Wow! 230 sf apartment outside of Tokyo is very unusual! Congrats on not moving in with your parents :) I suggest keeping it organized/clutter free and have a bold piece of art on every wall (instead of dorm room type art) --- maybe pick a theme by color, you can stretch fabric on stretcher bars as the 'art' or paint a canvas all one color etc. Adds pop and personality. Good luck!

I lived in a 240 sf box for much of grad school, and I tried to follow a few basics (all probably gleaned from AT): 1. Add nice table/floor lamps; don't rely on ugly rental fixtures. 2. Try to match your woods/finishes. 3. Use nice/harmonious fabrics (curtains, bedspread, throw pillows, hand towels, etc.). 4. Don't have too much stuff, and keep what you do have clean and organized.

I would use a cocktail table that is the same height as my daybed seat. with a folding stool it would double as a 4 person DR table. I would also consider placing that daybed almost in the center of the room and using the back of the daybed as a divider with a long sleek desk , that has a storage bench as seating for the desk. you will need the storage. The wall in front of the window could house a tall bookshelf turned on its side and a middle shelf going across, this would double as a tv cabinet. use bins on the bottom shelf for storage. Behind the desk space that wall could be used for an armoire in center flanked by two shelves on each side, one for china/bar area stuff the other for books etc.

11x13 is the size of my living room too. For my space i divided the living room
into two spaces - tv/sitting area and studio area with floor to
ceiling bookshelves. I love it because the
shelves create a partition without making me feel closed in and cut off from the
rest of the apartment and also solved a lot of storage issues.
That way you can have your bed in the room - behind the shelf/partition without
feeling like you just live in a bedroom.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/susanthebear/LivingRoom-3panellarge.jpg

you could use any sort of bookshelves though - Ikea Billy shelves are economical.

just an idea. good luck!

What about ye olde Expedit shelving unit serving as a room divider next to the kitchen, to set off a bedroom area in the corner by the closet? Center a desk under the window, possibly one that can serve as a dining table in the event of dinner guests. Also in the desk area by the window put in one comfy-but-not-too-huge easy chair or two if it looks like it will fit easily -- maybe it could work if one is an armless "slipper chair."

If you haven't already purchased the IKEA Hemnes daybed, you might want to rethink that purchase. We have one in our guest room and while it's surprisingly comfortable for sleeping (or so we've heard!), when it folds up, it's so deep that it's not very couch-y. I think that a wooden futon with a nice, thick mattress would be a better choice. The futon can serve as both bed and couch and use can use a cedar chest (or similar nice-looking trunk) as both a coffee table and place to store sheets, blankets and pillows. I'd also recommend getting a small pedestal table and 2 chairs to put just beside the kitchen area and centering a larger piece of art behind it on the wall. Having a "real" place to eat - especially if you have a friend over for dinner - is the "grown up" thing to do, and will look really nice. In terms of decorating touches, hang curtains (up high!) that go all the way to the floor, and put them on nicer metal or wooden rods. Buy a few plants too. It'll feel like a grown-up's house in no time!

Two words: MURPHY BED.

Okay, maybe that's not doable. But for such a tiny spot, it's the way to go. I would definitely utilize the bed as a seating area...make it couchy. Kemin DC had the best advice, though. Invest in nice furniture and not too much of it. Return something, even if you love it, if you just don't have a place. Holding onto things I loved really cluttered up my small spaces for much longer than it should have.

As far as layout goes, if this were my place I would divide the area in front of the bath as "living" and use the area adjacent to the kitchen as an eat/work space. Hemnes is a pretty great line for you too, because it doesn't scream "ikea" the way the Expedit work station does.

In the living area I'd put the daybed against the far wall, and a long low dresser against the wall shared with the bathroom, and hang the tv over the dresser (also, theres a good hemnes hack for creating a space for electronics like tv receiver, xbox ) and instead of a coffee table, I'd put a storage ottoman in the center of the room ( which will be easier to move out of the way when pulling out your bed.

