are not in use.
A floating desk combined with a wall lamp and cork pinboard
This small corner space leading up to the living room has been turned into a creative spot to work from home. The simple wall brackets hold a wood plate where you can sit down to do some work. Wall desks leave the area on the floor open and by combining them with a wall lamp, you have more worktop space available to use.
Make the surface of the wall-mounted desk long enough to allow for storage space next to your laptop to keep papers and documents and finish it off with a pinboard on the wall to keep motivational quotes and plans.
A floating desk inside of a niche to fully optimize floor space
This niche space has been transformed into a home office spot that includes storage space in the bookcase that can be used for office supplies, books, and paperwork. The wall shelves are fitted to the niche exactly, while the floating desk has been cut to extend the niche to create a larger worktop that is held up by two wooden wall brackets.
The smaller surface area is used to place a desk lamp and the wooden chair fits the wooden worktop perfectly. The shelving is white so it blends more into the wall for a subtle effect, bringing the floating desk into focus.
A wall-mounted desk adding black tones for a contrasting look
When you want to integrate a home office spot next to your bed, it will look visually lighter when you work with a floating desk design similar to the one used in this attic bedroom. The black chair and wall-mounted workspace stand out against the greige bedroom walls, while the white table lamp adds a subtle tone to the palette.
This simple floating desk made out of three wall brackets fills a hallway space next to the door, which would otherwise not have much functionality in the apartment. Even though this section of the home doesn’t have direct natural light coming in, because the desk and walls are painted white, a bright look is achieved.
The white floating desk is the focal point in this minimal space and the wooden stool can be stored underneath when it’s not in use. The white String System shelf finishes off the look perfectly and provides an extra storage opportunity above the home office spot.
A floating desk in a large living room to create a small integrated office section
While floating desks are great for small space living, they can also be great workstations in larger rooms where you want to integrate home office functionality.
By picking out a wall desk that matches the material and color palette of the rest of the space, the workstation blends into the interior and when you remove the chair when the office is not in use, you are basically left with another shelf surface to style. A great option for people that don’t work from home so often.
A simple floating desk customized to a corner space
This simple DIY floating desk integrates seamlessly into the corner of this small walk-in pantry next to the kitchen that has been transformed into a workspace. Since the surface is quite small, it’s perfect to work from a laptop and the wall-mounted lamp lights up this room without cluttering the workstation itself.
A niche spot with a white floating desk and wall-mounted shelving
A niche spot in between the kitchen and the bedroom in this small studio apartment has been optimized as a wall desk with integrated storage space. The minimal space is filled with three shelves, one of which is a larger surface that forms the wall desk.
The minimal space is divided into three compartments, turning this otherwise lost niche spot into a fully functional wall-mounted office that integrates perfectly into the interior design.
A floating desk combined with floating shelving in a spacious bedroom
This stylish bedroom with cream walls and the most amazing windows features a bedroom office in the empty space next to the wardrobe. When you don’t work with custom built-in wardrobes, sometimes you are left with small spaces next to them, which are perfect for small floating desks.
Floating desks with wall brackets can be combined with a worktop in any size you like (pay attention to weight limits) and it’s a very easy way to create a fully customizable office desk.
This two-person workspace is placed between two walls in a basement space. Floating desks are a great solution when you need more seating space in your office, as the wall-mounted solution eliminates the need for legs or trestles underneath the worktop.
The double desk in this minimal space is finished off with an elegant shelf for work supplies and a single table lamp provides both workspaces with light.
The white floating desk fits perfectly in the hallway interior design with historic elements. An old doorway is transformed into a modern workstation, repurposing what used to be another doorway.
The wall desk is finished off with a white marble worktop, a grey chair, a grey table lamp, and black accent pieces that make this office nook stand out in the hallway with white walls and white flooring.
A home library can add elegance and sophistication to an interior. More so, I have always been drawn to bookshelves that are built around a door, as they tend to add such sophistication to a space, while also allowing you to make use of dead space in your interior.
A doorway framed by shelves or bookcases can have such an impressive effect on a space, especially if you put some effort into styling it nicely. You can combine books with other things and accessories you want to put on display. Play around with it to find the right balance to accommodate storage and accessories on display without it feeling cluttered.
