The beautiful white floors in this one-bedroom apartment are accentuated by beautiful greige walls with white trim for a soft and elegant effect in this stylish space. The carefully selected furniture and accessories enhance the look of this small home and the natural color palette in the materials works in perfect harmony with the wall color.
A spacious sofa area by the window
The area in front of the window has been used for the sofa, which is a lovely spot for it. The windows are framed by two beautiful off-white linen curtains with a black trim, which is a color combination that also comes back in the fabric pendant light above the warm wood coffee table.
The white sofa combined with the light grey armchair and the light beige area rug brightens up the deeper color of the greige walls and brings out the warm undertones in the paint color.
A sleeping area framed by greige walls with white trim
In the sleeping area, the greige wall color is really apparent as the bed is placed where two greige walls meet. The white trim is about the same size as the white floorboards, which frames the greige wall color nicely.
By placing the bed in the corner, and hanging both an art print and a wall shelf in this section, it’s visually separated from the rest of the space.
The simple wooden wall shelf stands out nicely against the greige background provided by the beautiful wall color and is a perfect spot for keeping books and small decor pieces by the bed.
A white sideboard stands out against the greige wall color
The white flooring is matched by a white Ikea Havsta sideboard that blends in, yet stands out against the greige wall at the same time. The brown and greige tones in the art print and in the table lamp complement this setting nicely, while the vintage ladder leaning against the wall adds a warm tone to this corner.
A warm and contrasting kitchen dining area
While the main living space has greige walls with white trim, the kitchen and hallway in this apartment have white walls that reflect the daylight coming in through the windows.
The vintage round dining table combined with the J39 chairs in light oak and the black bentwood chairs make for a wonderful setting that contrasts with the white walls and the sheer white curtains in front of the window.
A small hallway with white walls
The hallway benefits especially from the white walls and white floors, since no direct daylight can enter this section of the apartment.
The simple oak wood peg rail, wall mirror, and elegant light wood bench stand out nicely against the all-white backdrop in the hallway.
When you live in a small studio apartment, you have to get creative with how you decorate. From selecting a color palette that makes it seem like you have more square footage available, to selecting smaller and functional furniture pieces and finding the right studio apartment dividers to create the appearance of a separate living space and bedroom area.
A curtain on a ceiling track as a room divider
A curtain is one of the easiest studio apartment dividers you can implement and it’s also the most flexible one. You can easily create separation by closing the curtain when you need it and allowing natural light to flow freely into the space when you leave the curtains open.
The living room and bedroom area in this studio apartment is separated by open shelving that functions as a room divider and lets through some of the daylight coming into the living room.
The bottom half of the bookshelf is solid and functions as a headboard for the bedroom area that includes two sockets. Because of the high ceilings, the bookshelf is continued over the two entryways going over the bed.
A folding screen as a room divider in an open space
A foldable screen is probably one of the most flexible room dividers, as it can be folded when it’s not needed or moved around for a flexible way of separating different functional areas in the interior.
Folding screens come in a variety of designs and you can pick out a room divider that fits the color palette and style of your studio apartment.
I always find a bed canopy a bit magical and it adds such an impressive style element to any interior. While this type of room divider works best with higher ceilings, it adds the impression of separation without actually fencing off a functional area.
Adding a temporary wall requires a bit more structural changes to your studio apartment, yet along with a glass partition, it’s a room divider that has the most finished result. You can add the wall so the newly created nook fits the bed exactly for a seamless look.
Use a glass partition as a room divider that lets the daylight through
Glass partitions are great room dividers, as they separate the living space visually, while still allowing for the daylight to flow freely throughout the space. You can place a fixed glass room divider combined with curtains just like in this studio apartment, or you can add sliding doors to enter the sleeping area.
This is an easy room divider solution, but your floor plan has to be made for it from the beginning. Existing nooks make for a great bedroom area and there is no need to add an extra room divider.
You can go a little further and paint the nook in a different color than the rest of the studio apartment to make the separation more apparent.
Strategically placed furniture pieces make great room dividers
Storage units and furniture pieces are always a necessity, especially in small studio apartments where every piece of clutter is easily noticed. By placing your wardrobe or clothing rack in a strategic spot so it can act as a room divider, you combine two functionalities into one.
Use under-bed storage to elevate the bed from the rest of the studio apartment
You can visually separate your sleeping space from your living room by adding under-bed storage to your bed. This places the bed higher than the other furniture, like the dining area in this apartment, and it will naturally look and feel more separated.
This all-white studio apartment features white plank floors, white walls, and white furniture for a crisp and bright-looking interior design that makes this small space look more spacious. All the white surfaces in this studio apartment reflect the daylight coming in, which is an especially effective way of brightening up interiors that don’t get a lot of daylight.
A crisp white living space with lots of textiles for a soft yet bright look
Other than the white walls, white ceilings, and white plank floors, this living space is characterized by a beautiful combination of a lot of textiles that add a lot of texture and coziness to the interior design.
The white curtains on each side of the rather small window form the perfect backdrop for the white Ikea Soderhamn sofa with a custom Bemz cover* and the large white area rug. This all-white setting has been complemented with a black coffee table, black floor lamp, and a beautiful mixture of darker green and beige tones in the throw pillows.
