Studio Apartment Ideas: 5 Exquisite Studios That Will Give You Tons of Small Space Decor Inspiration!
What exactly makes a studio apartment flow in a harmonious, cohesive way?
If we were to break it down into a kind of recipe of style elements, furniture layout, and intangible vibes, what would be in that recipe?
This has been hot on my mind for the last month since I moved into my new studio apartment. And I’ve found myself looking for visual inspiration, wondering: what exactly makes for a successful studio setup? What are the ingredients that will make a studio come together as a delicious visual meal that you can feast your eyes on every day?
Well, today I’m showing you some stunning studios I found online and breaking down why exactly they work so well! What are each of their style recipes, the ingredients that make them look so good?
So if you’re ever feeling stumped on how to make your studio - or small space of any kind - look stylish and cohesive, let me show you the exact ingredients for cooking up your dream space!
Would you rather watch than read? Here’s the video! ↓
Studio Apartment #1
@secondswithsarah
This New York studio apartment is pure serenity. The overall look almost has a soft, cloud-like quality to it, and the result is just simply a calming space.
So why does this work? What is the style recipe here?
The first ingredient is a simple and cohesive color palette, in which her whole space doesn’t really deviate too much from the neutrals and the creams. A simple (and even repetitive!) color palette in a studio is just an easy and effective way to make it look cohesive and flow together nicely.
She also uses curtains to create a nice, subtle sense of separation in her studio - without being too heavy handed about it. Her living room area transitions seamlessly into the bedroom area, yet both are unified and separated by the use of her curtains.
I’m not going to go off on a rant about how dividers are not necessary in a studio apartment… I mean, maybe I will go on a little bit of a rant, haha. Because it is relevant! We’re talking about studio apartment layouts, and I guess I would be remiss to not repeat my sentiment that physical dividers are usually not necessary in a studio.
In my opinion, dividers often make a studio feel more closed off and cramped than it needs to be. There are always exceptions to this, of course, but that is just my general opinion on physical studio dividers. And @secondswithsarah’s use of curtains creates that separation, but with a lighter touch!
The result is a softness in her space, and that softness is echoed in her bedroom area with the curtains paired with her windows. This makes it feel like the bedroom area and the living room area are talking to each other. They are speaking the same language, along with a subtle hint of separation.
And then you add in her mirror placement, which creates the illusion of more space, with all of her really pretty little accessories, all of which convey this understated elegance; her rugs, her sconces, her art, her florals. All of these ingredients come together to make her studio look beautiful and also flow beautifully.
So give @secondswithsarah a follow on Instagram for more inspiration!
Studio Apartment #2
@natashabadger
I love this studio so much because it has this thrifted, vintage charm about it. It looks very collected, and she really makes the most of this tiny 400 ft space.
And like the last studio (and really all of the studios I’m featuring in this post) is the cohesive color palette. So her repetition of neutrals combined with the color green is one of the key ingredients that makes her studio look so lovely.
Another style ingredient she employs that really makes a huge difference as to why this studio looks so great is the beautiful chandelier in her living room area. I am such a sucker for a vintage style chandelier, and hers completely elevates her space. I would even venture to say that this chandelier alone transformed her entire studio and took it to a whole new level.
So when decorating your studio, do not sleep on lighting. It really can take things to new heights in your space visually, and her space is proof of that!
Another ingredient that makes her studio look so stylish - and also so personal and lived-in - is her selection of little vintage thrifted pieces. I’m not really sure which of these she actually thrifted versus what just looks vintage, but either way, the items that she has curated for her apartment are what bring her personality in and create these little story vignettes throughout the space. And this is what breathes life into her apartment!
These are the little details that make it clear that a human lives here. A creative and inspired human, not just an algorithm induced aesthetic.
She is able to pack a lot of her personality within such a limited space, and it’s not through bold maximalist statements (which is more my approach haha) but more subtly through these little collected vignettes.
Another ingredient that she has incorporated into her studio is a really nice use of space, where she really makes the most of this longer, skinnier floor plan.
In her living room, I would almost like to see a sofa here instead of the two chairs, even if it is just like a small love seat, just to give the living room more of an anchor. But at the same time, using chairs in lieu of a sofa is gives her some flexibility. So if she has people over, for example, easily movable chairs can really come in handy.
These things just come down to lifestyle and what a particular person needs from their space.
There really isn’t a rule book here, especially when it comes to studio apartments. We often can’t play by the same design rules that more conventional living situations can play by.
So if you want to skip the sofa and just do chairs instead, that is totally an option for your layout!
She also somehow even managed to fit in a little desk area without it looking like a crammed in afterthought. It is seamlessly integrated into the space. And that is really just a testament to her styling skills. The white desk blends in with the flow of the living room, while her shelf styling looks intentional and personality driven, just like the rest of her apartment. Beautifully done. So if you are someone who needs a workspace in your studio, this is a really lovely example of how you can do it.
So give @natashabadger a follow and get a closer look at the magic she has created in her studio. There is lots of inspiration to be found there!
Studio Apartment #3
@sincerelyfafs
This is a studio that just screams quiet luxury, which I realize is an oxymoron, but it’s an oxymoron that makes sense to me in this case! Because there is an understated luxury to @sincerelyfafs’ space, yet it’s also so vivid.
Her styling is like a stage whisper. It’s subtle yet so pronounced. It is quiet, but it is meant to be heard.
For example, when you zoom out, you see an overall serene, calming space. But when you zoom into, say, her coffee table, it’s a moment of boldness. It’s a coffee table book selection that shouts her style and her personality. You can tell so much about a person by their coffee table book selection. And when it’s arranged in such a grand way, almost like a horizontal art gallery, that’s a statement!
