Could you give a description of the floorplan? Is it shaped like an L?

Please describe floorplan and tell us how much vertical space we're looking at.

My first thought is you need a murphy bed on the wall just past the fridge and a dining table on wheels to go there when in use.

Then you need to group your living furniture around the window and work in a bank of floating cabinets, credenza-style for extra storage. That and the murphy bed are in my top five small space favorites at the moment.

If you could mock up a floorplan in MS publisher or MS paint you can save it as an image and post the "picture".

It’s hard to tell from the picture but it looks like a queen bed would take up most of the living space. You might want to consider a double bed; still plenty of room for two people but takes up less space. Also, I know they are a little cheesy but a loft bed would keep the floor space open for a living room area.

A studio can definitely work for two. I've done it. But it's tricky. Here are my survival tips:

1. Invest in a good armoire. It's as useful as a closet, and you can take it with you when you move.

2. Get a bed that you can store stuff underneath. It doesn't have to be a fancy bed with drawers -- sliding plastic bins work fine. But avoid space-wasting platform beds or modernist beds that only look good if there's no bedskirt and nothing underneath.

3. Buy headphones for all your TV, computer, and music needs. Otherwise, you'll fight all the time ("Turn that down!" "I never get to watch anything that I want!")

4. Make the bathroom as luxurious as you can. The bathtub is the only real getaway when you need some private space.

5. Purge all your unnecessary belongings before you move in. I strongly recommend making a list together of what you'll need in the new space, rather than just opening all your boxes and saying "Okay, where does this go?" By making a list together, you're agreeing on what you'll move in with. If necessary, get a storage unit for all the items not on your list; you can always bring them into the house if you find you need them. After six months, it will be less of an emotionally charged issue to toss things you don't really need.

6. Talk about decor in advance, so your apartment doesn't turn into a mishmash of badly coordinating impulse purchases.

Here's a link of the floorplan:
http://flickr.com/photos/26292936@N02/2534718044/

It's about 477 square feet.

Thanks

With that floorplan, you might want to go for a luxe hotel suite look if you're determined to have a queen size bed. A room service trolley with wheels would work fine for most dining needs. And it's sorta fun.

I have some friends who have been living in a studio with a loft bed for about 15 years, and are still happily married (but childless). It can be done, but it tests your tolerance and flexibility.

I agree, if you can purge your stuff before you move it will save you much unnecessary work. And then keep purging -- stuff just seems to accrete.

Darlings, didn't you see the Small Cool contest? Ideas abound!

I shared a similar sized studio for 4-5 months (with huge vaulted ceilings), and we found that a loft bed with desk or living space underneath was fabulous.

It allowed us to share a full sized bed, and to maximize the floor plan. And the bed was a little separated too from the other room "uses".

A futon was good too.

Oh yeah, our major sacrifice was to eat off the coffee table all the time.

I'm not such a big fan of loft beds but I like a lot of these other ideas--especially this luxe hotel notion! I'm really looking forward to this move now.

I have a similar situation and would recommend putting up curtains around the bed and having the bed on the opposite wall from the large living room window (you don't want to block this at all or you'll feel like you're in a cave). The curtains, I like the look of sheer, will allow you to close off the bed from the rest of the apartment so you don't feel like your living room is your bedroom and you can have a little alone time without having to stare at the bathroom fixtures. I used one of the ikea wire curtain systems and installed it into the ceiling instead of the wall.

