Modern studio apartments are the ideal living space for young people. This is a room that matches the kitchen, looks stylish and saves a lot of space. You will learn about the features of studio apartments and how to equip them in the correct way from this article.
Features and Benefits
A studio apartment is an open-plan space. In such a room there is a minimum number of partitions, the kitchen is not separated by a wall from the living room and study. But there are also secluded areas, for example, a bathroom. The bedroom can also be separated from the studio.
Regardless of what kind of apartment you have - one-room, two-room or even three-room, you can use the main space for a living room combined with a kitchen. If there are other free rooms, then they are reserved for bedrooms.
There are many ways to divide the living space of one room into several functional areas. For this you can use color accents, furniture or even partitions.
Studio apartments have their own advantages and disadvantages. The advantages primarily include the fact that even in a small room you can experiment with original design solutions.
In addition, such a space is very functional, because both the kitchen and the dining area are located in the same room.
But there are also certain disadvantages to an apartment with such a layout. First of all, it is worth noting that a room of this type cannot be cluttered with unnecessary furniture, especially if it is small enough. Before you start arranging your apartment, you need to carefully plan the space.
For some, the disadvantage is the very fact that the kitchen is combined with the main room. The fact is that if you cook a lot of delicious food, then the smells will constantly permeate the furniture and all your things. Especially if you have ventilation problems.
However, if all these shortcomings are insignificant for you, then you can safely choose a stylish studio for yourself or rebuild an ordinary apartment for it.
Options for different areas
There are many studio layouts that make the studio so comfortable and functional. It is worth choosing a project for the number of people who will live in this room, and taking into account all their needs.
It is most convenient to plan spacious apartments with a size of 32-33 square meters and more. In such a large studio, you can find a place for all the necessary areas: both for the kitchen and for the work. If you have freely available 35, 36 or 37 sq. m of free space, you can equip the room and a relaxation area with armchairs, a coffee table and shelves.
The territory over 30 square meters should be divided into several zones visually, so that you feel comfortable living in such an apartment and not constantly see the same picture in front of you.
For this purpose, you can even use low partitions. These can be glass or wooden walls, screens or colorful blinds.
You can also try a combination of different stylistic directions. For example, decorate the area separated for the workspace in a classic style, and the kitchen space and living room in a modern style. You can also use different colors - for a seating area, lighter ones, for example, pastels, and for a play space - bright accents.
It is much more difficult to equip a compact studio of 24 sq. m and less. In such an apartment, as a rule, you have to sacrifice something so that there is space for installing the basic necessary things and there is still enough free space.
The layout of a small studio measuring 21, 22 or 23 meters should be perfectly thought out. Highlight the areas you need most and arrange them in the right way. So, if you have only 18 or 19 square meters at your disposal, then it will only be enough for you to equip the living area and kitchen … In this case, the kitchen is best located closer to the window, and the living area is on the opposite side of the apartment. This scheme is very convenient. Partitions in such a small apartment may not exist at all.
In general, it is possible to cope with the decoration of an apartment even if its dimensions are very modest - 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 sq. m. Of course, this is more difficult to do than in a spacious studio of 50 sq. m. m, but it is still possible.
There are also simpler layout options, for example, square studios with a size of 26 or 27 square meters or narrow rectangular studios with parameters of 28, 29 or 45 square meters. m. They are a little more difficult to equip, but you can still choose an individual layout that will make such a studio convenient.
The form
It is worth talking about the features of studios of various forms separately. The fact is that additional rooms like a loggia or a balcony allow you to slightly expand the space and make it more functional. Various niches on the walls make it possible to cope with the same task.
Narrow rectangular apartments are usually difficult to decorate. The owners of such studios are trying to expand the space in every possible way. First of all, you need to skillfully arrange furniture. The apartment should always have enough free space for passage. Its width must be at least one meter.
In narrow apartments, designers advise using furniture that can be transformed if necessary: pull-out sofas, folding tables and chairs, tables with folding tabletops, and so on.
