Easy Ideas for How to Decorate a Studio Apartment
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Studio apartment living can be tricky—you have to get creative in order for things to feel organized, look great, and stay functional. After all, one single room has to act as an entire home: a comfortable spot to sleep, a cozy place to lounge, a dedicated cooking and dining area, a zone for your favorite hobbies, and more storage than you can imagine. But you can infuse style into a small space with ease when you know how to decorate a studio apartment with hardworking pieces that look fabulous.
The great thing about studio apartments is that it doesn’t take much to make them feel like your unique style. With just a handful of items, you can curate a space that feels cohesive and complete without having to worry too much about taking the design from room to room. And that means re-decorating your studio apartment is much simpler, too. If you find yourself between design schemes, craving some style inspiration to kick-start your studio apartment life, or want to find new ideas to pin to your Pinterest board, you’ll discover a few looks to explore and shop right here.
Mid-Century Modern Studio Apartment Ideas
When it comes to decorating a studio apartment, mid-century style will always look fantastic, especially if you have lots of wood tones or original details in your space. Here’s how you can get the look:
- Mid-century modern is all about angles and natural materials. Pick a standout MCM piece to command your space (such as a sectional or a sideboard) and style the room with complementary decor.
- Pair antique or vintage furniture with new furniture pieces (a thrifted chair with a new area rug or a new sofa with an antique side table, for example) to create a home that feels collected.
- If possible, opt for solid wood furniture pieces over particleboard for a more elevated look that will last years to come. Buying solid wood pieces secondhand is often very affordable.
- Opt for earth-toned linens and warm-colored fabrics to achieve a balanced, welcoming look throughout your home.
Art Deco Studio Apartment Ideas
An art deco studio apartment can look stunning, especially in spaces that have wonderful natural light. Varied textures, whimsical curves and loops, and accent pieces that reflect light are going to make this style studio apartment feel intentionally designed and well-styled.
- Focus on sleek geometric shapes and luxe materials. Start with a sculptural sofa or an art deco-inspired bed frame to form the base of your room.
- Layer in items with metallic, lacquered, or mirrored finishes, and add in hardware that shows a slight patina for a lived-in look.
- Opt for a pretty, deep color palette, and add in jewel-toned decor and fabrics to complement the style.
- A large statement mirror or milk glass pendant can amplify the space and make the whole room come together.
Eclectic Studio Apartment Ideas
Eclectic homes are all about color and pattern with a lived-in look that feels welcoming, which is exactly why it makes for such a great studio apartment design scheme. And eclectic decor ideas are endless—they can range from thrifted or found items, to kitschy accents, to bold colorful statement pieces, and everything in between. Just be sure not to get too lost in the decor here, as eclectic studios have the ability to look messy if there’s an excess of items on display.
- Start with a color palette of four to six colors that you can come back to in order to create a cohesive look throughout the space, since many items will be collected.
- Decorate with meaningful pieces from your travels, your childhood, and special moments, or thrifted finds you love that adhere to the color scheme and offer an interesting story.
- Stick with two to three natural materials and tones to provide a streamlined base and allow your chosen palette, decor, and art to shine through.
Industrial Studio Apartment Ideas
When you think of small spaces, you might not think of styling it with dark and moody colors—but it can create a striking look, especially in a studio apartment. Industrial style uses natural elements and statement pieces to emphasize the parts of an apartment that most usually try to hide, like exposed pipes, beams, ducts, and other structural materials, which are often found in studios or loft apartments.
- Make use of strong natural materials (like leather, dark wood, brick, and steel or metal), and dark complementary colors to start styling your space.
- Opt for high contrast in your statement pieces to hone in the style. For example, you might pair a raw wood dining table with sleek upholstered metal dining chairs or a rich leather sofa with a soft wool throw blanket.
- Go for pendant lights or table lamps with exposed Edison bulbs to elevate the look.
Modern Studio Apartment Ideas
Modern studio apartments have the ability to go in a variety of directions, which makes it a very versatile design to choose for a small space.
- Modern decor ideas often emphasize organic shapes, neutral tones, and sleek accent pieces to draw the eye. It’s a popular style, so you won’t have trouble finding furniture and decor to fit the look you’re going for at any budget.
- Pick three to five complementary colors, along with a few natural materials for your furniture, to make the space look effortlessly styled and grounded.
- Go for low-profile, multifunctional furniture and hidden organization pieces to allow for a more open look.
- Opt for furniture that marries cozy with sturdy—that is, high-quality materials that provide a level of comfort, be it with soft textural fabrics, a deep seat, or a plush cushion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you create zones in a studio apartment?
Creating zones in a studio apartment is a smart way to separate different use areas and make a small space feel larger than it is. A thoughtful area rug, room dividers, strategically placed lamps, sofa consoles, and accent chairs all have the ability to break up the line of sight in a studio apartment and form small vignettes dedicated to different activities.
Avoid positioning all of your furniture against the walls, as it can emphasize the small size of the room and make it feel more cramped. Instead, try positioning your sofa in the center of the room toward the media console, grounded by an area rug. Or instead, style an accent chair next to a small cocktail table in front of a window for a reading nook full of natural light.
Each space is unique, so try different layouts and don’t be afraid of it looking awkward—you can always move furniture around until you find the best fit for your studio.
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Bree Pulver O'Hagan
Bree is the Senior Digital Editor at DrewandJonathan.com. In the past, she’s worked for publications focused on home improvement and sustainable living. Bree’s Pinterest board is filled with cozy textures; vintage patterns; sculptural furniture; and moody, warm-toned colors. She has a degree concentrated in the intersection of writing and architecture, which influences her passion for exploring creative solutions to unusual home layouts and stylish renter-friendly decor. She’s a self-proclaimed pro at finding the best antique furniture in the most unlikely of places (but her cat Blue can certainly back these claims).
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