I live in a similarly sized studio with my husband. The key to living comfortably, we've found, is furniture that can be made larger/smaller or provide multiple uses, based on our needs. The murphy bed is key (although I'd recommend finding one where you can hide storage above it) and makes the apartment feel really open and roomy. We also have a fold-out dining table that can seat 2 or 6, depending on the occasion. Our ottoman can be pushed flush with the wall to doubles as a bench for extra seating when we have guests. Be careful not to buy too much furniture or furniture that is too big and overpowers the space. Good luck. Looks like a great apartment!

for beds, there are the ones that lift up and open up so that you can store things under your mattress . either way, storage under the bed that is easily accessible will go a long way to help.

so my next tip would be to get the widest counter height table that will run parallel with your kitchen and not interfere with all the doors. it'll add extra counter and storage space for kitchen things plus a place to sit and eat.

if that space is too tight and you're in need more of an office or just a place to eat, i really love these occassional tables from ikea http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/10120587
i have one that i roll over my bed for breakfast in the early morn or late night work but it's actually proper table height and when you pull up a few chairs it makes for some cozy side-by-side dining. if you get two you can sit across from each other! when not in use, their slim profile makes it easy to just push them up against the wall or leave them at the foot of your bed.

so after considering the whole luxe hotel idea and your floorplan. i'd lay it out with your queen sized bed with the head along the "west" wall, but slightly off centered from the wall because of a credenza/cabinetry running the full length of the "north" wall by the entrance to hold clothing extras. above the cabinetry right beside the door is where i would put a flat panel/other television/laptop with all the paraphenalia (printer/dvd/etc) in the cabinets below. next are two sitting chairs at the foot of the bed and a small couch along the "south" wall with a coffee table taking up the space in the centre. narrow counter in the kitchen with a couple of stools that can stack (ie get put away as needed) and floating shelves all along the walls as you see fit.

i actually live in approximately the same amount of space but i do have a sectioned off bedroom and have managed to create a living space while having a dining area that will seat 8 people spaciously. it took some serious customization in furniture mind you and a well thought out plan!

The issue isn't the size of the apartment - it is how much of it is taken up by the kitchen.

I'd put a Murphy bed on the wall between the window and the kitchen. That way, you won't have to move furniture when you open it and, when it is closed, you have a full sized living room. Or buy one of those futon/sofa things, with as good a futon as you can afford - you're young. Your back will take it :-)

I'd get a multi-function coffee table that either converts from low to dining table height or does this http://www.boconcept.us/default.aspx?id=75253&ImageID=45

I think some type of counter or desk height rolling storage units in the kitchen are a must - you can push them in front of the closet when you have guests or have a dining table top hung up by the ceiling that you lower on to them with ropes. There is a LOT of wasted space in that corridor but you can't block it with anything permanent because of the bathroom.

I live near DC and if you're really concerned about space, I would suggest looking at apartments near the Van Ness Metro stop where you might get more square footage for the same amount of money. It is not a "hot" neighborhood like U Street, Dupont, Adams-Morgan, or Cleveland Park, but is right on the red line nearby.

My husband and I started our married lives in a 550 sq. ft. space, and looking back, I wish we had had more space. Someone suggested an armoire, and I second that because it really stored a lot of stuff and we still have it.

If you must live in that apt., I agree that lofting the bed, or partitioning the bed away from the other parts of the room will be important. IKEA has panel curtains (ANNO) that can be used to mark out closets or rooms. Storing your items in monochromatic boxes will also create a more calming environment. You can combine partitioning and storage with something like the IKEA Besta or Stiby. (These are new items that I have never tried.)

Finally, I would hang a big mirror over your living room sofa so it gives you the illusion of space.

Thanks for all the help. These are great ideas.

My husband and I live in half the space you are going to live in. Besides pairing down possessions (though we still have things we should rid ourselves of, I can't get my husband to cooperate), the main way we cope is by going vertical and staying away from fussy single-purpose furnishings.

I don't store clothes in a dresser or have an armoire. I store them in tall vertical cabinets with doors. Half of the space has clothes and the other half other items. I find that stacking clothes in these shelves is faster and easier than putting them in drawers anyway.

I don't have a good picture of the full cabinets, but here they are empty when I did some changing around of furniture in my place while ago:

http://myso-calledjapaneselife.blogspot.com/2007/07/big-swap-part-1.html

I'm sure you can find something more modern and appealing nowadays (mine are about 16 years old).

In your case, I'd also find a way to separate a bedroom space from the living space with a screen or curtain or whatnot.

