(This is cross-posted at BlogHer.)
Ever since I moved into a studio in January, I find myself drawn to stories and photos of other studio apartments, as well as the people who live in them. I want to know how they arrange their furniture, and if living in a smaller space suits them. I wonder if their space feels crowded because they’re trying to fit too much into a limited amount of square footage or if everything flows like it should.
I’ve discovered that some people prefer to live in small spaces. There’s less upkeep involved, less to clean, and less furniture to buy to fill large rooms that you may not be using.
I don’t like to keep stuff around that I’m not using, so although I’m aware of various space-saving measures — hiding storage items in ottomans that open up, or in flat plastic containers I could slide under my bed — I haven’t needed to utilize them.
When I moved from my last location to my current place, the kind people who helped me move remarked on my very manageable amount of boxes and furniture. That was purposeful on my part — I always purge things I don’t want anymore when I move from one place to another. (In fact, I’d just dropped off six big bags of stuff at a thrift store the weekend before.)
I’ve noticed that when I meet someone and find out they live in a studio, I tend to start asking questions. I want to know if they separate their living area from their sleeping area, or if they keep the room open. I inquire about the use of room dividers. I wonder if they like their space or if they’d trade up for a larger area if they could (there are some people who say they wouldn’t).
Apartment Therapy has a number of good posts related to space-saving solutions and decorating tips for small areas.
4 Small Space Solutions In One Space
You Know When You Live In a Small Space When…
5 Tips For Arranging Your Studio Apartment
Tips For Making A Small Apartment Feel Bigger
At 102 square feet, this studio apartment is only 1/5 the size of mine(!).
Other Resources:
New York Times: A Roomy 178 Square Feet
Home Interiors Zone showcases 19 Amazing Furniture Designs To Make The Most Out Of Tiny Apartment Space
Related blogs:
Malnurtured Snay lives in a studio apartment and shows an example of another studio arrangement that he loves.
Diplotette just moved to Washington, DC to become a Foreign Service Officer, and she’s proud of the $1,100 per month studio she was able to find in Logan Circle.
Miss Moss says Small is Cool.
Darling Dexter recently moved into a studio with her husband and dog.
What’s your favorite way to save space in a small home?
4 Comments
I have been positively eating up all of the old “House & Home” magazines that I can get my hands on in preparation for my condo move in April! Thanks for these links- SUPER helpful to me.
One of the best tips I’ve stumbled across is to have a few larger accent pieces, because having too many smaller pieces of furniture/art etc makes the space look cluttered.
I am currently living in a 2 bedroom with a roommate…but before this? I had four studio apartments in a row. To be honest, I miss it.
The ONLY upside to my current living arrangement is the ability to shut my cat out of my bedroom when he’s being annoying. That’s it.
I always sought out big studios…ones where I could potentially convert the closet to a bedroom (common in Seattle) if I’d only had a smaller bed. Those huge closets allowed me to store almost everything “unsightly,” allowing my living space to be nice and open.
I don’t believe in dividers. My bed has/had plenty of long pillows so that it could be converted into a semi-sofa when throwing get-togethers. I think the most guests I ever had in my studio was 12, and it wasn’t that bad!
The one thing I purposely did in every studio was set up the TV so that it wasn’t possible to watch it from bed. That way the bed was for sleeping, the couch/chair area was for TV-watching, and the different ends of the room felt like they had assigned functions. Makes a huge difference in a way you can’t imagine until you do it!
…I also meant to say that I’m like you…very frugal with my things. My rule of thumb is that if I don’t use it or look at it at least once every six months, it goes to Goodwill (If it’s photos or something supremely sentimental, I might send it to my parents for storage).
I like having a smaller living space, I certainly wouldn’t pay extra for more space. For me, an apartment is a place to sleep, cook and shower (small studio, decent kitchen). Life should be spent living out in the world, not trapped at home!
I’ve lived in a studio before and I liked it just fine (except for the smallish kitchen – that ended up killing it for me).
But Ikea has some really killer solutions for studios. And luckily there’s two really close by.