In the eat/work area, if the budget allows, I'd use a regular dining table and pick up a hemnes secretary desk- it gives plenty of storage for books, electronics, papers and office supplies, and allows you to minimize the "desk" area when needed and spread out on the dining room table when working (the small desk/big table strategy got me through grad school and made it much easier to be social, eat real meals, etc.)

The space is so small that i think using a room divider may work against you,

Daybed with a good memory foam mattress is a good use of space and will last the wear and tear of everyday use. Check out the indonesian day bed at world market.com it's an outdoor piece, so it's durable. It's also an exotic choice and gorgeous. Choose colors that you LOVE for the ceiling as well as the walls. Go neutral on walls and dramatic on the ceiling. Accent with great unique light fixtures to add interest, too.

I have a 300 sq.ft. studio. You can see how I styled it here: http://30littlesomethings.blogspot.com/

I just went through this process!
I made a point to have a kitchen seating area. I found it broke up my space really well, and it doesn't have to be big by any means. I have an antique drop leaf table that was a hand-me-down, that I paired with some folding chairs that I can pull out if I have guests, but that can be pushed against the wall when it's just me. I find eating breakfast/dinner at a table to be a civilized activity, I feel adult doing it.
I also found using small rugs to delineate different "areas" were useful, as were coordinated colors for each section of the room.
My biggest suggestion would be to take it slow. I "moved in" over the course of two months and in that time, I was able to move what little furniture I had around to see what I liked, then added a little here and there when I was sure about a purchase. It's frustrating not to have it perfect immediately, but I certainly saved myself some dough that way.

I think I felt my tastes were more grown up when I switched from taped/pinned up posters to framed artwork. Doesn't have to be spectacular -just something you find at a coffee house. Add unique art that appeals to you and your style will show.

I agree with DENVER80203-- framed artwork or artwork on canvas always makes a living space seem immediately "grown-up" to me. Also, attractive table or floor lamps can make a huge difference, but avoid christmas lights. Finally, never underestimate the power of fresh flowers.

The biggest mistake I see when people are fresh out of the dorm is to shove furniture into corners in order to cram more in, because that's how all dorm rooms are setup -- your bed is shoved up against your desk which is shoved up against your dresser...

Even though you're still in a small space, it definitely looks more all-growed-up to give the furniture some room to breathe. Getting clever with storage will help. Try searching the Small Cool Contest archives here and you'll find some good small-space storage ideas.

I have the Hemnes daybed in an office/guestroom. It is pretty comfy for sleeping and while it doesn't work very well as a couch for a bunch of people to sit on, it is fabulous for one person to curl up on and watch TV, read a book, etc. I find it tough to pull out on our carpeted floor though, that's more of a two person job.

Luckily, Apartment Therapy has this thing called the Smallest Coolest contest. You could not ask for a better collection of ideas and inspiration for your situation, much more extensive than any answers you could get here. Just remember to use the space in the middle, not just around the edges.

Congrats on the exciting step of getting your own apartment! For me, having a real bed, at least full sized, that you don't have to pull out and make up every night is the defining feature of an "adult" space. I think the easiest method to give yourself a bedroom, even in such a small space, is to get a canopy bed that you can have curtains on the sides to serve as walls but can also match actual window curtains to bring a space together.

For your layout, I would place it in the corner near the closet to create a private space. If you put the bed against the right wall and have the foot of the bed closest to the closet with a little space for walking (remove the door if it's too tight to navigate), you can put two curtains on the other side and head side and open and close as privacy is wanted. Actually, if there is room, having a little bit of space between the bed and wall will make getting into bed even easier - the curtains can just extend to the wall. I think that setup would still leave plenty of room near the window to have a small sofa, table, etc. A bookshelf might fit nicely right up against the head of the bed and further the sense that the curtains are a wall. A counter height table along the bathroom wall (on LR side) could serve as an eating table without causing a disruption in the walking flow. Art and plants also help a place feel "official" too.