The living space features a built-in closet space, which has been enhanced with a peg rail next to it for hanging clothes. The curved standing mirror is perfect in this wardrobe section, yet it also reflects the room to make it appear bigger.
A bedroom section in the living space
The bedroom section of the living space features a mixture of white, dark grey, and orange tones in the bedding and beige tones in the art print on the wall.
The area rug in the sofa area is placed so it ends right where the bedroom section starts, to visually separate the functional areas from each other.
The black shelf behind the bed contrasts nicely with the white plank floor and visually separates the bed when entering the space from the doorway.
A bright white kitchen with wood tones and black accents in the dining area
The kitchen shares the same bright white color palette as the living space, featured by white walls and white plank floors. Even though the kitchen itself is a bit outdated, the dining area and the small accessories make the design work.
The beautiful vintage round dining table in front of the window is paired up with a black pendant light and a long peg rail for a cozy and characterful setting.
A characterful hallway with a gallery wall and a hemp rug on the white plank floors
The white plank floors in the hallway are covered with a natural rug that adds a lot of warmth to the space. The height of the hallway has been used for extra storage opportunity above the entrance door and the other wall has been filled with a beautiful gallery wall in neutral tones to spruce up this white hallway.
This small one-bedroom white apartment has a separate kitchen, yet the living room and the bedroom are combined into one room. The walls of the interior have all been painted white, combined with white furniture and white soft furnishings, and finished off with a subtle touch of pink details here and there.
These pink details tie the kitchen together with the living space, and they also add a certain warmth to the interior design.
A combined bedroom and living room in this white apartment with a warm touch
The living room also has a bed in the same space, yet these two functionalities are combined in a nice way, without making the space feel too cramped.
In the sofa area, the white apartment walls have been complemented with a white sofa, white area rug, white curtains, and even a subtle white artwork on the wall for a very bright appearance that makes this small white apartment look more spacious. A white palette is ideal for small interiors or studio apartments, as it makes the floor plan appear more spacious.
The round wood coffee table, terracotta vase on the window sill, and the subtle pink and brown tones in the textiles really jump out against this white backdrop and add a lovely mix of tones and textures to the palette.
A bedroom section with white walls, a white wardrobe, and pink textiles to finish off the look
The bed has been placed on the opposite wall, away from the sofa area next to the doorway to the hallway. By adding art prints on both walls next to the bed, this area is visually separated from the rest of the space and the open shelving for the TV by the sofa is continued exactly until the end of the bed which makes the layout work in a nice way.
On the other side of the doorway, an Ikea Pax wardrobe fills the wall, allowing for ample storage space in this small white apartment.
A kitchen dining area with white walls and pink curtains
This kitchen also has white walls, just like the rest of this apartment, yet the windows are finished off with beautiful pink curtains that warm up the daylight coming in. The round white dining table combined with the oak dining chairs is placed on top of an off-white area rug that brightens up the whole space.
The combination of the oak wood peg rail and the small gallery wall above it finish this cozy dining room setting off nicely and I love the way the wood tones complement the white walls and pink details.
A small yet functional hallway
The hallway is small, yet used optimally to store away the essentials. A peg rail combined with open shelving makes use of the vertical space available, while the light wood bench finishes off the hallway look perfectly.
A wood panel room divider is a great way to create different functional areas in small homes or studio apartments. When the wood panels are spaced out from each other, the daylight can flow from one room into the other, while also giving the interior a modern look and feel.
A solid wood kitchen with white granite countertops
The solid wood kitchen cabinets in this living space match perfectly with the wood panel room divider and add such a warm touch to the interior. The layout of the kitchen consists of upper and lower cabinets combined with a kitchen island in the middle of the space that offers a spot to sit and at the same time visually separates the kitchen from the sofa area.
The minimal wood cabinets with integrated handles are complemented by granite countertops and a chrome faucet that adds a bit of a modern touch to the kitchen design.
Wood tones and a warm color palette in the sofa area
The wood tones of the kitchen cabinets and the warm herringbone flooring add a lot of warmth to the living kitchen, which has been accentuated by the choice of furniture and soft furnishings in the sofa area. The white sofa and chequered area rug combined with the light beige walls give the interior a light impression, which has been contrasted by the black Bertoia diamond lounge chair.
The wood tones of the kitchen come back in the bookshelf and the coffee table and the heaters are covered with a custom rattan element that matches the warm palette of the interior. To finish things off, the brown wall rug adds a lot of character to the space.
A wood panel room divider separating the bedroom from the living kitchen
While you can also achieve a similar result with a glass partition wall to separate functional areas, the bedroom in this beautiful apartment uses a custom-built solution made out of wood panels to visually distinguish the different spaces from each other. The wood panels are combined with a curtain behind it to provide extra privacy, but when you leave the curtains open, daylight can flow from one space into the other.
The bedroom itself has a subtle greige wall color combined with crisp bedding and eye-catching blue pendant lights on each side of the bed, which really stand out against the wall color and the subtle wood tones of the bedroom.
Custom storage wardrobes in the hallway
The same cabinet fronts as the ones used in the kitchen are also brought back into the hallway, where ceiling-high cupboards provide a lot of storage opportunities. The combination of the warm wood of the cabinets with the simple opal shade lamp and the statement mirror gives this small space a minimal and sophisticated look.