Incorporate different materials and find a stylish and creative setting for your doorway bookcase. Have a look at these beautiful built-in bookshelf ideas around a door for inspiration on how to plan and style them.
Custom built-ins in a dark grey color decorate a majestic doorway
The wide doorway connecting the dining room and living room in this majestic Swedish apartment is adorned by a custom doorway bookcase that fills the whole wall. The contrast of the dark grey shelves with the white walls that can be seen through the open doorway is very powerful and contributes to the minimal black-and-white interior aesthetic in this apartment.
The base cabinets are deeper, providing lots of space to store things away, while the open shelves rest on top of them. The big shelf is decorated with a mix of carefully selected accessories in monotone colors and piles of books facing backward for a modest yet elegant effect against the dark grey color.
A creative doorway bookcase underneath a sloped ceiling
In this light-flooded attic apartment with beautiful exposed wood beams, all the space up until the ceiling is filled up with a custom-built bookshelf including closed storage modules on the bottom.
A custom bookcase is a great way to fill up the unused space in awkward corners and this doorway bookcase that fills the entire wall is painted in the same paint color as the bedroom door itself for a beautiful effect that accentuates the beautiful green bedroom wall color peeking through.
The home library includes a mixture of books, an impressive hanging plant, and a selection of vases. The shelves even contain an integrated glass cabinet for storing wine glasses conveniently next to the dining table.
A bookshelf-around-door layout with an integrated mirror
This beautiful living room with a light grey wall color with blue undertones features a beautiful custom doorway bookcase that includes closed cabinets on the bottom on which the top shelves rest.
Since the original crown molding on the ceiling can’t be seen anymore, moldings were applied to the top of the bookshelves for an integrated effect. The paint color used on the bookcase is the same as the wall color in this beautiful interior and the mirror on the back of the biggest compartment is such a smart idea to make the space look bigger.
The left part of the built-in shelves is used for interior objects and to store books, while the area on the right is used for glasses. I imagine the section with the mirror would work great for displaying bottles as well, functioning as an integrated bar in your bookcase.
A bookshelf with storage space around the bedroom door
The doorway connecting the dining room with the bedroom in this turn-of-the-century apartment is adorned by a beautiful custom built-in doorway bookshelf that extends wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling for an impressive effect in this majestic interior.
The bottom of each of the bookcase modules includes a closed storage compartment with paneled white doors, which are paired up with open shelves on the top that display a combination of books, accessories, and storage boxes for keeping small stuff.
The interior color palette of both the rooms is black and white combined with natural tones in the wooden furniture. The paper of the aged books adds beige tones and by placing the extra colorful books the other way around, you create a serene color palette that fits the interior.
I love the way the small oak seedling pops out on the shelves, adding a subtle green touch in between all the neutral colors present in the bookcase.
Styled by Greydeco and photographed by Janne Olander, for Stadshem
Open shelves on the top half of the wall decorate a large doorway
Even though the furniture is placed against the bottom half of the doorway wall in this living room, the top half is decorated with white wall shelves with white brackets for an impressive effect in the interior.
The top shelf is used to store books, while the lower shelves have small boxes and a few delicate decor pieces in natural colors. The open shelves blend into the wall in a subtle manner, making the high-contrast items in the interior like the blue door and the cognac leather butterfly chair stand out in a more powerful way.
Balcony doorway bookshelves fully integrated into the room
The built-in shelves going over the balcony doorway in this living room with white walls go over into a custom bench with a wall pillow, which is such a smart idea.
The solution combines closed cabinets on the bottom with open shelves above it and a long wall shelf extending wall to wall over the doorway. By doing so, a lot of shelf space is created without taking up too much floor space.
The white open shelves integrate nicely with the white wall and the white window and door frames, which are complemented with white furniture and white curtains for a bright look that makes this small room look bigger.
A half doorway bookcase with books and antique finds on display
While built-in shelves that extend over an entire wall can have such an impressive effect on an interior, this is not possible in smaller spaces. Doorway bookcases can be a great solution for small space living and studio apartments, however, since you can utilize the doorway wall for additional storage opportunities.
This beautiful white bookshelf extends over the doorway, yet doesn’t continue on the other wall, making it a smaller solution that takes advantage of the available ceiling height.