So I really love her push and pull between serenity and boldness. That is really a key - yet subtle - ingredient to her style recipe.
The next ingredient here is another beautiful use of curtains. I have to tell you, after researching studios for this, I’m starting to feel pretty sold on the use of curtains as dividers. Because when you look at @sincerelyfafs’ studio (as well as @secondswithsarah studio), the curtains almost act as more of a frame than a divider. Instead of a hard barrier, they are more of a soft framing.
And when it comes to her layout, I would say her couch alone could have acted as her divider on its own in this case without the curtain, but at the same time, the curtain really just elevates the space and gives it a sense of grandeur that I just find irresistible.
This studio just flows so nicely, and I am really just enamored by the paradox I am seeing in it; the quiet luxury and the bold grandeur. This kind of visual complexity, even though you might not notice it consciously, is a key ingredient that makes this studio so visually delicious.
So give @sincerelyfafs a follow! Her whole Instagram is so visually decadent and will definitely give you some ideas if you want to elevate your apartment and make it feel luxurious.
Studio Apartment #4
@lonefoxhome
This studio is such a fresh yet warm space. I mean, @lonefoxhome knows exactly how to wield a warm brown to perfection. And this is a key ingredient in why this studio works: it’s warm and earthy and inviting.
So consider creating a sense of warmth in your space, whether it is through earthy browns, a thoughtfully selected vintage wood piece, or just an intangible sense of coziness through textures and lighting. Whatever warm means to you, lean into it to achieve a homey feeling like this!
And a key part of the style recipe here is the mix of vintage finds and DIY. @lonefoxhome is pretty much the king of antiquing, upcycling, and DIYing, and he straight up made the bed’s headboard for this studio. The curvature of it brings a subtle softness and femininity, while also acting as a focal point in the room.
The uniqueness of the DIY-ed headboard makes your eye land on it immediately, and the human eye likes to be told where to land. This is why a strong focal point (or multiple strong, clearly carved out focal points) are visually appealing. The human eye likes to be told what to do!
Another ingredient at play here is something that addresses a challenge a lot of small space dwellers face: where to put the TV and how to make it less of an eyesore. And he very cleverly incorporated the TV into a gallery wall scenario, effectively transforming the TV into a piece of art itself. This is quite genius if you ask me.
Then in terms of layout, this studio is an example of zero physical dividers being used, not even curtains. Yet see how there is a very clear separation between the living room, bedroom, and dining area? The studio is separated into clear zones yet unified by the same styling language.
And one of the reasons why this layout flows so well is the living room and bedroom furniture forms a triangle with each other.
Triangles are another thing the human eye loves. Whether it be on a smaller scale with accessories on a shelf or coffee table, or on a larger scale with furniture, anytime you can create a well executed triangle in a room it’s probably going to look good. .
So this is just a beautifully executed studio layout, even in just a purely geometrical sense.
So give @lonefoxhome a follow for more stunning design inspiration!
Studio Apartment #5
@hummusbirrd
Frankly, this is one of my very personal favorite apartments on the internet.
Now, first of all, I realize this is not a classic studio apartment. It’s technically a railroad style apartment, which is a pretty common floor plan in New York. I used to live in a railroad style apartment when I lived in New York. And this just means the apartment is made up of a row of rooms, where you have to walk through one room to get into the next.
So we are kind of bending what a studio apartment is here, but either way, her living room area and bedroom area share the same space. So effectively, this is enough of a studio for us to analyze and glean inspiration from it!
Because look at it. Talk about vintage elegance. @hummusbirrd’s space transports you to another time. And sure, part of this is due to its existing architecture; it’s an old New York apartment and a beautiful one at that, which means it comes with an instant timeless charm baked in.
But she took that timeless charm and ran with it. She said, “I see your timeless charm and I raise you a treasure trove of antique finds that enhance that charm by like a thousand percent.”
And I love that she seems to be operating with a maximalist sensibility in that she is really filling out the space. There are so many little things here and there to take in. So many little pockets of styling, yet it doesn’t feel cluttered. She’s just flirting with clutter, which as a fellow maximalist clutter flirt myself, I really get that.
And part of why it does not feel cluttered is of course a simple and cohesive color palette, which is an ingredient that all of these studios I have talked about have in common. But it’s also the fact that there is a dance going on here between the little clusters of items and the large statements.
And the large statements are loud. Her grand headboard, the wallpaper in her bedroom area, the chandelier, the fireplace, the large piece of art above her sofa.
Her whole apartment is like a song. You have the quieter verses - the little clusters of styling objects throughout the space - and then the louder chorus pieces. If the styling in this apartment was made up of only one or the other, that’s when it would look cluttered.
So in a small space, try not to make everything small, nor everything big. The balance between the two is what will make it look like an intentionally designed room.
Also, this being an old New York apartment, I’m sure it comes with its quirks. Take her stove, for example. It’s kind of oddly placed, jutting out without being surrounded by cabinets. This is an obvious styling challenge, yet she handles it beautifully. Her styling transformed a weird old apartment quirk into an interesting and purely pretty piece of the kitchen, which just continues to be pretty from there.
Overall, honestly, this whole space is just pure art. What else is there to say? This apartment is what I hope heaven looks like. I would gladly spend eternity here.
Just give @hummusbirrd’ a follow and you will see what I mean!
So those were the inspiring studio apartments I found that I think can really help all of us when it comes to figuring out our own layouts and style recipes for our spaces.
If you want a little tour of what my own studio apartment is looking like after moving in about a month ago, watch this video! I basically just take you through the space and show you what it’s looking like so far. And stick with me going forward to see how it continues to come together in here!