A bathroom with white marble tiles and wood accents
The small bathroom of this apartment has been covered in white marble tiles for a beautiful textural effect that has been finished off with modern chrome fittings and wood tones in the mirror frame and accessories.
This studio apartment in Sweden has a separate bathroom and a small hallway that is used as a home office spot as well, yet the main functionalities are all combined in one room rather than a separately available bedroom like is usually the case in a slightly bigger one-bedroom apartment.
The kitchen is the central element of this studio apartment and it covers the entire wall from left to right and floor to ceiling. Optimally using vertical space like this is a great tip for decorating studio apartments, especially if you are working with high ceilings just like in the case of this beautiful home.
A ceiling-high kitchen with beige cabinets to optimize wall space
One of the walls of the kitchen and living area is filled entirely with a beautiful kitchen in a minimal design with beige kitchen cabinets combined with white countertops and black hardware.
When you don’t have a lot of floor space available, just like in this living space, it’s crucial to optimize storage space where possible. Those tall cupboards and upper cabinets that go all the way up to the ceiling look very modern and sleek, yet at the same time, they also offer storage opportunities for this micro apartment.
The fact that the kitchen cabinets touch the ceilings only accentuates the ceiling height of this studio apartment, which in turn makes it visually more spacious: a goal you want to achieve when decorating studio apartments.
A dining room area in front of a rounded window
The beautiful, large rounded window is one of the most impressive features of this studio apartment as it fills the small space with an abundance of natural light. The limited space in front of the window has been used for a small round dining table, which complements the no-nonsense style of the kitchen perfectly and seats 4 people.
The small round HAY CPH20 dining table combined with the J39 chairs in light oak wood goes very nicely with the light gray walls and the beige kitchen cabinets. The window sill does double duty as a seating area as well, which is a perfect solution for combining functionalities on small square footage/meters.
Living and sleeping area separated by a rattan folding screen
When decorating and planning the layout of studio apartments, you should always try to find a nice way of dividing the functional areas and separating them from each other. This is the case for both a small and large room in fact.
The white fabric sofa combined with the white coffee table and the warm beige area rug goes very nicely with the light gray wall color with which all the walls in this studio apartment have been painted.
The area rug, artwork on the wall, and the floor lamp by the sofa all contribute to visually separating the functional areas from each other, while the room divider made out of rattan actually creates a separate bedroom area in the layout. Folding screens like this are so easy to use and they don’t require any remodeling, which is great when decorating a rental.
The sleeping space of the studio apartment is small, yet sufficient and the foot of the bed has been decorated with a beautiful gallery wall, which goes all the way up to the ceiling. Just like the kitchen, this beautiful combination of art prints accentuates the ceiling height of this beautiful studio apartment.
This beautiful studio apartment has four functionalities combined into one rather small space. The kitchen, dining area, living room, and bedroom are all combined on a small amount of floor space, yet the different functional areas work very nicely together and the living space doesn’t feel cramped.
The kitchen and living area are combined into the space in front of the windows, while the sleeping space and hallway are combined perfectly together, including all the apartment functionalities into a self-contained space.
The secret to decorating small studio apartments: visually separate functional areas
When decorating studio apartments, your goal should be to create an efficiency apartment in terms of functionality. There really is no square footage/meters available for extras, so you have to be very selective in what you included in the limited floor and vertical space you have available.
You can fit a lot of functionality into studio apartments like this one, as long as you select small furniture to ensure empty space around the pieces as much as possible and you work with smart ways to separate the functional areas from each other.
Work with an area rug, group artwork in certain functional sections of the home, or strategically place lamps to indicate the beginning and end of a functional area.
A kitchen that fully optimizes the available wall space
The limited space in this studio apartment has been used largely for a small kitchen that fits most of one of the walls of the room. The light gray cabinet fronts match perfectly with the white floor and the light gray walls in the same color and the white stone countertop goes well with the white ceilings.
The layout of the kitchen consists of both upper and lower cabinets to optimize the available storage space and the gray and white palette has been finished off with gold hardware in the cabinet pulls and faucet. The one-wall kitchen layout optimizes the available floor space in this studio home.
A dining room area in between the kitchen and sofa
The space in front of the window of the one-room studio apartment is the perfect spot for a beautiful round dining table combined with the Betty chairs in light oak from &Tradition.
The sheer white curtains in front of the window add a lighter shade to the gray walls, which gives the room a soft touch. The fabric of the curtains is matched by the tablecloth on the table which ties together the look of the dining area.
A black sofa combined with a hemp rug and a wood coffee table
To separate the sofa area from the dining area and kitchen, which are both in very close proximity to each other, a natural hemp rug was used. Other than visually separating the functional areas, this rug also adds a warm and textural touch to the studio apartment interior.
The black sofa adds a lot of contrast to the otherwise gray and white palette, which has been paired up with wood tones in the footstool, coffee table, and the frames of the art prints.
The white and beige textiles on the black sofa provide the space with a beautiful contrast, while the white Flowerpot lamp, also from &Tradition, contributes to visually separating the sofa from the dining area.
A strategically placed wardrobe as a room divider between the hallway and bedroom area
There are many ways of separating rooms or functional areas in a studio apartment. You can work with a glass wall partition or another custom-built solution to separate the rooms, yet you can also implement easier solutions like hanging a curtain or strategically placing a piece of furniture like the wardrobe in this studio apartment.