The shelves themselves are filled with books with their backs faced away for a calmer (yet more confusing) look that is enhanced with a beautiful selection of vintage finds on display on the top shelves. By filling some shelves entirely with books and others with accessories only, you create an interesting look that is finished off with the cute antique table lamp on one of the shelves.
Built-in bookshelves connected by a single top shelf over the door
If you don’t want to add too much shelf space above the door, you can connect two built-in bookshelves on each side of the doorway with a top plate that gives the doorway bookcase its integrated look into the space, without having to construct the module above the door.
This beautiful living room with a warm grey wall color features shelving next to the doorway painted in the same color as the wall. This grey-on-grey color palette accentuates the white French doors leading up to the other room. The shelves are filled with boxes and objects in darker colors that stand out and add a lovely contrast to the space.
Built-in bookshelves in a corner layout above French doors
This spacious green living room has a creative bookshelf solution that is planned out in the corner of the room and extends over the doorway leading up to the bedroom. The built-ins are painted in the same color as the window and door frames in this majestic and characterful interior. It’s a mint green color that is a bit darker than the walls which results in a unique effect in the space.
The built-in bookshelves are used to organize books and display accessories, while the shelving above the door is used as an elegant magazine display showcasing the book covers for a lighter look.
A sage green dining room with wall shelving extending over the door
This combined living room and dining room features open shelving that extends above the doorway in the dining area, and a blank wall above the sofa. Planning out the shelves like this allows for a visual distinction between the two functional areas in the space.
Open shelving is typically a bit easier to install around a door than bookcases and the final result can be just as impressive. In the case of this apartment, I like the way the white shelving and the white doorway stand out against the sage-green living room walls.
A doorway bookshelf in the same grey color as the walls
One of the walls in this dark grey living room has been turned into an amazing feature wall with a wide bookshelf design that fills the entire wall and the area above the door. The beautiful collection of colorful books and a careful selection of art and decor objects decorate the shelf in a wonderful way.
When you have to make small-space living work, it’s not only a challenge to fit all room functionalities into a single room, but making the decor personal and stylish is an additional task that comes on top. The light terracotta paint color used in the living space of this studio apartment works in such a gentle, elegant way, while also elevating the home decor and making this small space unique (read more about tips and tricks to make a small studio apartment work in this post).
The combined living and bedroom space is connected to a separate kitchen with a simple white design and a small bistro table in front of the window.
A combined living and sleeping space layout
The rattan sofa in the living area is decorated with a lovely mix of textured linen pillows. A beautiful table lamp on the window sill provides atmospheric lighting when sitting in this spot and the big white marble coffee table adds elegance. The white curtains and the beige textured area rug add even more texture to the setting and I love the way the wood shelf against the wall provides a spot for accessories and books.
The gallery wall next to the sofa combines warm tones with darker accents and oak frames, which stand out in a lovely way against the light terracotta wall color on the wall.
Two white lounge chairs finish off the sofa area and a standing mirror reflects the daylight coming from the window throughout the space.
The bedroom area in the living space is placed against the wall and fits perfectly next to the doorway. The area rug is used to visually separate the layout as it covers the floor in the sofa area, yet stops right where the sleeping area starts.
The available corner on the other side of the room is used for a peg rail to hang up some clothes away from the main wardrobe. The lemon tree and the white tones in the art print seem to pop out of the light terracotta paint color in the background.
The beige, brown, and terracotta-toned textiles on the bed complement the wall color and finish off the interior design of the sleeping area perfectly.
A simple white kitchen with a small bistro table
The simple white kitchen design features vintage storage on the one side and a more modern kitchen module on the other wall. The brass hardware modernizes the kitchen slightly, yet it’s the bistro table in front of the window that really ties the kitchen look together.
The wall containing the window has a light grey wall color that makes both the kitchen and the white curtain stand out. The combination of the black and wood tones in the kitchen and dining area works perfectly on the white-soaped flooring and the small olive tree in the window finishes the look off nicely.
A delicate hallway wallpaper complements the light terracotta paint color in the adjacent room
The hallway in this apartment is small, just like the rest of the space, yet by adding a delicate foyer wallpaper in this small room it gets a unique look that pairs up nicely with the light terracotta paint color in the living room next to it.