Well, I think that a slight change from thinking how "I" can make it livable to how "we" can make it livable would be a very productive shift in thinking about the project. Seriously, unless your Sweetie just loves everything you do and isn't interested in that stuff himself, you'd be asking him to live with all your decisions and like them to boot! Just a thought-----

Well quite honestly he isn't interested--his only request is the larger bed. He'll definitely be helping, though.
I agree we should go vertical--there are high ceilings and it seems to be the most effective way to store things. We signed the lease so I'm pretty excited to start!

I also live close to DC, and I think this is a personality question more than a decorating question (though loving the ideas for my small apt.). Thoughts to consider: Have you and your fiancé lived together before? How long do you expect to live here? Do you go out more, or do you like to entertain? Is this a purchase or rental? What are your schedules like?
It is a wonderful thing to live small, but I don't consider a studio livable for two--when there are other options.
There have got to be larger apartments in the same price range in that area, though they may be older and without the amenities and new appliances. Just wanted to throw that contrary idea out there. Think hard!
An issue of Domino featured the Manhattan studio of Rashida Jones (from The Office)--check that out:
www.dominomag.com/galleries/2008/04/rashida_jones

Well please disregard my nay-saying since you have signed the lease! I hope the photo gallery link is helpful and that you'll post your results when you are all settled in.
Best wishes
A great closet system is called for. Thanks goodness for Ikea.

I would not recommend a loft bed. They're not very romantic, take it from me.

I am very pleased with my Murphy Bed, which is a double. It's sturdy (ahem) and folds completely out of site. Its only 15 inches deep, as well.

Check out pics:

http://www.dcrinteriors.com

Hi Colleen,

I live in a 340 square foot studio in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington DC.

I have a loft bed from Ikea, it is a very old model called Stora. It has a desk & bookcases underneath. The bed has actually been the best purchase I ever got from Ikea. I bought the curtain system from Ikea as well and hung up some curtains I bought from West Elm around the bed to divide it from the rest of the room and hide clutter.

I have been searching for a new loft bed or a murphy bed and came up with this place. There is a location in DuPont Circle. http://www.zfurniture.com/ There is a model from their site that looks pretty functional. http://www.zfurniture.com/diallofusi.html

Some other tips:
I have a ladder since my ceilings are 12 ft. high. I store non-essential things above my kitchen cabinets. I got my ladder at the Container Store and it is very sturdy and lightweight.
http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?searchId=14566554&itemIndex=2&CATID=64240&PRODID=10017516

I also have magnetic bulletin boards and hooks everywhere. Hooks hold the ladder up agains the wall and hold jackets. Magnetic hooks hold pot holders and other sundries to the side of the fridge.

The first thing I did in my condo was to tear out the closet system that was in there. It was a paltry single shelf and closet rod in the middle of the closet. I replaced it with 2 Elfa shelves, a hanging rod and a rolling Elfa storage cart. I also did the same for my laundry closet. You can't afford any wasted space in your closets. You can also do hooks in the sides of your closet or buy one of the metal grid systems from the Container Store to hold laundry supplies, tools or accessories. http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?searchId=14566564&itemIndex=1&CATID=74107&PRODID=60329 or http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?searchId=14566565&itemIndex=2&CATID=74107&PRODID=60333.

Go vertical as much as you can and keep a minimum of things on your floor.

Get rid of as much stuff as you can. Since you are a homeowner now, you should note everything you get rid of and take it to Goodwill. Claim these donations and you should see a reduction in your taxes at the end of the year.

2 qualities to look for in things that you own and buy: customizable to your own individual use and multifunctional.

You can also get a lot of good ideas by doing the following: Subscribe to the magazine Real Simple, they always have good organizing tips. Check out Tiny Living's online store at http://www.tinyliving.com/store/. Always check www.apartmenttherapy.com - I keep begging for a DC chapter. Hint hint. Get some books on living in small spaces. Ikea has good furnishings and so does West Elm.

Good luck!

Michelle