Q: I am moving into a new apartment which I have fallen in love with...but it has a tricky layout. It is a Studio and both my boyfriend and I will be living there. I'm looking for ideas about how to set up a living room/bedroom space as well as a dining room/study area for us. The best (and trickiest) part is the curved wall full of windows! See floor layout.
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can you have curved sectional alongside windowed curved wall? Lots of little pieces will need to come together to make this work I think. Good luck!
It's hard to tell without any dimensions, but what you'll want to do is set up different zones - living, dining, sleeping within the space. To set apart your sleeping area, use a piece of furniture such as a bookcase or armoire (ideally, wider than the headboard of your bed) to create a freestanding wall you can set your bed against. I'm picturing placing the bed facing the closet and bathroom area, with the divider perpendicular to the kitchen wall.
That way, you'll have living space on one side of the "wall" and sleeping space (and a bit of privacy) on the other side, with some bonus storage space.
personally, i would probably try putting your sleeping area next to the kitchen, a table for an eating/work space in the curved area, and a seating/tv space in the area close to the entrance.
don't bother trying to follow the curve or mimic it. it will just frustrate you. instead, take advantage of the interesting spaces that are created between the curve and the angles of rectilinear furniture. Places for plants, etc.
a cleaner/more modern aesthetic is probably a must though.
I would just extend a wall of some sort perpendicular to the wall that separates the kitchen and parallel to the closet. It could be something as simple as a curtain, some nice plywood panels with a simple framework attached to the back of your bed like a really tall headboard, or even something like in this house tour http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/shirry-boazs-converted-auto-body-shophouse-tour-172276 (Just be careful if you use a bookshelf because it will need securing to something to make sure it is not a falling hazard.) Then you will have a bedroom area that segues into the private closet and bathroom without closing off the view or the overall space.
i like handsomegrad's layout ideas, as they were what struck me as most natural as well. if you need separate work areas, you could put a desk along the wall in front of the large closet and one between the sleeping and dining areas, directly across from the large closet in the layout. good luck!
I'd be a bit unconventional by placing the bed against the window near the kitchen. A tall headboard will make it feel cozy for sleeping and a drape at the end of the bed will keep you from waking up looking at the kitchen. This way, your bedroom and kitchen (two rooms that guests do not have to see( are self contained and hidden away form the open space.
Place a work table or desk along the solid wall that backs onto the kitchen (near the closets). Float your dining and living furnishing in the overall space; when guests walk in the space will appear as an open-style, larger space than having the bed somewhere in sight. One or two area rugs will help to visually divide the large room into areas; make sure they have colour and pattern as you are limited with wall space that would offer up personality with art.
I'm going to echo the idea to have the bedroom area off the kitchen, and then have a round table for eating/work in the curve. Put the couch on the flat part, this would maximize the open space in the apartment, without fighting the curve.
Judging by the size of the kitchen, I think a bed in the main living area would dominate it, so I'd put it by the kitchen. I'd put the desk/dining area to the left when you walk in the door, and the TV on a stand sticking out into the room next to it, facing the other way. The soft furniture would go by the curved window. A dresser or two would go nicely next to the big closet.
Work area just off/in kitchen. Bed down in lower right corner, perhaps ended with a bookcase.
I'm not sure where the entry door is, but I would but the bed on the outside wall near the closets (lower right on the floor plan.)
Draw an imaginary line from the end of the kitchen wall down. This divides the space into "public" on the left and "private" on the right. Find a screen/armoire/curtain solution to create some privacy for the bed. I am currently making a room divider using IKEA Stolmen poles.
It's tempting to put the bed next to the kitchen, but I think this would actually be less private if you have company. It looks like the kitchen in open to the dining area there. even with a divider you would still have people in your bedroom watching you cook!
If you indeed have an eat at counter in the kitchen, get some stools and eat your meals there. Invest in a drop leaf table to use with guests.
Set up an office/workspace in the dining area as well.
Put the tv and such against the "wall" you've created for the bedroom and float a small couch or several chairs in the room.
This apartment looks like a show stopper! I think as long as you float your living area furniture you'll be golden. Make the windows the focal point and perhaps use some large bookcases as a room divider between your sleeping area and living space (perhaps you can place/hang on the structure too). Here's my studio apartment with an example of shelving as a room divider: http://riotfordesign.blogspot.com/2012/06/life-is-grand.html
BUT the bed area HAS to go by the closets and the bathroom. You'll drive yourself nuts walking across the entire apartment every morning or middle of the night.
Have to agree with JENND0718 for placement of the bed, it's tucked away behind the closets. Though you may have to give up the idea of a side table.
Had a similar challenge in my former studio and zoned off my very visible bed with light floor-to-ceiling curtains that did the trick. Neat thing is at night, the light in the flat will bounce off the curtains, making the sleeping area proper blocked off from guests.
This way the rest of the flat is open to general space and dining use, and you can enjoy those gorgeous windows. Félicitations!
I have to second or third using the space by the kitchen for your sleeping area. It seems the simplest solution. A tall bookshelf or two should help separate it from the kitchen and create a faux hallway to the kitchen without anyone feeling as if they are in your bedroom.
The curved wall seems perfect for a round table and four chairs....plus it's still very close to the kitchen. You could easily fit in a desk for a home office area either by the sleeping area without it overtaking the space.
In what's left of the space, you can either likely get a sectional or couch and a chair to fit. If you have a TV the space in front of the largest closet should hold a credenza. You could go all the way with separate pieces and make what looks like a wall unit - use part of it for living room electronics and stuff and the other half for extra storage.