Bedroom nooks and alcove beds are a great solution when you just don’t have the square footage available to plan out all the different functionalities needed in a space. When you live in a studio apartment, for example, you need to include both living and sleeping areas in one main bedroom, which can be quite a challenge.
You can create a bed nook in an alcove available in the floor plan, design the room layout from scratch to include a nook, or create one with the formation of your storage space. Separate the area with curtains and in no time, you have created a cozy nook that can be used to sleep, sit and watch tv, or as a reading nook.
If you are wondering if a bed nook is a fitting solution for your room, take a look at the elegant space-saving bedroom solutions in the list below.
A cozy nook in a studio apartment with a different wall color
The bed nook in this sage green apartment is the perfect solution to make the most out of the floor plan. At night, you can close the curtains for privacy and light blocking and during the day you can open them up to enjoy the open floorplan to the fullest.
The bed nook has been painted in a neutral grey wall color, setting the nook apart from the rest of the sage grey-green living space.
A closet bed nook that matches the historic studio apartment details
Alcove beds are usually built into the wall of small spaces, yet the idea behind this beautiful studio apartment design is centered around a custom solution that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Since the mattress fits exactly in the customized space, there is no need for a headboard and the shelving above the bed is perfect to store books and display accessories.
You could create a similar setup in a child’s room as a bedroom or reading nook and the other doors in the structure could include a wardrobe or bookcase. The possibilities with a beautiful solution like this are endless.
A small bedroom space inside a nook including storage space
When you don’t have much space available, like in this small apartment, you might want to combine the bed nook with a place to store your clothes. This elegant solution with the wardrobe built above the end of the bed makes the bed nook even smaller, yet it also creates an even cozier setup since the wardrobe also functions as a visual separator.
The nook is decorated with a white wall lamp that stands out against the off-white walls, striped terracotta bedding, and a linen bed skirt covering the side of the mattress. The gallery wall decorating the nook follows the lines of the wardrobe solution which gives the space an elegant touch.
This small apartment has two walk-in closets built-in, creating a nook that fits the bed exactly. The ceiling between the two closets is lowered, making the nook space even more cozy and the two closets more connected with each other.
Wall nooks can work in large bedrooms as well, as you can place the bed in between two storage shelves or modules, creating a cozy spot for sleeping. You can place the bed parallel to the wall just like in this example, or use it perpendicular to the wall allowing for nightstands to fit next to the bed.
Large white curtains add elegance to an alcove bed
The alcove bed in this white apartment blends into the rest of the space and features beautiful white linen curtains on each side to add privacy.
The mixture of fabric on the bed matches the neutral color palette with camel tints in the rest of the apartment and the art print above the bed finishes the decor off perfectly.
Work with an interior designer to plan an alcove bed in your remodel
This bed nook solution requires a bit more resources, as it needs to be planned when doing a remodel, yet it can be such a nice solution if you have the opportunity to redo and transform a small apartment from its core.
The white walls and white textiles look very fresh, bright, and minimal and the bedside table fits perfectly on the newly created wall separating the bed from the rest of the apartment.
An alcove bed accentuated with a medium grey wall color
The bedroom in this small apartment is located in the alcove created in between doorways. Since the bed nook is more shallow than the actual bed size, the walls of the bed nook are painted in a medium grey wall color, which visually separates the bedroom area from the rest of the space.
This bedroom used to be a separate room, yet by taking out the doors and creating an open space, it becomes a nook-like room that comfortably fits the bed, wardrobe, and a big mirror that reflects daylight into this low-lit area.
The white walls and textiles are enhanced with camel and brown tones just like in the adjacent living room decor.
This small bed nook is located behind the kitchen, suggesting that it once was a pantry or something similar. The small bed fits comfortably in the tiny room, allowing for a bedside table to still fit next to the bed.
The all-white color palette with a few beige accent pieces in the textiles makes for a very light palette that compensates for the lack of daylight in the bed nook.
Alcove beds are great solutions for larger rooms as well
This large one-bedroom apartment has an alcove space with a built-in wardrobe solution that was planned into the room remodel. The large bed nook becomes part of the living space when open, yet is a separate room when closed off.