The wardrobe is placed at the foot of the bed, with the doors facing toward the hallway section of the studio apartment. This way, instead of walking straight into the room, you pass a small hallway created by the wardrobe itself and the wall on the other side. At the same time, it also fences off the bedroom from the rest of the space and gives it its own area.
The white and beige color palette on the bedsheets and in the accessories complements the light gray walls in such a lovely way, matching the overall color palette in the rest of the studio apartment.
While it’s a solution often used in small businesses, offices and conference rooms, glass dividers are a great option for residential spaces as well, especially for smaller homes that can take the most advantage of the benefits from glass partition walls: their ability to let through daylight and to make an interior visually larger.
By dividing up the different areas with glass wall systems of any kind, you can maximize space without having to sacrifice a well-lit interior. Usually, glass partition walls remain in place entirely or are based upon sliding doors, and swing doors to offer a more flexible setup.
Below you can find a compilation of different glass partition walls to take inspiration from. If you are thinking about installing similar wall systems in your interior, it’s best to get quotes from local firms as these partition walls are always custom made so they fit the space perfectly and they require professional installation.
A contrasting glass and metal swing door system
This glass partition system consists of two foldable panels that look great open or closed and visually separate the bedroom from the living space without having to compromise on the flow of light. The gallery wall on the darker wall above the bed is a real focal point in the bedroom and it’s nice that this can be admired from the rest of the apartment.
While most of the examples of partition walls you will see in this list have a black metal frame, you can also go for a white frame that looks more minimal and less intrusive in the space. Especially when the walls are painted in a light color, this is a great option to consider.
Styled by Lingsell, photographed by Laye for Historiska Hem
Large glass partition walls and a single door separate the kitchen from the rest of the interior
While an open-plan kitchen has many advantages, it might also be nice to be able to close off this section of the interior without having to compromise on daylight and the feeling of space. Odors from cooking can be blocked by a glass wall without obstructing the view and the open-plan layout.
Styled by Anna Mårselius, photographed by Erik Lefvander for Residence
Glass partitions inside a black frame highlight the doorway
This minimal glass wall visually separates the living room and kitchen, while also adding a modern and contrasting visual element to the space. The frame continues on the sides and the top of the panels for an integrated effect.
Styled by Alexandra Ogonowski, photographed by Erik Lefvander for Residence
Glass partitions fitted in an irregular form
The open-concept design of this attic apartment makes it feel bright and spacious, yet it’s always nice to be able to separate the bedroom from the rest of the space. Glass partitions are always custom made, since there are so many options, but even more so because of the sizing and special requirements of the room.
A glass wall combined with a curtain for visual privacy
While glass walls are great for dividing up small spaces, they work perfectly when combined with a curtain to achieve visual privacy. The glass wall functions as a divider in this studio home and adds a lovely contrast to the space.
Replace an entire surface with a glass wall for an impressive effect
The glass and metal wall in this bedroom is a great design feature and it’s a great example of how a glass wall can look with the curtains closed. The combination of the black metal with the glass and the textile results in an interesting design element in the space.
While glass partition walls tend to let in a lot of natural light, it also might be an option to combine the best of both worlds and opt for a half-wall half-glass solution. The bottom half of the wall in this apartment turns the lounge area into a cozy nook, while the glass partition ensures that daylight flows into the bedroom area behind it.
A glass window combined with a small swing door in a small apartment
This small kitchen and bedroom space has been divided by two partition walls for a modern effect that lets through so much natural light. The interior window above the kitchen counter has been fitted with open shelving in front of it, which can be seen from the bedroom.
A large glass wall to separate the wardrobe from the bedroom
While glass partition walls can be great solutions for small space living, they can add a modern look and feel to a larger space as well. The horizontal glass panels accentuate the length of the room in an elegant way, while the curtain adds the possibility of privacy.
A glass partition window to bring natural light into the kitchen
While glass partitions usually go from floor to ceiling, it can also be an option to have glass panels in an interior window, just to let in light towards the other room like in this beautiful example.
Without the glass in between both rooms, both the bedroom and the kitchen would look even smaller than they are.
A static glass wall with swing doors in an interior with high ceilings
The high ceilings in this one-bedroom apartment are accentuated by the wall with glass partitions and two doors going from the hallway into the bedroom for a modern look and feel. While the bedroom can be accessed through the glass doors, there is the original door on the other side of the space as well.
Two glass partitions combined for an impressive effect
Not one, but two glass partitions separate the bedroom in this apartment from the living kitchen. The floor-to-ceiling glass partition with a door functions as the transparent entry point for the bedroom, while the interior window on the other side allows daylight to flow from the bedroom into the kitchen.
Note that the glass dividers of the partition wall are spaced out further apart than the ones of the window.
A glass wall with a seamlessly integrated swing door
This one-bedroom-apartment has an L shape, which lends itself perfectly to create a glass partition wall. The door fits seamlessly into the wall, giving it a very integrated look when closed.
Glass partitions and a solid metal component to integrate the bed
To maximize space, the glass partition wall in this beautiful studio apartment is placed very closely behind the bed, while still achieving a beautiful separation between functional areas. The glass dividers are combined with a solid metal component on the bottom which boxes the bed in.
