Under-bed storage is a great way to create extra space in smaller bedrooms and studio-style apartments. From storing seasonal clothes and shoes, extra bedding, or any number of other items, under-bed storage boxes or drawers are a great idea for anyone looking to add storage to their small bedroom.
While many individuals may choose to purchase a pre-made bed frame with built-in storage, others may prefer to follow a quick tutorial and undertake a bed storage DIY project to create the perfect solution for their needs.
There are countless under-bed storage ideas out there, including super cheap wood boxes and repurposed materials like dressers. Today, we’re taking a look at the best bed storage ideas to help you get started on your next DIY masterpiece.
A Cozy Sleeping Nook With Deep Under Bed Storage Space Made of Raw Materials
You can use unfinished wood, wood glue, and screws to create simple under-bed storage boxes that you can place your mattress directly on top of. This is a great idea for anyone who prefers a more natural, effortless look in their house.
The beauty of this design is that it’s incredibly easy to DIY, yet is completely customizable. You have the option to stain or paint the wood, add drawer pulls, install standalone wheels or a track slide, and so much more.
This example places the bed snugly in a recessed area of the room to make a cozy sleeping area. It also uses neutrals and dark tones to both complement and contrast with the raw wood storage boxes.
A DIY High-Set Wooden Bed Frame With Large Storage Boxes Underneath
If a large, fixed under-bed storage layout isn’t your style, but you still like the idea of using raw materials in a simple design, this might be the option for you. Instead of building a big square box for your mattress to rest on, opt to build a raised platform with fully removable bins on wheels.
This will allow you to easily access the bins to store and retrieve your items without hassle. Additionally, the specific layout and appearance of this design are even more customizable than the previous idea. You can rearrange, remove, add, and decorate these bins as you see fit.
Styled by Martina Mattsson, photographed by Krister Engström for Kvarteret Makleri
Cabinet-Style Drawers Under the Bed for Extra Storage Space in a Studio Apartment
Under-bed storage is a must-have when living in a studio apartment layout. However, this type of layout means that whatever storage option you choose must coordinate with the rest of the room’s decor in a way not seen with a traditional bedroom setup.
This example idea uses the same style of cabinetry found in the kitchen area to make a matching drawer design under the bed, just in a different color. The result is a subtle, classic look that doesn’t pull attention away from the other elements in the room. This bed is also set a bit higher than some other ideas, creating additional space to store items you’d prefer to keep out of sight.
Repurposed Old Dresser Drawers to Efficiently Utilize the Space Under Your Bed
If you enjoy repurposing thrifted or hand-me-down furniture, you can make your own custom under-bed storage setup by giving an old dresser new life. Simply build a support platform for the bed and secure a set of drawers at the front for a unique, effective means to store all of your stuff when not in use.
This under-bed storage design is a perfect example of the kind of results you can see from this type of project. The bottom drawer row protrudes to act as a step to help ease the process of climbing onto a tall bed that doesn’t have another access point. Drawer fronts and trim are painted with a breathtaking blue tone that exudes calm and draws the eye to the ingenious design.
Refinished Cabinetry for a Super Easy Bed Storage Solution You’ll Absolutely Love
In a similar fashion to one of the previous bed storage ideas from above, this bedroom uses cabinetry as a storage solution. However, these cabinets use shelves to organize the stored items, which may be more convenient for some.
There’s also an opening where you can house frequently used items, such as a clothes hamper while keeping the floor clear. This setup would be ideal for a child’s room, allowing for plenty of accessible storage for toys, shoes, and clothes alongside room to play.
Customized Steps and Built-In Storage Made From Raw Plywood for a More In Depth DIY Project
Anyone looking to tackle more in-depth bed storage ideas may prefer to build a more intricate storage system. One popular choice is to build an elevated platform with a small set of stairs leading to the bed itself. This leaves plenty of space underneath the platform for a complete storage system of boxes, shelves, drawers, and more.
This example design uses raw materials, though painting or staining the wood is an option if you so choose. The plywood has been continued up the wall, creating a unique surface for coat hangers and task lighting for a truly personalized space.
Discrete Bed Risers With Enough Storage Space for an Unconventional Room
When dealing with limited floor space or needing an extra bed where a traditional room doesn’t exist, under-bed storage can be the answer you’re looking for. As seen in this example image, you can place a bed in an area that is easily divided from the rest of the space, in this case with curtains.