The bed is made with a mixture of white and beige textiles that match the textile combination on the sofa in the main room.
A tone-on-tone bed nook in an interior designer’s home
In her small home, interior designer Josefin Haag found the perfect place for a bedroom inside a niche space in the layout. The walls of the apartment are painted in an elegant off-white color, which makes the white textiles in the bed nook stand out in such a nice way. The nook is enhanced with wall-to-wall shelving and floor-to-ceiling curtains for a finished effect that matches the style, materials, and palette of the rest of the apartment.
Wall nooks can also be a great solution for a main bedroom in a larger apartment, especially if you like to cozy up and sleep in a tighter space. If you want to be completely separated from the rest of the space, you can even add curtains just like in this example.
Sloped ceilings in attic bedrooms create natural nook spaces that are ideal for placing a bed underneath. Lower ceiling height doesn’t bother you while you are asleep, which makes the bed the ideal functionality for utilizing these lower areas.
The half-rounded window in this attic apartment is the perfect spot for a single bed and the placement of the white wardrobe makes the sleeping space even more narrow and cozy. The gallery wall on next to the bed finalizes the look perfectly and adds darker colors to the otherwise beige and white palette in the bedroom area.
Add a bedroom or guest room in a tiny room that just fits the bed
When the interior designer created an additional wall with a window to separate the kitchen area in this small apartment, a nook-like bedroom was created that fits a double bed just barely.
The bedroom is surrounded by windows on each side of the bed, making the room appear less cramped. You enter the room at the foot of the bed, which has been decorated with a beautiful mixture of linen sheets and throw pillows.
This type of room division planned when remodeling is also great to create an extra guest room for when you have family over.
A sleeping nook with white curtains and storage furniture under the bed
A white curtain on each side of the doorway creates a beautiful and elegant separation from this bedroom towards the rest of the studio apartment. The bed is placed on top of storage furniture (this could work with drawers, cupboards, or open shelving) and covered with a white fabric curtain that matches the white look of the interior.
Even though this nook doesn’t have a window or direct daylight, the white walls and white fabrics give it a light appearance.
This nook includes a gallery wall above the bed with storage space and a wall shelf for books right underneath the ceiling, which doesn’t disturb you while lounging in this cozy corner.
Styled by Gärde, photographed by Stork via Historiska Hem
I think the rattan room divider in this tiny apartment stands out so much against the white walls and white floors in this interior design. Room dividers make small-space living more comfortable and allow you to create different sections inside the same room for different functionalities.
The natural wood, leather, and rattan tones add a subtle, natural look to this all-white interior and give it a cozy and inviting look and feel.
A rattan room divider separates the sleeping area from the living room
You can use various divider types to separate functional areas in the same room, yet a folding screen is one of the easiest ones, as you can pick it up and place it in the right spot. The rattan folding screen matches the natural palette in the interior and gives it a subtle boho touch that works nicely in combination with the low wood bed frame.
A bedroom section in natural tones
The bedroom section is defined by the materials in the folding screen and the bed frame. The warm tones in the art print above the bed, the mustard tones in the bedding, and the rattan accessories in the window finish the look off nicely. At the same time, the sheer white curtains and the white sheepskin behind the bed accentuate the white surfaces in the interior.
A beige and brown palette in the sofa area
The living room section follows the color palette of the rest of the space, yet here some darker wood and black tones are included to add a bit more power and contrast to the setting. The beige fabric sofa, combined with the off-white area rug works nicely with the white flooring and the green plants add a beautiful fresh touch to the setting.
The brown leather armchair is a true focal point in the living room section and it has a prime spot in front of the window.
The doorway toward the kitchen is closed off with a simple white curtain.
A wardrobe behind a curtain
Curtains with ceiling rails are great ways to fence off different sections in the same room. This white curtain hides away storage space located close to the bed.
A white kitchen with a round dining table
The modest white kitchen is paired up with a beautiful round dining table and natural wood Series 7 chairs. The wood tones and accessories match the color palette in the adjacent living space and make the kitchen cozy and inviting.
A small kitchen design is one of the key elements to consider when designing a small apartment and it’s most likely also the most challenging one. If you are not blessed with a large sociable space, however, you have no reason to fear, because a tiny kitchen can be just as amazing as a large one!