Ikea doesn't seem to have their 4-poster bed anymore, but here's another affordable one: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Excel-Canopy-Bed-Full/2039750/product.html

Armless chairs also do well in small spaces: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Bordeaux-Camel-Loveseat/4612096/product.html

If you're doing the sofa-bed thing I can highly recommend this: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90198978/

We have it in our living room and it is the BEST double duty product I've ever purchased. 3 years old and going strong... SO much storage space and really comfy for sofa use or sleeping use. Certainly more comfortable than Hemnes and not much more expensive.

Tips for grownup apartment: Storage is very important. If something has to be out in the open it should serve double-duty decorative and functional purpose. The tip above about lighting is a good one, and frames are great too. Grown-up curtains help a lot too.

ixnay on the futon (you won't put it up/down every day, they are very heavy); ixnay on the expedit (it'll totally overwhelm that little room - you'll feel like you're in it's apartment)

consider getting:

- a full-size platform bed (storage underneath and big enough for proper sleep) ex/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/63122153@N00/1881016685/in/set-72157623185972361

- OR, get a sleeper sofa. you can get a good mattress/pad and sleep well. keep simple linens and consider the room primarily a livingroom.

- get a round cafe table for dining & desk OR a counter height table with stools that go under (glass top if you can find it)

- one or two comfortable accent chairs - these will allow you to sit somewhere other than the bed so you can sleep better

- if you need an a/v unit, IKEA makes MAVAS for about $80. their Best bookcases are slim and shallow, if you need one.

my place is bigger so i have platform bed and a sleeper for guests

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63122153@N00/5562483284/in/set-72157623185972361

Definitely get a platform bed with a good mattress. If you're in grad school, you'll need to sleep well in the scarce time you'll have for it. If it's a raised platform, all the better for storage. Additionally, look at the Small, Cool contests, even going back a couple of years.

And put most of your drunken college pics in an album and keep only the nicest.

This is going to be so cool for you!! Congrats!

oops, I meant "keep only the nicest on display".

The three things that made my first apartment feel grown up: a sofa (well, a very sofa-ish futon…..I had to have some place to sleep!), a pair of bookcases housing my collection of books, and a chandelier.

Window treatments and frames/cool display for all art. Those two things will make the room look finished and that makes it not look collegey.

I completely agree with and have used the Small Cool contest for ideas. I have a small 300 sq ft one bedroom that somehow feels a lot bigger then it actually is.

My biggest piece of advice, real curtains. I see many of my friends clipping a sheet or sarong onto their windows in any way that will keep them up. To me, that looks very dorm room. One set of mine came from Walmart. They aren't fancy, but the color is pretty and ties my kitchen and living room together. I made the curtains in my bedroom and got the curtain rod at Ross for $10.

I think the most important things that differentiate student from adult style is keeping things tidy and displaying quality items that reflect your interests, rather than ephemera like posters, beer mugs and sports items! ;^) If you have real furniture (as opposed to boards and bricks) and coordinate your colors, you are halfway there!

Congrats on your first apartment! I am 37 years old, and only RECENTLY managed to get this right. (Decorating in a way that felt more grown up). Seriously. Up until 2 years ago, my home still looked like it belonged to somebody in their 20s instead of their 30s. Then we moved into a smaller apartment (smaller, but way more gorgeous and in a much better part of the neighborhood). I was forced to downsize, since I couldn't fit everything that was in the old apartment into the new one. I began to notice that the more stuff I got rid of, the more grown up our new apartment began to feel. Now, in a much smaller space, our home almost feels like it's sophisticated and grown up. Still need to get rid of more stuff in the bedroom. That's a disaster area right now. *sigh* But the rest of the place is stellar. And all I have to do in the bedroom is get rid of a third of the crap in there, at least. And voila. It will be just as awesome as the rest of the place.