Half partition walls as a visual indication of different room functionalities
When using fixed glass solutions, usually you create a wall or a separator of some sort, however, in this example, the kitchen is kind of ‘framed’ with walnut partition walls on each side of the beautiful entryway to give a visual indication of two separate functionalities.
Glass partition walls to maintain an open layout in a spacious apartment
You can see all the way from the living room, into the bedroom in this beautiful turn-of-the-century apartment, and placing a solid bedroom wall would obstruct this wide view. The glass dividers in between the dining room and the bedroom in this place don’t obstruct the view, while still creating an additional room.
Fixed glass solutions on different angles for an interesting effect
The visual separator between the kitchen and the home office of this apartment has been mounted on two colliding walls, to create a more spacious look and feel. The many glass panels and black glass dividers add a dramatic look to the interior and strengthen the contrast between the light beige kitchen and the darker grey home office.
A solid wall combined with glass partitions and a swing door
The beautiful kitchen in this apartment wouldn’t get a lot of daylight if it weren’t for the glass separation. Low walls were constructed on both sides of the room with glass on top, leaving out a space for a door in the middle for a contemporary yet classy look that matches the architecture of the building.
Glass panels and a swing door separate the bedroom from the living area
The second horizontal beam from the top also shapes the top of the doorway, which gives a clean effect when the door is open, while the dark curtains behind the glass offer the possibility of separating the bedroom from the rest of the space completely.
The glass dividers are shaped into vertically long components, accentuating the ceiling height of the interior. The kitchen is placed in a narrow space leading up to the bedroom, which would look very awkward without any type of separation.
Half wall and half glass panels to divide the space
The glass panel in between the hallway and living space adds a subtle industrial touch to this Scandinavian interior. By placing the wall in this spot, an actual hallway space is created and you don’t enter the apartment in the living room anymore.
Swing doors in a seamless wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling installation
The look of this one-bedroom apartment is spacious thanks to the glass wall that has been seamlessly integrated between the bedroom and the living kitchen for a modern look with added contrast.
The glass window panel in this beautiful apartment has been fitted in above the kitchen backsplash, to allow daylight to flow in from the bedroom. The glass window on top of the bed makes for a beautiful visual element in the space as well.
Styling by Sarah Widman, Elin Kickén and Evalotta Sundling, photography by Fredrik J Karlsson for Alvhem
Contrasting black metal partition walls in a small and narrow studio home
This long and narrow studio home makes use of a glass wall in between the bedroom and the small living room so that the view throughout the space doesn’t get obstructed for a more spacious look and feel.
This half-glass partition looks so stylish, yet it also makes sure the small home office next to the large living room gets natural light. Note an asymmetric placement of a single horizontal beam that creates two different heights in glass panes for an interesting pattern.
Storage combined with glass partition walls in a smart family bedroom and office
The glass panel in this multi-functional family bedroom has been combined with a storage opportunity behind the bed. The glass wall creates a visual separation between the parents’ sleeping area and the one of the kids, without actually separating the two areas.
These glass partition walls remain in place for a clean look with a solid wood panel on the bottom. The bedroom has glass paneled doors on the other side as well for a completely transparent look.
Styled by Gärde, photographed by Boukari for Historiska Hem
White glass walls and swing doors combined with sheer curtains
To achieve visual privacy in this beautiful bathroom, sheer curtains were added right behind the glass wall to obstruct the view from the bedroom into the bathroom when necessary. The sleek minimal white frame combined with the glass panels adds an elegant look to this beautiful historic space, yet in a perfectly modest way.
Designed by Rina Lovko, Daryna Shpuryk, photographed by Yevhenii Avramenko
Historic wall systems and a mirror for an impressive effect
The glass walls and panels in the doors seem to be there for a long time, matching the historic style of the building. While the glass panels installed in the doors and underneath the ceiling allow for daylight to flow into the bedroom, the look has been mimicked in the living room with a divided mirror for an impressive and sophisticated look.
White glass partition panels in an all-white studio space
The glass partition panels on top of the lower white wall in this space provide some visual privacy in this studio home, all while not obstructing the view too much and without making the space appear smaller.
The white color choice of the glass partition walls fits perfectly with the white hardwood flooring and the subtle shade of light grey on the walls.
A half-glass partition separating a bedroom from a home office
The beautiful black metal and glass partition in this bedroom visually separates the area by the window where the bed is located, from another section where you can find a home office.
The glass wall ensures light can flow freely throughout the space, while also dividing and separating the different functional areas from each other at the same time.
A sleek oak and glass half-wall stands in between the kitchen and the entryway
This half-partition wall made out of beautiful oak wood and big glass panels gives this dark blue kitchen a subtle restaurant vibe. The installation of the glass panels along with the layout of the kitchen turns an open-plan space into modular sections, without obstructing the view from one functional area to the other.
I live in quite a small apartment myself (not a studio apartment, yet I always have to pick and choose very carefully which furniture pieces I select), so I always find it most inspiring to find great studio apartment design ideas that I can apply to my own apartment and save space in the process.
What is a studio apartment?
Studio apartments are small apartments where the living room, kitchen, and bedroom are all combined in one single room.