It is much easier to equip a classic square studio. The walls in it are about the same, and there is a lot of free space in the center. This means that you do not have to try so actively to squeeze all the furniture into narrow corners.
A spacious loggia helps to increase the space of a modern studio.
Before using it as a living room, the loggia must first be glazed, if it is open, and insulated. For this, the appropriate finishing of the ceiling, floor and all walls is used.
Before you start arranging a room, you need to think carefully about everything. You must know for which room you will assign the loggia. Most often, the kitchen is placed there. This is great because you don't even have to demolish walls to blend your new room into your main dwelling. You can simply install the countertop in place of the window sill and replace the door with a simple arch.
In some cases, the loggia is used as a storage room. True, in a modern studio it is illogical to use a balcony in this way.
You will also get additional space if you buy a two-level studio. Both a young couple and a full-fledged family with children will be able to comfortably accommodate on two floors. The division into two floors makes it possible to separate the cooking area from the rest area, which means that if you are annoyed by the smell of food, then this is the ideal way out of this situation.
As a rule, in such apartments, the kitchen, living room and corridor are located on the lower floor, and bedrooms and a workspace on the upper floor.
Lighting
Whatever the size and shape of your studio, you need to take extra care in choosing the right light sources. You will need both high-quality natural lighting and artificial light.
It is very important that the apartment has wide windows. If they are small by themselves, then you can try to decorate them around the edges with stone, mosaics or lighter colors. This design will make the windows visually wider.
Whether in a studio with one window or two, you can take advantage of natural light. The less light and the shorter the daylight hours in your area, the thinner curtains you should choose for your apartment. This will allow natural light to enter your apartment whenever possible.
If you have windows with window sills, then they can also be made a functional interior detail. They can replace a table, shelf or expand your bar counter.
As for artificial light sources, there are also different options. Don't be limited to one ceiling chandelier.
Light is another way to zone a space. It can be softer in one part of the room, and brighter in the other, so that you can work more comfortably.
Luminaires can also vary in design. For the kitchen, for example, you can choose classic sconces with painted glass shades, and hang a neat pendant chandelier in the dining area.
Important accents
When designing a studio, you can use a variety of accents. This will diversify the interior and make the zoning of the space clearer. They can be handmade decor items or bright accessories.
For example, in the kitchen you can arrange a collection of colored cups or hang painted waffle towels and potholders. This will make the cooking area livelier and separate it from the solid colored living room.
In the living room or bedroom, there is always room for all kinds of pillows, soft rugs and blankets. Such details add comfort to any room. You can use colored textiles, patchwork quilts, or animal-styled rugs.
You can even decorate a bathroom or a room with a balcony in an original way. Choose the details that suit the style, and even the most ordinary and dull room in a small studio will be transformed.
Beautiful examples of furnishings
A studio is, as a rule, a modern youth room. Therefore, in such an apartment there is no place for trash and old unnecessary furniture. Choose only things that are practical and necessary. This applies not only to furniture, but also to decorative items.
If you have a hobby, you don't have to hide it. On the contrary, try to devote as much free time to your favorite business as possible and use everything that you need for a pleasant pastime as a decor. For example, if you are doing needlework, then as a partition separating the bedroom from the sitting area, you can use a high shelf with drawers installed on it for storing everything you need.
Musicians can also showcase their hobby to all guests. The guitar, for example, can be hung on the wall, and the synthesizer can be installed on the windowsill, instead of buying a special stand for it.
If you do not need to separate a place for work or creativity, then you can limit yourself to a simple one-room studio, which will fit both a bedroom and a living room. A smaller area is usually separated for a sleeping area. You can separate these two zones by installing a sofa or a low partition.
If you have a baby, but so far there is no way to move to a larger apartment, then you can equip a zone for a nursery in a one-room studio. Place the crib next to your couch or separate it with a flowery screen. Nearby there is a place for a table or a small chest of drawers where children's things will be stored.
As you can see, even a very small studio can be comfortably furnished. Plan a project in advance or use the services of professionals, and then there will be a place in your apartment for everything you need.
Overview of a studio apartment 45 sq.m. see the next video.