Below, I have listed the most inspiring small kitchen ideas offering different solutions for layout and planning depending on the type of space you have available in your studio apartment.
Storage opportunity is a key consideration for any kitchen design and it’s just as important as countertop space. Those two main functionalities are crucial elements to take into consideration in any kitchen design, yet you might want to pay extra attention when planning a kitchen on a tiny surface.
A tiny kitchen fitted in a small space
A niche or nook space in your apartment is great for fitting a small kitchen. This beautiful white kitchen with black countertops is finished off with white tiles on all the walls of the niche space, which is such a beautiful finish.
The textured walls create depth and add interest to awkward corners like his one. The open shelving on the wall ensures a lighter layout look, while a the same time offering extra storage spots.
When you have many doors or windows to work with, you’re not left with a lot of wall space meaning you are in need of small space solutions, no matter how much square footage you have available. In this one-bedroom apartment, the kitchen module had to be fitted in between two doorways.
By using lower kitchen cabinets only and working with stainless steel open shelving on the top half, a light look was created that leaves this living and dining space feeling spacious.
Create more counter space by wrapping the kitchen around a corner
Even though this kitchen is slightly larger and not exactly tiny, it does have easy-to-apply small kitchen ideas you want to keep in mind. By wrapping the kitchen layout around the corner, you provide more space for food preparation and for keeping appliances.
By selecting white cabinet fronts, countertops, and a white backsplash, the design will bounce light back into the room, creating the illusion of a bigger space. Since no upper cabinetry has been added to the layout, a light look is achieved for a larger space that is made cozy with the soft beige wall color on the walls.
Tighter spaces tend to benefit from custom-made solutions to maximize space and that’s exactly the approach you can see on display in this one-bedroom apartment.
By placing all cabinetry on one wall, more room is created for high cupboards that form a long row of storage that can be used for both kitchen and hallway purposes.
The all-white cabinets and countertops function as reflective surfaces for the daylight coming in, creating a bright kitchen that highlights the natural materials in the accessories, table, and flooring.
Interior designer trick: work with different materials
This little space underneath the roof has been used for a beautiful two-tone kitchen including the sink and stove. The walnut cabinet fronts are a focal point in the open space and are complemented with light grey upper cabinets for a light palette.
The larger cupboards on the other wall are placed next to the bedroom entry, optimizing the little space available in this attic home to the fullest.
A small kitchen fitted underneath a sloped ceiling
Attic spaces often require creative small kitchen ideas because not only do you have to overcome little space, but you also have a sloped ceiling to work underneath – such a challenge!
When designing a small kitchen underneath a sloped roof, you should always place higher cupboards where vertical space is available and place less used items in the more awkward spots.
This small kitchen is made in a light and natural color palette with grey countertops, which fits nicely with the rest of the space. I love the way the wooden spoons and the chopping board complement the light oak kitchen cabinets.
Work with lower and upper cabinets in a niche space
The floor space of this apartment has been used optimally by including the kitchen in the niche space. The niche is filled with both lower cabinets and wall cabinets for ample storage space.
Since the small kitchen fits inside the niche completely, a dining area with a small dining table and two chairs could be placed next to it, all in the same small space.
This narrow galley kitchen makes use of the niche spot available to create more space for moving around freely, yet in addition to this, the oven module has been placed towards the other side for easy access.
Rather than working with just a long and narrow format for the layout, all sides are used for functionality. Like this, you can make a smaller space work for you in an optimal way.
Styled by Van Keppel, photographed by Ozollapa for Historiska Hem
Extend the counter space into your living area with a small kitchen island
Countertop space is often an issue with small kitchen ideas, as the sink and stovetop will already take up a large portion of your counters.
By expanding your kitchen planning into the entire room, you create just the right amount of countertop space combined with an extra seating area for dining as well.
The kitchen walls are covered completely with white tile, which reflects the natural light coming from the window beautifully in this narrow space.
Replace cabinet doors with a curtain for a light and playful look
The large window in this compact space takes up a lot of kitchen space, yet you can always use the window sill as a surface to save space in a small kitchen.
By replacing the doors of the lower cabinets with a green linen curtain, the look of this small kitchen design is lighter and more playful.