How to decorate a studio apartment
Making a studio apartment design work is all about making the right design decisions and finding the right solution to be able to combine the main functionalities in an apartment: the bedroom, dining room, living room, and home office depending on whether you need it or not. Kitchen and bathroom functionalities should also be fulfilled, but usually, they are included in the apartment, especially if you are renting.
Studio apartment ideas
A smart studio apartment design makes the layout look spacious even though there is not a lot of floor space to work with and makes smart use of a room divider in any form or shape to visually separate the functional areas from each other.
I’ve listed my favorite studio apartment design ideas and inspirations below and while I was looking for studio apartment inspiration, I tried to include both functional solutions, as well as easy design and color choices that can be applied to rentals and small apartments that you use temporarily.
From a micro-apartment to a smart use of hidden closets, to places with slightly larger square footage, this post is filled with smart tips and tricks to make studio apartments work and ample studio apartment decor inspiration to give you a head start into decorating your studio space.
How to separate functional areas
If you are planning your interior design from scratch, you might want to consider functional separators like a partition or a custom-built module that separates the functional areas, yet makes the space feel like one. A glass door with a black metal frame can be a great focal point in your small apartment and if the space is really tight, it might even include a sliding door.
Studio apartment ideas with great visual separation between areas
a glass separator between the bedroom area and the living space
This Scandinavian studio apartment has a partition separating the bedroom space from the sofa area, which fits the bed exactly and is closed on the side by subtle white linen curtains*. This is one of the best studio apartment design ideas to invest in, as it creates a division without forming an obstruction for daylight, which makes your space look bigger.
The living space is decorated in light colors with peach accents in the throw pillows* and by the wall opposed to the bed, there is even space for a small home office area, such a must-have for so many of us these days as well. The elegant color scheme makes the contrasting black glass separator stand out even better and the open-plan space has a very elegant, sophisticated look.
Notice the modular sofa in the living area as well (this is Ikea Soderhamn), which can be enlarged with other modules once you move from a small space to another, larger apartment. The combination of a small coffee table in wood and another one in white metal works nicely in this studio apartment and in general, combining smaller tables looks more spacious rather than opting for a big coffee table.
The Formakami papershade pendant* is the perfect statement lamp for this small space, as it draws attention, but has a light and minimal design at the same time.
A glass partition to close off the bedroom from the rest of the studio apartment
The glass double door in this beautiful Scandinavian studio apartment allows the natural light to flow into the small space with an open layout, yet the door can be closed to separate the rooms in a high-quality fashion without having to build a solid wall that makes the space look smaller. You can even place a curtain behind the glass which can be closed for complete privacy when necessary and the glass partition wall will also offer sound insulation in case you need it.
Note that the hallway of this studio apartment has a complete wall of storage space, which is such a crucial element in a studio apartment. Nothing makes a space appear smaller than having clutter around, so you better invest in some good quality closed storage space. If the space available is super small, you might want to use sliding doors for your storage solution as you will have more space to pass by when the closet is open. Clean lines work best for big storage modules, preferably even without handles so it blends into your open-space studio apartment.
Your studio apartment’s layout will highly depend on the floor plan, but with some custom solutions, you can make the layout work to your advantage. When designing small spaces, makes sure to measure everything before buying (also do this when decorating a bigger space) and utilize vertical space and natural light as much as possible.
A custom-built room divider in an attic studio apartment
While we covered the main advantages of glass partitions above, they can also be a great solution when you have beautiful structural elements in your architecture that you don’t want to cover up. The bedroom area in this Scandinavian studio apartment has been separated from the rest of the space, yet the view throughout the living and sitting area have not been obstructed.
This is also a great solution for a guest bed in a shared area, that you want to leave open when you don’t have guests over. The daylight coming into your studio apartment will not get obstructed, yet the guest room can be closed off when needed.
studio apartments with custom space-saving solutions
A studio apartment with the kitchen block as a separator between rooms
In this small apartment, the kitchen block itself functions as a separator between the two rooms, and when you walk behind the kitchen cabinets, you find a small, yet super cozy and light-flooded bedroom with a double bed that fits the space exactly.
The small kitchen even includes a home office integrated into the niche with floating shelves on the wall, combining three functionalities in one small space.
A studio apartment with a loft bed that creates extra floor space
When you live in a small space or studio apartment, like so many of us do, you have to find solutions to make it work and save space. This often includes a smart combination of both open and closed storage space so that every object has its place: either stored away in closet space or on display in a special spot. The owners of this beautiful studio apartment took it to a whole other level and turned their home into a treasure box full of smart space-saving solutions, optimizing the layout with great studio apartment design ideas for you to take inspiration from.
The kitchen, bedroom, and wardrobe are one module. By the window, you can find the kitchen with a built-in breakfast bar. On the opposite side of the window, the combination of both open and closed cabinets forms the base for the loft bed, which has been added on the second level, utilizing the space beneath the bed as extra storage. Underneath the bed, you have a hidden closet, which can be accessed from the other side. The loft bed utilizes the vertical space available in this beautiful studio apartment design and the use of wall space is done in an efficient way.
The storage wall in the hallway provides spots to store shoes, jackets, and bags and is made out of the same material as the elevated bed for a cohesive design language.
Create a loft bed on a second level to save floor space
When you have to plan a tiny apartment layout, yet you can work with high ceilings, it makes a lot of sense to build a loft bed so you can create another level. This tiny studio apartment utilizes the space underneath the loft bed as a small sofa area including a TV and open shelving built into the wall.