Murphy bed in a cabinet in the lower right which matches the width of the closet on the other side.
It looks like you have a TON of closet space. If you could repurpose the largest closet as your office space then you have can tuck that away as well.
Then you can have table in the upper left that doesn't have to be cleaned off from office stuff every time you want to eat and the rest of the room can be open - and your personal life isn't all exposed...
There are some AMAZING murphy beds with couches that appear when the bed is folded up.
I'd float a sectional in the middle of the living area, facing the windows. I'm hoping there's a view worth looking at out there!
Then tuck the bed next to the closet. Make the space by the kitchen the dining/study area.
Putting the bed by the kitchen seems like the obvious answer to me, too.....but then your bed will smell like bacon. Just sayin'. ;) Also I'm visualizing the living room furniture organized so it faces those big windows. They seem like a natural focal point. If it were me, I would fill those windows with huge plants! But that's me.
patrick (the other one) has it right! that's exactly what i would do. so simple. come in past the bed but the rest of the apartment is for entertainin!
big dining room table / desk in kitchen and a little computer thing by the closets if you need an officier office.
Suddenly, I wish you owned one of those round king beds. XD
(I feel this way when I see bay windows a lot, too. Actually I have bay windows, but they don't protrude enough for me to get the urge....)
I think best use of space involves having the study/dining area to the left of the door near the kitchen. But I wouldn't place the bed in front of the closet. Move it to the other side of the room, leaving an appropriate amount of space between bed and the windows. Foot of bed toward the bath. Then I'd place the sofa perpendicular to the walk the kitchen is on. That leaves options for where to place a chair, the TV, etc. to make a seating area for guests. You achieve a sense of separation of the seating and sleeping area by having the bed and sofa facing opposite directions. But if you want to use a divider to further achieve that sense of separation, you can. One other suggestion is that you not use all the same curtains/drapes. The drapes in the sleeping area need to coordinate with the bed's clothes. Use a solid in one area -- such as sleeping area. And a print in the seating area. Or vice versa. Looks like a great apartment.
You don't mention what type of flooring is in the space. Assuming it is the same flooring throughout (hardwood or concrete??) this is what I would do:
Make the room next to the Kitchen your living space. I would put a couch against the window wall, small round coffee table in the middle for easy circulation, with a side chair, and possibly mount a TV on the blank wall (narrow credenza below?)
Next, for the bed. I would put the headboard end against the window wall adjacent to the bathroom doorway, just before the wall starts to curve. Then along the remaining window area (including curve portion), place a round dining table (Sarinneen perhaps?)- make sure it's round because I think the hard square edges would conflict with the curve. Then put a desk on the wall next to the closet.
Now, if you have tile in the kichen area, and another flooring type in the rest of the space...I might rethink this idea because I am not partial to tile in a living rooms....
It really is a shame the kitchen is not next to the entry - a galley kitchen - walk through to living space - office space in little L part of room - bed in the hidden area (where kitchen is now). Do you own the space? Plumbing is already there- right by the bathroom - remove the largest closet and put your sink there.
I would avoid putting the bed by the kitchen - if you cannot move the kitchen (you rent, or budget), the I'd do a Murphy bed by the entrance.
How poorly designed this place is! If the kitchen wall was the other way and the kitchen opened out downwards to the main room instead of to the left, there would be a perfect bed niche.
Honestly do these architects put any thought into who is going to be living there, and how they will live?
Are the closet doors accordion style or do they open up like two normal doors? If the latter, you could remove them, place a curtain on a tension rod (super cheap) and place your bed in front of the closet doorway. Of course, this all works depending on your bed size and type of headboard.
I think it would look alright, if you only have a bed frame and no headboard, to put it right up against the doorway. If you're headboard is fairly tall, I'd leave a foot or two of entry room to access closet. Please let us know what you choose!
I would place the bed at an angle, on the left. The head of the bed, preferably with a high headboard, will be to the extreme left of the narrow wall, and the foot at the start of the curve. You can put a plant or shelves at the corner behind the headboard, or store suitcases. In front of the bed, at the curve, place a round table and seating. You can have your home office or a more formal dining area in the kitchen. So when you step in, it looks big and spacious. I would prob place the TV either beside the big closet or at the wall adjacent to the big closet, depending which one has less reflection. Seating can be a 2-seater and a couple of armchairs. Keep coffee tables small, so it's easy to move around as you deem fit.
You can save space several ways. 1. Using a cocktail table the same height as the seat of the sofa. This allows for lack of DR space. 2. 24 X 28 work space thats open on both sides that can work as work space or extra DR space. 3. A canopy bed creates its own privacy, use storage bins underneath the bed. 4. My sofa is a charlesprogers daybed. I covered it like a settee using regular cushions along the back, This gives me an extra bed and storage underneath.
You should consider a Hiddenbed, its a bed and desk gives you everything you need. hiddenbedusa.com
Depending on how wide,Id might even think about taking the doors off the closet facing the main room and putting my bed in there.Build some shallow shelves inside for night stands and storage,maybe frame it with some curtains,make it an alcove.Though I know storage is dear,that extra couple of feet can make a huge difference.
Tricky layout? Need ideas about how to set up a living room/bedroom space as well as a dining room/study area?
I would suggest that you hire a good architect. That way you won't have to prowl this website for half thought ofi(bad) ideas.