Enlarge a small kitchen by using the corner of your living space
Have a niche space available that’s too small? You can always extend the kitchen out of the borders of the niche and create a dynamic room layout with smart storage that makes use of the available space.
By placing the small kitchen in the corner of the room, the room layout is intact, resulting in a very natural flow in the floor plan.
A U-shaped kitchen is ideal for when you have an open floor plan. This layout also functions as a separator between functional areas and you can use tiling and an open shelf as extra elements to help visually distinguish the kitchen from the rest of the space.
A U-shaped layout can also maximize storage since there are quite a bit of lower cabinets involved and you even have the opportunity to transform the other side of the kitchen into a breakfast bar.
Combine the use of vertical space with open shelving
When you have tall ceilings, it’s great to include tall cupboards that extend up to the ceiling for extra storage space just like in this bright white kitchen with black countertops.
The floating shelves don’t make the layout appear too heavy and they are great for storing cooking utensils, small appliances, and spice jars.
Let the kitchen design come back in the hallway storage space
This compact kitchen has been extended into the hallway area of the apartment to maximize space. The open-plan layout uses light grey cabinet fronts and countertops on both walls, as small spaces tend to work nicely in a neutral palette.
Note that this small kitchen is fitted with a small stove top for only two pots, ensuring more countertop space is available for other items.
Tiny kitchens tend to make use of any awkward space available and make the most out of it. In this case, this white kitchen has a corner layout to facilitate ample storage space on a small surface and spread over two walls.
The white cabinets paired with the white tiles on the backsplash and the white countertops make the kitchen space appear larger.
A niche space in the living room turned into a kitchen to maximize space
This white kitchen with black countertops fits perfectly within a living room niche space and features both upper and lower cabinets with a contrasting black countertop resulting in a modest yet contrasting look that matches the adjacent living room.
A small kitchen inside of what used to be a walk-in-closet
This is probably the tiniest of the small kitchen ideas on this list as it includes just the essentials to be able to fit into the small niche space left where there used to be a walk-in closet I assume. The walls of the kitchen space are painted in the same wall color as the rest of. the studio apartment for a cohesive effect.
A tiny grey kitchen fits inside a small walk-in closet
This is most likely the tiniest of the small kitchen ideas on this list, as this smart and functionality-packed solution fits inside of a small walk-in closet. The grey kitchen cabinets with gold hardware are arranged in a small corner layout, making use of both of the walls in this small area.
The bottom cabinets are paired with open shelving on the top paired with an upper cabinet for a tiny oven. If you need to fit a kitchen in such a small space, you must pick out a small stovetop and a small sink just like in this example.
A tiny light grey kitchen with open shelving above the doorway
This is one of those small kitchen ideas that truly is adjusted to the space. The high ceilings in this studio apartment are great for including tall cupboards that can provide the entire apartment with storage space and the open shelving above the doorway transforms the kitchen into a bookshelf as well.
The small dining space in front of the kitchen is great for eating dinner, yet it also provides the kitchen with extra workspace, as the countertop space is quite limited.
A small kitchen fitted in a niche space underneath a sloped ceiling
To maximise space underneath the sloped ceiling in this attic apartment, the light grey kitchen cabinets are fitted inside of a niche space in the wall. The area under the sloped ceiling is great for open shelving to finish the layout of the upper section.
This is probably the tiniest of the small kitchen ideas on this list, with a two-tone color palette that resembles the wall paint as well. The upper cabinets are light grey, paired with glass front cabinets right below the ceiling.
The bottom cabinets are dark grey, with a butcher block countertop offering limited counter space in between the small sink and stovetop.
When you live in a small space or studio apartment, loft beds can be great to optimize floor space and utilize the vertical space available to ensure all needs and functionalities are met within the square footage available. In this post, I have collected my favorite loft bed ideas, each one as creative as the next.
While small spaces are obvious candidates for the integration of a loft bed, they can save space in any type of apartment. You can use a loft bed to create a guest bedroom, a cozy nook for reading, a kids’ room, or for a home office spot.
A loft bed with integrated storage underneath the stairs
This beautiful studio apartment with white walls has an integrated loft bed on top of the small kitchen, which provides a second level for sleeping in this small space. The custom staircase to access the loft space has been fitted with white cabinet doors so this empty space can be utilized as storage.