The grey walls combined with a color scheme of warm accessories and soft furnishings is a great choice for such a small space and the white flooring makes this tiny home seem bigger.
A loft bed with integrated functionality in the steps of the stairs
A bit similar to the previous example, yet in this beautiful studio apartment with nude pink walls throughout, only part of the space has been covered with a loft space and the stairs leading up to it are also an open shelving solution for storage.
When going up the stairs you reach the bedroom area of the studio space and underneath the loft, you can find a small dining area with a built-in bench. By painting the walls and all the custom-fitted solutions in the same nude pink paint color, you get a very cohesive effect. Note that also the wardrobe module beside the sofa area has been painted in this same color.
Styled by Lind, photographed by Ostling for Historiska Hem
A studio apartment with a canopy to separate the bedroom from the rest of the apartment
This studio combines the apartment living room and bedroom in one big space, and even though it would be easy to add doors in between the two areas, the open plan makes the apartment look spacious.
By adding a canopy above the bed, the two rooms are visually more separated and the area where the bed is placed becomes its’ own space. While a canopy works best with high ceilings, it can be used as a visual separation in any room and it also does double duty as an atmospheric element in cozy living spaces like this one.
Hanging a sheer white curtain* in between two functional areas is one of the simplest compact studio design ideas to visually separate the apartment layout. The entire space consists of a small living room that is also a bedroom and it’s the textiles that make all the difference. The living room furniture and soft furnishings have been picked out in modest colors, with an area rug adding an extra dimension to the compact studio design.
Surround the bedroom area with a curtain to separate it from the rest of the studio apartment
This is one of those easy studio apartment ideas that doesn’t cost you a lot of money, yet it has a great effect. You can easily separate your bedroom area from the rest of your studio apartment by adding a curtain around the bed.
The curtain will visually create another room and it will also keep the sleeping area dark which is an added benefit.
Create a loft bedroom area on top of another functional area
Another example with a loft bed, yet the area underneath the bedroom area is not open like in the previous example, it contains the bathroom. The color scheme of the small studio apartment is based around the beige wall color, enhanced with blacks, greys, and warm tones.
The module with the loft bed is painted in the same wall color (try out Farrow & Ball Jitney* or Oxford Stone* if you are looking to try out something similar), which integrates it nicely into the apartment layout.
A loft bed with storage underneath the stairs above a compact kitchen
This must be one of the best efficiency apartment decorating ideas I have seen so far. The loft bed is built above the tiny kitchen in such a smart way, allowing for extra storage underneath the stairs. The small kitchen has been made to fit the area underneath the stairs perfectly and the small dining table with bar chairs fits nicely together with the kitchen. On the other side of the studio home, there is still ample space for a small sofa area.
A Murphy bed to optimize the studio apartment design and layout
A Murphy bed is a great space-saving solution for combining functionalities in especially small spaces. This allows you to use a regular-sized bed during the night, yet turn the unused floor space when the bed is stored away into a living or dining room area.
Optimizing the apartment layout to fit all functionalities
While most studio apartment decorating ideas in this list focus on smart built-ins or ways to visually separate functional areas from each other, we might have missed one of the best apartment decorating ideas altogether: optimizing your furniture selection and layout towards the functionalities you need and the size of the space.
This beautiful studio apartment inspo combines a bedroom area with a living area and a home office space in such a natural way while still achieving a layout that looks spacious since the furniture has been picked in so carefully.
The small bed fits exactly in the space by the door, while still allowing a small stool to be placed next to it as a bedside table. Instead of a desk, the String system* with an integrated bookshelf was used to provide space for books in the home office area and a small daybed was used instead of a big sofa to still create a cozy seating nook, without taking up too much floor space.
a light color palette enlarges the apartment visually
A studio apartment with a light yet warm color palette
A light color palette enlarges a space visually. While white might be the obvious choice here, you can also go for a warmer palette and work with a mixture of beiges, natural materials, and a spot of yellow. I love the way the Ikea Kallax bookcase by the bed has been decorated in a subtle yet elegant way, combining wonderfully with the area of the bed and the sitting area.
Both functional areas feature soft tints of yellow for a vibrant, yet calm look. Even though limited space is available in this studio apartment, the light palette makes it look spacious.
Sometimes it can be a little bit tricky to make a white space like this one, with white walls, floors, and ceilings look cozy and inviting, but I think this cozy studio apartment makes it work really nicely. The color palette of the main furniture items has been kept very light, which makes the apartment appear larger than it actually is. Some contrasting pieces are added as well to give the look more character.
The white (It’s an old Ikea model customized with a Bemz slip cover*) sofa combined with the white fluffy area rug, white chairs, and coffee tables set the stage for a bit of color in the linen pillowcases* on the sofa, the art print on the wall, and the small accessories on the table. The darker color of the bench against the wall adds a lot of contrast and the light beige curtains* soften out the light coming from the windows.
Keeping the room white is one of those easy-to-apply studio apartment design ideas that will contribute the most for very little effort. Introduce a cozy seating area into the apartment, combine with a few contrasting elements and you will have a stylish home that looks spacious and inviting. Low furniture like the bench works well with low ceilings, as there will be a lot of white space above it. Hang some wall art above the bench to finish off the look.
