From the corner of the left had wall of the linen closet to the back wall of your place, could you partition that off as a bedroom for you & use the loft for most storage? Can you add storage to the bathroom?

I needed storage for my small apartment as well, and purchased a platform bed from Ikea (Mandal, $400) which has four large storage drawers and just takes a mattress on top. Love the modern look, the roomy drawers, and the fact that the down-to-the-floor design means no dust bunnies under the bed!!!

I agree with partitioning off from your linen closet to the back wall, and using that as your bedroom area. I would recommend the IKEA Expedit to use as a partition because this will give you some storage space to work with. I think a boxspring and mattress on the floor is great for now, maybe add a rug and low bedside table (like the clear ones from CB2). Also, I like the idea of using 2 saw horses and a door (paint it if you like) for a cheap alternative as a work space. I saw this on a House Tour on AT and thought it was genius! You could even use it as a base for entertaining when the need arises. For the living area, I would probably go with a loveseat or a few chairs. I think the white, slipcovered ones from IKEA looks fantastic and the brightness will make your space feel more open. Good luck to you!

If you want your mattress on the floor, what about investing in a Japanese style futon/shikibed that can be folded up and out of the way when you want to work? Not the American style futon mattress which can be a beast to fold up, but a thinner Japanese one. Or, if you have a twin bed, set it up as a day bed that is seating during the day, a bed at night *plus* storage underneath. I feel for you...loft beds make me feel claustrophobic too. Not just when I'm sleeping in one but the entire room seems to close in. It also screams college dorm which isn't the most appealing look.

Really consider the functions you want in the studio. Do you need a living room area with a couch? If not, then don't bring that type of furniture in. Use the space for the things you really need: Sleeping, eating, dressing, and working (sewing?). Organize the space around those functions.

I like putting a sleeping area in the top left corner (as we look at the plan) a mattress on the floor could double as a seating area also, throw a few cushions on it. For the rest of the room I would put shelving on both the other walls, floor to ceiling and use containers to hide the more unattractive items. That would leave you floor space for your work and the odd dance party.

I agree with the suggestions of making the upper left corner your sleeping area and using EXPEDIT open shelving to subdivide the space. The shelves can even be used to house a TV if you have one. You can try something like this: http://m1342.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/CollageInteriors/46A82A01-B7D0-4B52-A988-10FF90BCFB04-9222-00000596A72F64B4_zpsc4f45d11.jpg.html?o=0&newest=1

CollageInteriors@gmail.com

You're an artist. Build a daybed and room divider a la Charlie on "Girls". http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/small-space-living-on-girls-171358

Get your dad to pay for the tools and materials. ;)

It's a bit more pricey, but when I had storage issues in my apartment I went with Pottery barn's bed with drawers: http://www.potterybarn.com/products/stratton-bed-with-drawers/. It is a great piece of furniture that will last a long time (unlike the ikea ones) and is super easy to take apart and move. The drawers are really deep and were great when I only had space for my bed, and still works in my little bit larger bedroom.

If you already have a loft bed, consider putting your mattress under it (on the floor) and using the top platform for storage, with floor to ceiling curtains as a clutter disguise/instant canopy bed. Maybe in the corner diagonally across from the kitchen (lower left on the floorplan)? Then you could devote the entire left-of-the-closet corner to your workspace (with a worktable etc). A two chair seating area with a small coffee or end table could go between the bed and the entry, and for plopping down for a meal, I'd suggest attaching a small piece of plywood (15 x 15"?) to the closet door with a hinge for an eating surface you can flip down and flip back up when needed. You could keep a stool in between the linen closet and the kitchen to sit on.

I don't know your furniture, though-- it's a fun challenge!

I also live in a very small apartment and use a IKEA Sultan Aksdal bed base with 20 cm legs underneath and put a bed skirt over it. It gives me a lot of storage and you don't see a thing. If you have some room around your bed, you can also build a wardrobe around it against the wall.
Personally I'm not a big Expedit fan, because you see them everywhere (not a sound argument, I know...). Maybe you can try something with the Stolmen series from IKEA? I think you can use that as a great room divider.

Good luck!

Hey Dylan,

With such a small space you will have to prioritize. Inferring from what you wrote, it seems that you work quite a bit at your place, and obviously you need a place to sleep. So I would design the place with these two things in mind. Everything else that goes on (dining, entertaining, lounging, etc) will have to be secondary.

Assuming that you have one or more windows on the shorter wall on the left, I would put your work area against that entire wall and in the upper right corner by the closet. A long desk for all the sketching, sewing, storage, etc can go along that wall, and you the dress form could go in the corner. In this corner you could also put some additional shelves for storage, and here I would recommend going vertical -- because this area is slightly hidden from the rest of the place, vertical storage her won't overwhelm the rest of the apt.

On the lower wall, right across the closet entrance, I would place a bed, with its longer side against the lower wall. A smaller bed (like full), on the lower side, with a frame that allows for storage underneath would work best. This bed would additionally serve as a sitting/dining area.

Whatever you end up doing, one thing that you should definitely do is take down the closet door. It takes up too much space, when you have an option of getting some cool fabric and making a "door" to hang from the inside of the door frame. This takes up no space!

Finally, I would say that tall shelves along the outer walls are fine, but I'd argue against tall shelf-type dividers here, as the space is just too small. Smaller IKEA Expedit might be a good thing to utilize here, especially to divide the bed and the front door -- but make sure to put it horizontally.

I hope this helps! Best of luck in deciding what to do,
LT

Hey Dylan, I'm in New York and would love to help!

I absolutely second this recommendation! Beds with storage underneath are so key. The IKEA platform beds tend to be lower to the floor, but without actually being on the floor and allowing for a place to stash clothes, supplies, just about anything. If you don't want to have to buy a whole new bed, IKEA also sells underbed drawers separately. You can unloft your bed and just buy the drawers if that suits you better. I'd also suggest making sure to take full advantage of vertical space in your closet and even in any furniture.

after you're all done. might want to invest some money into full spectrum lights for your work area. best decision i made as an art student.

can you afford to lose the footprint under your bed as storage space? if you got a platform bed with four legs, you'd still be able to store things underneath it. (that's what i have) obviously, your bed needs to go in the upper left corner, closest to the closet. Then everything else can be your live/work space.

One inexpensive way to gain work space is to purchase a hollow core door and attach it to the wall with hinges so it folds flat when not in use. If you can't attach it to the wall, you can make a simple frame that goes against the wall to attach it to. If you use a Japanese style bed (not the same as a futon since it goes on the floor and is surprisingly a lot more comfortable than any futon I've ever tried here), you can roll it under the table when open. When flat against the wall, the table would serve as a headboard for the bed. You can use hardware or "legs" to hold it open either flat or angled, depending on your preference.

what is the room height? try one shelf at the height of a picture rail (a foot from the ceiling). looks better when not on all four walls & in taller rooms. can add nice boxes & books, or towels & extras in the bath. as often posted on a/t, think multi-functional pieces, casters, zones & a/t has a small, cool contest that may inspire.

All of these are good ideas but if you have a bit of a budget, or parents who want to buy you a gift, I've been seeing big deep, flat sofas around that could double as a kind of daybed/twin bed.

examples
CB2 Piazza sofa
CB2 Movie sofa
West Elm Tillary Sofa

I'm sure there are some bargain options out there . . I would just look for something with one big cushion for the seat rather than smaller ones, and if you do use it as a bed, make sure to use sheets.