102808_studio.jpgIn this month's Home and Garden UK they ask a bunch of designers how to incorporate living room furniture into bedrooms a la a really fancy hotel room. And although we certainly don't have space like that in our bedroom, we thought the tips could work applied to a studio apartment where your bedroom is your living room (and dining room and office):

• Multiple Uses: Desks do double duty as dressing tables (and dining tables) and Ottomans provide storage, a place to sit and a place to set things out.
• Divide and Conquer Divide and 'zone' the space with shelves and credenzas. If you stick with light colors and keep the shelves organized you can cordon off some private space and keep your office from invading your bed.
• Think Scale: the same giant living room furniture might not fit into a studio, you may need to downsize to a loveseat and a footstool instead of a coffeetable, or 2 armchairs and a side table instead of a sofa.
• Focus: Try arranging around a focal point, either putting your bed front and center or with shelving that covers one wall with all the furniture oriented around that. If you're lucky enough to have a fireplace use that as a focal point, do not use your heater as one.
• Lighting: Dimmer everything. Illuminate shelving and underneath your cabinets with interior lights or the small stick on lights from Ikea. This will make the space feel larger and more open at night. For a luxurious look (and a focal point!) use a chandelier or pendant light above the bed (or table) for overhead lighting and then add lamps around the room for tasks.
• Bonus Tip: This tip comes from our own experience: if there is a way to not have everything tucked around the side of the room, hugging the walls, do it, it will make it feel more spacious. For example if you can get into bed from either side of the bed or if your desk/table can float in the center of the room, this will give the illusion of more space. Of course if you doing this means you have to climb over other furniture, use common sense!

[Tips from House and Garden UK]
[Image from Private Spaces: Creating a Peaceful Space of Your Own at Home]

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