I think this is one of those loft bed ideas where every bit of square footage has been used up in a smart way, turning a small room into a functionality-packed private space.
A pink studio apartment with a loft bed on top of a wardrobe
The loft bed in this pink living room is built on top of a walk-in wardrobe. The loft beds’ wall is painted in the same pink color, integrating it nicely into the space and creating a cozy spot next to the sofa for hanging art prints and displaying accessories.
A wooden loft bed with integrated storage space beneath
This is one of the smartest loft bed ideas in the list in my opinion, as it makes such clever use of the space available to integrate ample storage space. The loft bed integrates nicely with the kitchen module in the living space, as it’s made out of the same plywood material,
On the top level, you can find a cozy bed with integrated bookshelves in the wall, while the area on the bottom of the elevated bed integrates a rotating wardrobe and a combination of open and closed storage modules.
A beige studio apartment with an integrated loft bed
All the walls in this small space are painted in a subtle beige wall color, including the additional wall created when constructing the loft bed. This unified wall color integrates the loft bed nicely with the sitting area and I love the way the white ladder and the white details in the bed frame stand out against the beige wall color.
Loft beds tend to work best if you can work in a space with high ceilings, yet if you don’t have high ceilings to work with, you can reduce the height of both levels for a more natural look.
The sofa area beneath the loft bed is low, yet a very cozy place has been created with a built-in bookshelf and a space for the TV. Imagine this space without the extra room created by the loft beds’ integration: you would need to compromise the sofa for the bed to be able to fit a small bed in the living area.
This beautiful loft bed takes advantage of the area underneath the custom staircase to the fullest, integrating a wide plethora of additional storage options. The area underneath the loft bed includes a dining table, which can also be used as a desk during work hours.
Styled by Lind, photographed by Ostling for Historiska Hem
A loft bed on top of the kitchen
On top of the white kitchen built-ins in this apartment with black walls, you can find a wall-to-wall loft bed that integrates an entire bedroom with storage opportunities.
Even though this is one of those loft bed ideas for which you would definitely need a contractor and a lot of ceiling height, the result opens up the living space in such a crucial way, allowing both levels to be able to take advantage of the daylight coming in through those large windows.
The bed frame of this loft bed is simple, as the white walls on each side have been used to support the bed itself. With the addition of a simple ladder, a second level is created for the bed, allowing the space underneath to be used for a walk-in-closet.
Another one of those loft bed ideas that are constructed with the help of a contractor, opening up the space and allowing the area above the dining area to be used as an additional bedroom space.
All walls, floors, and ceilings are painted white in this stylish apartment, including the loft bed stairs and banister, which gives the apartment a larger appearance and ensures the light coming from one side of the apartment is reflected on every surface.
The sleeping area floats like a cool fort underneath the living room ceiling and is accessible through a minimal white ladder. A bunk bed like this is often used in a kid’s room, however, it also works well in small studio homes with high ceilings.
I think this is one of the most interesting loft bed ideas on the list, as the support of the bed is attached to the ceiling, giving it a floating impression in the room.
A niche space in the room features a plywood loft bed that is attached to the surrounding three walls and therefore doesn’t need a supporting pillar. The wood ladder matches the plywood construction perfectly and the double mattress seems to fit the structure perfectly.
Underneath the bed, you can find a cozy home office section. Since you are sitting down at a desk most of the time, this type of room functionality is perfect for a lower ceiling area.
A bright white studio home with a duplex level for the bed
This crisp white studio home has a high ceiling, allowing for a loft level for the bed right above the doorway towards the kitchen. The bedroom section on top of the loft even includes a TV and the area underneath the loft is the perfect spot for a desk.
The minimal white staircase fits with the minimal structure of the loft bed and the bottom of the loft includes spotlights.
A loft bed with storage underneath the staircase in a small room with high ceilings
If your room is small, yet you have impressive ceiling height to work with, just like is the case in this space, a loft bed might be the perfect solution to combine functionalities in your space.
In the example below, you can see a custom loft with a creative staircase that also functions as a combination of closed and open storage space for the room. The area underneath the loft bed is turned into a spacious desk area and the custom woodwork structure is painted in the same color for an integrated effect in the space.