A studio apartment with light beige walls and blue and pink accent pieces
When it comes to decorating small apartments, it’s important to thoroughly consider the color palette of the space. This studio apartment design consists of a living space combined with a bedroom area all on quite a small surface, yet by selecting a light beige wall color that highlights the crown molding it still looks and feels spacious. The blue and pink elements around the bed and sofa add interest and character to the look.
The black bedside table adds contrast to the sleeping area, yet it also functions as a visual room divider between the bed and the lounge area. The apartment layout even includes a section for the TV and a narrow Ikea Pax wardrobe painted in the same color as the wall in between the bed and fireplace functions as the main storage space inside the living space.
a bold or dark color palette adds character and personality to small studio apartments
A studio apartment with dark grey walls
This beautiful studio apartment has darker grey walls, which makes it a little bit more on the dramatic side, yet the tints of peach, beige, and terracotta soften it out in a nice way. The warm beige curtains* warm up the daylight coming from the windows which makes the peach tints pop.
The large antique mirror by the bed reflects the space and the light coming from the window, which is a great trick to make a small space look bigger and one of those studio apartment design ideas that will transform your space and bring it to another level. The peach-colored bedsheets* combined with the burned orange throw* match the color palette in the print above the bed. This color combination adds so much warmth in this corner and ties the bedroom area together.
The round dining table in between the kitchen and the living area works so nicely with the white bentwood chairs, the chequered tablecloth, and the pop of light blue in the art print. The dining area is placed in between two open spaces, which visually separates them from each other and provides extra seating when you have guests over and want to hang out in the living room.
This small studio apartment with rounded windows has these mesmerizing deep green walls (similar to Farrow & Ball Beverly*), which makes the otherwise modestly colored furniture and accessories stand out in such a beautiful way.
The light wool area rug, which covers a large portion of the room adds a soft texture to the white-soaped hardwood flooring. The white linen sofa (it’s an old Ikea model with a Bemz custom linen slip cover*) combined with the linen pillows* and the light oak furniture pieces in the sitting area enhance this soft look, while the red autumn arrangement on the coffee table and the graphic art prints on the walls add a subtle contrast to the space.
Even though this studio apartment has some great architectural features, to begin with, I think the green wall mixed up with the neutral furniture pieces is a design that can work in other small spaces as well to add some extra character and personality.
A studio apartment with an olive green accent wall
This home has one of the nicest studio apartment design ideas of all: an olive green accent wall (similar to Farrow & Ball Studio green*) to visually separate functional areas from each other. The studio apartment is planned in a very open way, with a doorway between the kitchen and the living space and a niche for the sleeping area.
I love the fact that the bedroom area is visually separated from the living room because of the dark olive green wall color of the niche only, such a lovely interior design detail.
The sofa area has a beautiful mixture of beige textiles and prints as well and I love that there is space for a small dining table in front of the windows. When you peek into the small kitchen from the living room area, you can see a little curtain underneath the sink, which has the same tint as the wall of the sleeping area. It’s touches in the color scheme like these that make the interior design in this studio apartment so special.
Bold color choices in a small and efficient studio apartment
This is one of those apartment designs that are truly unique and it really doesn’t matter that it’s a small studio apartment, does it? The kitchen is the central element in the space and it really stands out because of its gold surfaces.
The bedroom has been placed behind a half wall combined with one of those glass dividers for studio apartments that still let daylight into the bedroom area. Since the ceilings of this historic apartment are very high, a loft bed was also built into the space, which can be reached by using the metal ladder in the kitchen.
The entrance has been painted in a bold pink combined with gold details and a big wardrobe provides ample storage space for the small apartment. The wardrobe has mirrored fronts, which reflect both the space and the light for an optically bigger look.
Deep faded blue walls make a bold statement on a small surface
When it comes to how to style a studio apartment, you have to think a bit outside of the box. If you want your studio home to look stylish and unique, you have to make some bold choices because you have limited space and opportunity to make the apartment designs stand out.
This turn-of-the-century home has a layout with a small niche space for the bedroom, and the walls of the entire studio have been painted in a beautiful pale blue that makes both the studio apartment furnishing, yet also the historic architectural details stand out in a lovely way.
Things to consider when designing your studio apartment
visually separate functional areas from each other
How to setup a studio apartment will depend on the space available and the functionalities you need in the space. Whether you use architectural features like a glass separator or a strategically placed kitchen block, a murphy bed or loft bed to save space, it’s smart solutions like these that will make it possible to include all functionalities in one area.
Make sure to think about storage space when you plan the layout of your studio apartment
Whether you built a full wall of closed storage, hide storage modules underneath the bed, or behind a curtain, you will need a way to keep your studio apartment clutter free and organized. A murphy bed is a great solution for the smallest of spaces, but other flexible furniture pieces like folding chairs or a sofa bed can be great companions in a small home as well.
Studio apartment beds are usually as small as possible, to make room for other functionalities in the space.
pick a color palette that fits the space
You can achieve great results in your interior design by picking the right colors for your space. Go for a lighter color palette if you want to make the space appear larger, or go for darker, bolder colors to add character. Use an accent wall or paint certain walls to visually separate areas from each other solely by using the color scheme.