The key is simplicity simplicity simplicity. The more simple and streamlined the style, the more grownup your home will feel. Good luck! I'm eager to see pics someday soon. ;)

Three easy things that differentiate a dorm room from an adult room:

1. Curtains! Tasteful curtains hung higher and wider than the window will make the room feel more complete and make your window look larger.

2. Hung (and framed) photos or art. Don't worry about putting holes in your rental wall. That's what spackle is for!

3. Color cohesion. This doesn't mean everything has to be matchy matchy, but having a purple bedspread with a black couch, blue curtains, red pillows...just make sure there is some unity and harmony with your color scheme and carry it throughout the apartment. See "mood boards" for more inspiration.

Good luck and congrats!

I lived with my now husband while we were dating in a 260sf studio. Tips would be taking off unnecessary doors from the interior - just keep the bathroom door of course! Also, get a table that folds out from the wall for additional counter space/work space/dining space. A convertible coffee table that lifts up can act as a dining table. We managed to get a full size bed AND a futon in that tiny space, and had up to 18 people over for dinner. It was full, but it felt open and great!

Oh! One more super useful tip - sliding room dividers. Mount them on the ceiling on a rail, and use them to divide the room or keep it open.

Ah - one more thing. Track lighting keeps the floor clear of lamps that take up precious square footage. Good luck!

Ikea makes a storage set called trones. We have about 16 of them. They have a very flat profile on the wall, and fold out to have quite a bit of storage in them. Purchase copious numbers of these and you'll be golden :)

To start out from scratch, go with 2 neutrals and one color. That's what you get. If you stick to that rule religiously, your place will look good. Neutrals = black, white, brown, gray, or wood (only one wood finish: birch or walnut or oak, etc. no mixing wood). Pick your favorite home decor color, and then make sure everything you get fits in your color palette.

Don't buy anything you don't love. Good luck!

Please please avoid being overly matching. It makes it look like you did a Target run to outfit the entire apartment...sort of like dorm room shopping.

K, I am in the same boat!! I'm 25 and moving into my first apartment, which is only slightly larger than yours at 340 sq. feet. I too want my space to feel grown up but still reflect my personality. I have decided to go with neutral walls and add color with my furniture and accessories. I have also bought many pieces that pull double duty. For example, I bought a wonderful old chicken coop at a flea market. It makes a perfect coffee table with storage for extra throws and pillows. Don't waste valuable floor space on lamps. I use a wonderful hanging light that provide a lot of character and doesn't take up real estate. I have learned that if you buy what you love, your place will come together perfectly.

Awww! The use of "yet" in "I want my new apartment to reflect that I am a grownup, yet still reflect my personal taste" is so endearing!

@Parnassus - I disagree with the rule about not mixing wood. When you buy what you like, you don't always get to choose the finish and shouldn't pass on something you really enjoy just because it's a different wood than everything else. This is particularly the case if you're buying vintage pieces.

I love tiny spaces so much that I've been following the tiny living/tiny home blogs. Don't worry about designing an "adult" space so much as investing in pieces that are flexible, can be used for multiple purposes, are comfortable and, most of all, are pieces that you love. Then, warm the place up with plants and personal touches, but avoid clutter. By having a plan in mind, you can avoid the classic empty or design-by-dumpster chic common in college dorms, etc. But enjoy your youth, you'll have years of being adult ahead of you.

Honestly, I'd say no to the daybed. It won't be comfy for sitting with friends and it'll be awkward to them to sit on your bed. This seems like the quickest way to turn the entire place into a college dorm feel.

Personally I'd place a full-size bed in front of the windows (almost all the way against the windows) turned to sit like a daybed. This is your "bedroom". A couple feet from the bed (however much room you need to pass) use some low bookcases to make a living room on the other side. A nice long coffee table and some floor cushions provides a decent dining space as well.

There are some really great suggestions listed already. I'm going to add some tips on how to make a small space seem larger.