Then you can utilize an under-bed box or two to store items when not in use. Wheels can be a fantastic addition here as well to help make it easier to get to your most used things and protect your flooring from scratches. The storage boxes here have discrete hinges on the doors for a sleek, seamless appearance, though you can attach handles or knobs to make opening them a simpler process.
A High Bed For Easy Access to Even More Storage in a Compact Room
Built-in under-bed storage is the perfect solution to compact bedrooms, such as those in city apartments or college dormitories. By utilizing the vertical space in the room, you’ll be left with much more floor area for other furniture without crowding the bedroom unnecessarily.
In this example image, the raised bed allows for a small desk to be comfortably placed against the wall for a quaint workspace. The decor is both slightly abstract and mature, providing an air of focus without becoming too stuffy.
Apothecary-Style Old Drawers Help Organize All Kinds of Small Supplies With a Charming Touch
For the final example in our list of bed storage ideas, we’re taking a look at an eclectic and truly unique solution. This apothecary-style drawer unit brings a certain charming air to this bedroom area. There are plenty of places to store all sorts of items, and you can even utilize the nameplates in the center of each drawer to keep everything organized if you choose.
Using this style of storage in a room filled with a variety of textures, patterns, and colors results in a slightly Bohemian design that’s bursting with personality.
Use Simple Ikea Cabinets as the Basis for a Living Room Daybed
If you want to integrate storage for toys (or other stuff for that matter) in your living room, you can create a daybed with DIY storage underneath it. In the example below, simple IKEA cabinets were used as the base, with a daybed structure on top fitting perfectly into a niche space.
IKEA Kitchen Cabinets and a Custom Solution for the TV
The bed in this niche space of a studio apartment is constructed on top of a row of IKEA kitchen cabinets creating storage underneath the bed. The custom solution for the TV has small shelves on the side for subtle decor pieces to finish off the look.
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.
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.
This cozy bed nook is created inside of what used to be a small walk-in closet. Placing only half the bed inside the alcove allows you to hang curtains that make the room’s architecture elegant and whimsical. The white frame built around the niche bed stands out against the grey wall colors in this home.
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
Add a Cozy Bed Nook in Your Small Apartment Living Room
When you need to include a small bedroom inside of a living room, it’s great if you have a small alcove to utilize. Use the same color palette for the entire living and sleeping interior to tie both functional areas together.
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.
A Tiny kitchen in a Small Space that used to be a Closet
This is one of those small kitchen ideas that prove you can build a cooking area in any small space available in your home. What used to be a closet has little to no floor space and an asymmetrical floor plan.
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.
Make a Tiny Kitchen feel more Spacious with a Mirror
One of the tiniest small kitchen ideas on this list consists of a small cooktop and sink inside a niche space. To make the space feel less cramped, a mirror is applied above the countertop, allowing for natural light to be reflected, making the space feel larger.
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.
Pack Your Loft Bed with Functionality and Storage Opportunity
This functionality-packed loft bed idea includes a spot to sleep on top, with storage in the DIY staircase and a TV mounted on the side to complete the living room. The space underneath the bed is turned into a home office, which offers a perfect place when you need extra privacy to work from home.
The style and color palette of the space are a true inspiration as well, with the white walls making the room appear spacious and the neutral colors warming up the palette and creating a cozy atmosphere.
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.
Make your loft beds’ paint color blend in and your ceiling stand out
This beautiful mint green custom solution includes a desk and wardrobe underneath the actual bed, optimising the rather small room. The custom structure is a real eye-catcher in the space. By painting the sofa in a soft pink color, the room gets extra character and the bed frame stands out even more.
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.
Add The Bedroom on Top of the Bathroom and the Kitchen
On top of this corner kitchen, you can find a loft bed with a railing that matches the other materials used in the space. The kitchen is constructed on top of the upper cabinets for an integrated effect and the daylight coming from the large window brightens up both the bedroom and the cooking space.
Finish a white loft off with oak wood details for a stylish effect
This loft bed example goes from wall to wall over a doorway, freeing up space for a wardrobe underneath. The main structure of the bed is painted white to blend in with the walls. The ladder, custom storage, and railing are made out of elegant oak wood to make them stand out.
In this beautiful studio home example, the floating loft bed is attached to one side of the room next to the kitchen, leaving enough ceiling height for a full-size kitchen next to it. The storage cabinets underneath the loft bed are used as a staircase, perfectly combining two functionalities.
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.
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.
