The hardest thing about setting up a studio apartment is figuring out the right layout. With so little available space, every decision makes a huge impact. We're always amazed at the space planning ideas we see in Apartment Therapy's annual "Small Cool" contest, so we're looking at the apartments of five previous contestants for inspiration…
#1) Tony and Hilary's 3 in 1 Studio: In this apartment, a custom-made "pod" and loft bed defines the space. Inside and out, the pod contains shelving. Inside, there's an office and closet. Outside, it holds the media center, with the bed above. The rest of the space is arranged with storage flanking each side of the room, a sofa in the middle, and a couple of chairs for guests.
#2) Laura's Fresh Start Studio: Laura's studio is a railroad-style apartment that she divides into a bedroom and living area using a curtain. The angled chair in the sitting room can move around, and a blue accent wall adds a touch of dramatic color. She keeps the space uncluttered by choosing just a few furnishings: a bed, dresser, chair, chaise lounge, side table, and a set of nesting tables.
#3) Lila's Live/Work Studio: Lila fits her home and office into a 240-square-foot space. The sleeper chair in the center of the room folds out into her bed. Behind that, a dining table and bookshelves create a small study. The desk is a very smart system, designed as a ledge that wraps around the corner of the room. A brown-and-green color scheme keeps things unified.
#4) Moo and Ju's Super Comfy: The bed is the central hangout spot in Moo and Ju's studio. During the day, it doubles as a sofa. Two armchairs face it, creating a conversation area. A small dining area separates the bed/living room from the kitchen. Vertical storage pieces flank either end of the main room. The symmetry and order of the arrangement anchors the playful prints and colors.
#5) Kevin's Triple Threat: Kevin's studio separates the bedroom from the living area with a hanging "screen." The sofa folds out into a bed for guests, and a stool provides extra seating. Storage is built into the bed and the walls.
(Re-edited from a post originally published 08.07.09 - JL)
Photos: Tony and Hilary,
Laura, Lila, Moo and Ju, Kevin
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Anyone know where I can find the bed in the 3rd Pic or something similar? living in a really small space and need to get rid of the full and get a twin instead. Or great websites for daybeds?
I always like these post because they really show the ultimate creative and efficient use of space.
rockerdelight any local millwork or laid off millwork person can make you a platform like this. Find a mattress you love and have someone build you a daybed to the specs of the mattress.
Hmmm... #3 is really rather awesome. I wish my apartment layout was just a little bit different.
Wow, these are amazing! I need these people to come here and help me with my small space, which is probably at least twice as big as most of these apartments but nowhere near as efficiently laid out and organized.
What's a "sumper comfy"?
#3 is a platform bed I considered buying from either walmart or target. it's not a twin. that apartment belongs to a couple. they just turned the bed sideways to use as a daybed.
My new studio apartment layout is so weird. I think I'll post a question about it soon. I am absolutely stumped. The kitchen has 0 counter space (literally) and I get claustrophobic if I don't eat on the terrace.
#5 has some nice ideas I could actually try out with my current furniture.
I hope AT throws Laura in #1 some cash, they've noticed she's got a winner and have used this picture of her home over and over and over...
I really like how the used the space in all the layouts, but I really like how they used color behind the bed to add accent, really made the statement that small does not have to be boring.
Chuck
www.chuckebyrdwallart.com
Ha, thanks summerinbrooklyn! Sumper comfy is a sumper stupid typo ;) It's fixed now.
All the places look great
#1 - smart use of color and curtains
#2 - the bookcase wall is practical
#3 - those patterns (!), those chairs (I want)
#4 - the pod. need i say more?
#5 - love the bedding-keeping everything in white looks romantic and clean
Yay, floorplans! Keep 'em coming, AT!
BTW, what is that person DOING in the loft in #4? =)
I will be studying closely all of these for inspiration. Moving I a tiny studio soon myself and just feel I want to squeeze to much in to little space but posts like that give me faith...
@ rockerdelight
west elm has nice daybeds :)
In my next life, when I live completely alone, I want a studio apartment. Ah, simplicity.
@ E the C...I think the guy at the right is nomming on some pizza. The woman up top is making the bed.
I wish I had known about AT in my studio-living days. I just wasn't imaginative enough to come up with some of these great ideas!
@am_clarke
I share your pain. A couple of tips for your zero counter space: 1) a huge cutting board to put over your sink and/or stove... I have two, one solid and one with a strainer imbedded for veg prep. 2) look to your walls - you can mount a cutting board on the wall using hinges and pivot it up/down when not in use. I'm considering putting one on a door or bookcase. 3) breakfast bar? If in a galley kitchen, use full extension drawer slides to mount a surface under the bar top.
