Lofty Aspirations
In addition to giving you more floor space, lofting your bed removes your sleeping space from direct eyesight when guests (or clients) arrive, keeping their focus on the public space. In this Brooklyn studio, the sleeping loft is tucked above the entrance.
Divide and Conquer
If you can’t separate private and public spaces vertically, look for ways to divide the space horizontally with architectural details. In this Paris studio apartment, the bed is separated from the living room by a partition that keeps it out of view from guests being entertained in the adjacent public area.
Double Duty
Choose furnishings that can serve more than one purpose to make your studio apartment more efficient. The red cabinetry used in this kitchen provides practical storage and also creates a partition that keeps the cooking mess and odors hidden from the sleeping, work, and entertaining areas. The bold color also helps to define the kitchen as its own space.
Related: Cabinet Door Styles: What's Yours?
Space Savers
Storage is always a problem in studio apartments, so get creative. In this New York studio, the sturdy stairs to the sleeping loft conceal drawers. Each step’s riser slides out to reveal commodious storage that the homeowners use to hold clothing. A walk-in closet for hanging storage is tucked underneath the loft.
Related: 10 Clever Uses for the Space Under the Stairs
Zoom In
To streamline your decor, choose a focal point and allow everything else to support it rather than compete with it. The windows in this New York studio apartment frame a spectacular view that naturally takes center stage. The choice of a soft color palette indoors serves to enhance the eye candy outdoors.
Related: 21 "Expert Picks" for Fail-Safe Colors
Pop Up
To keep your studio looking uncluttered, consider whitewashing the entire apartment and then using pops of color to give each space its own identity. In this Stockholm apartment, pink-and-white wallpaper hung on one wall of the sleeping area differentiates it from the adjacent kitchen and dining area.
Related: Wallpaper Basics
Crystal Clear
Glass is a great way to create separation without blocking the view. It can be used for partitions or, as the owners of this London studio apartment have done, for the risers and railings on stairs. Thanks to soaring ceilings, the apartment accommodates three levels in one room, all connected by an unobtrusive, transparent staircase.
Related: 10 Trendy Ways to Use Glass Block in Your Home Design
It’s a Mod, Mod World
Invest in modular furniture. Rather than keeping your bed out all day, tempting you to take a nap when you’re cooking or trying to focus on work, install a Murphy bed. This studio apartment in New York features a modular unit that includes a fold-out bed, nightstand, closet, home office, library, storage, and lighting.
Related: Modular Homes: A Rising Industry
Look Up
If you can’t build up, there are other uses for the airspace above your head. Some studio apartment dwellers use it for storage, and others, like the owners of this loft in Buenos Aires, use it to create an art gallery. When they're reclining in bed, the residents are in the perfect position to admire their collection.
Related: 10 Ways to Unleash the Potential of Your Blank Walls
Magic Carpet
Use floor coverings to help define spaces. They can visually separate areas with different purposes without cluttering the room with partitions. While the orange carpet in this bi-level studio apartment complements the kitchen cabinetry and other bold accents in the studio, it also serves to set the dining area apart from the adjacent seating area and gives the space its own identity.
Related: Going Bold: 10 Kitchens That Pop with Color
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