- Be careful with partitioning your room. Having a giant shelf in the middle of your little room will only make the space seem more crammed, I personally think every white wall makes the room seem bigger. Partitioning might also block off sunlight from reaching half of your room. However, if you're sectioning off your bed on the side of the wall facing the window, that could work, since you probably don't need natural sunlight in your sleeping area. Though personally, I love afternoon naps with the sunlight coming in. :) Also, there's no need to hide your bed behind a divider. If anything, you can use your duvet as more opportunity for an accent color or cool pattern. Considering where your door is facing, I would put the bed right against the wall of the bathroom, so that it is the most hidden without actually being hidden. Think about the experience a person has when they enter your room. What do you want them to see first?
- White everything. If you can manage to keep things clean, white is a great color to open up the space. My tiny studio always seemed really sunny, bright, and cozy, even when it's a brutal Chicago winter outside. When it comes to coordinating colors. I wouldn't worry too much about matching the accessories. Simply get furniture that look good together. They don't have to be the same color, but they should fit together stylistically. Instead of limiting your color palette, work toward a feeling you want your apartment to create! Because all my furniture was white and light wood color, I found that just about any color accessories or wall-decor looked good against the white canvas.
- Low furniture. When you can't add horizontal space, adding vertical space will help. Having a bed closer to the ground creates illusion of more space. And instead of a college-esque desk with lots of shelves, maybe you can consider a simple large shelf-less desk right in front of the window that can also hold some plants. :)
- Versatile furniture. Like someone else mentioned, having a big table surface that can be used both as desk and dining table is a smart idea! I think having a daybed is also a good idea, just add enough pillows so that it isn't too deep to be a couch during the day.

Good luck, I think you will love your first adult home!

Hi, K! :) Thanks for posting your question here. I've also recently moved out and is now living in a small 1-bedroom apartment with about 350 sf in area. I loved reading the comments and will gladly apply more than two of the tips given. My windows are still bare, and I haven't thought that getting proper curtains is an easy way to give any room the adult-feel.

Psyche
http://thriftingadventures.wordpress.com

Build up with a ton of shelves. That is the cheapest way to get clutter out of a small space.

Well, darling, you are a grown up, right? A 26-yr-old woman in graduate school. So whatever you want to do will be grown up.

I think don't make it something it isn't. It's a big room with a couple task-specific spaces (kitchen and bath). Of course you must have a couple of chairs or something for friends, maybe a couple of stylish folding chairs too for extras, but other than that build it up around how you want to use it and be comfortable! Especially as a grad student, you will be spending a lot of time alone, hitting the books, and your friends will be in the same boat so when they come over they will not expect luxe accomodations. The time will fly and you might meet a partner/spouse and never have the chance again to make your home just for you. Can you tell I miss my late-20's single girl apartment? :)

One look I saw recently in a Kathryn Ireland ad was a bed that just had a headboard and instead of a footboard, there was a small, low loveseat directly at the foot of the bed. Her style is very florid and flouncy, but you could do whatever style of linens and furniture you want, for a small space that is also a living space, I like the idea (combined with a storage bed it would be a very efficient use of space). How about a luxe-boho look? Maybe a few ethnic prints, quilts, etc etc. It doesn't have to match. Check the blog "moon to moon" for ideas of what I mean. Or you are a more modern girl, you could do a totally crisp look if you got some solid linens and a solid, clean-lined loveseat in a similar or contrasting color. I think the bed has to go under the window to have the best space around it. Then if you watch TV, mount it on the opposite wall and put a little cafe table (easily found on Craigslist) under it that you can use for both eating and for laptop use. Get a wireless printer so you can stick it somewhere inobtrusive if you do need to print.

Good luck in grad school!

here's the Kathryn Ireland pic I referred to in the last post. This is a little insane with all the fabric (she sells fabric) but I do like the idea of the loveseat at the end of the bed.