Post pictures and I'm sure everyone will come up with great ideas for you!
LUSTING after such good editing and design for my own space. We studio dwellers have our own support group on AT. How about a new section of the weekly e-mail just for troubleshooting space planning / storage / design issues?
If patrick (the other one) and wendell from phoenix would moderate, my fantasy section of AT would be complete!
I never see anything like my studio layout, but I always appreciate the inspiration from fellow Apartment Therapists.
And yes, more floorplans please!! Pictures are tough for extra small places.
@am_clarke if you haven't already, consider getting rid of your dish drying rack. I have verrry little counter space and putting the contraption away makes a world of difference. Hand drying dishes is not so bad!
Would love ideas for a triangular studio...really perplexing.
I love the pod in Tony and Hilary's studio, I'd be afraid of falling out though! Also the use of white in Kevin's apartment is very clever - enlarges the space! Great ideas.
If you're looking for a sofa bed like in #3, try www.duobed.com. It fits in very small spaces and converts easily from sofa to bed to chairs.
@am_clarke Not sure of your layout but what works for me is a folding cart table. I only get it out when I'm planning on major cooking...but it gives lots of "counter" space for food prep. If that's too big try a smaller collapsible that would fit in a closet or under your bed. Another possibly useful option is a well-anchored shelf that acts as a holding area for whatever bowl/spice/veg you're not actively using at that point in cooking. A tiny fan to circulate air might help with the claustrophobic feeling...it tricks your body somewhat. good luck.
@jane I'd be afraid of falling out too...but I had a lofted bed in college. It would be easy to add railings around the edge to reduce the chances. With railings my body adjusted to sleeping that way over time. The only other annoying thing is that there's no "safe" place for the little bedtime niceties like a cup of water or reading glasses since knocking it off with a pillow mid-sleep involves a loooong drop and broken things at the bottom.
I liked them all: impressive use of limited space.
Thankyou AT for floorplans. I love floorplans.
Nothing like a small and awkward layout to force you to be creative. Another thumbs up to including floorplans! Here's a link to the bed in #3:
http://www.gothiccabinetcraft.com/products/Galaxy-Platform-Bed%2C-2-Drawers%2C-Full.html
Ohhh, these bring back sweet memories of my studio days...
Love it!
http://smallspaceresources.blogspot.com
clearly tony and hillary's pod is the showstopper - but why, oh why ruin the streamlined, modern look of the apartment by topping the pod with curtains?! surely there are other options, e.g. sliding doors, one-way mirrors, honeycomb blinds, etc. that would better fit the overall design of the pod and the decor of the home...
Quite nice! Makes me want to get a studio apartment instead.
my place is a studio and it is awkward because it is long and skinny, but the walls have various bump outs and angles so you cant really play with layout
www.wafflingdesign.blogspot.com
I love those curtains in #2!!!
The loft pod only works if you want to climb a ladder every time you get in and out of bed - I know I don't want to. Lived with one for three-months once - remember pulling a muscle stumbling out of bed and down the ladder when tired once. Great for occasional use as guest beds, for not for me for everyday. I'd rather a platform bed that doubles as a couch, or a pull-out sofabed if the place is too small for that.
The one with the bed behind the curtain - I'd have likely put a small table and chairs across from the kitchen instead of the small sofa, and used a bed that doubles as a sofa, like the one with the platform bed in front of the windows, in the bedroom area, so it would double as a living area as well, as I'd rather have a table across from a kitchen than my sofa (and I'd have a table to sit at!)
For an expensive, but comfortable for use every day, pull out bed, in many different sizes from twin on up, look for a place that sells Comfort Sleeper sofabeds - made by American Leather (though they also come in fabric, despite the name.) Some common furniture stores (crate and barrel, room and board, another I forget right now) sell a few of their models as well. No bars or springs,just foam on board. Got one for my guest room - my guests love it. I think it is comfy, too, and would use one in a small studio.
Huh, this post was re-re-edited from a 2009 post--no wonder there aren't more recent entries. Reminds me to go back and look at contest entries (have already gone back and looked all ALL THE HOUSE TOURS since AT's inception....)
After much futile clicking, I am reminded why I haven't done so yet.
I like # 4 because I'm a fan of placing beds parallel to the wall.
Here's a floor plan on my studio (not quite to scale, I just did this in about 10 minutes): http://bit.ly/PCs0CX . I have considered moving the bed into the upper right hand corner and "hiding" it behind my metal and glass bookcases from CB2 (the discontinued Trig bookcases) but I have a cat and I imagine he'd try walking through the shelves and cause some damage. And no Expedit for me, I have enough Ikea already!