Yikes, that's a toughie. I think you have very few options, but I would *definitely* consider lofting your bed. Also, I would think about a twin/full, unless you really need a queen.

Yeah, I definitely agree with threeacres; a loft, maybe this one from ikea (as it will better be able to hold an adult sized person or two) would be good.

If you want to live like an adult and have a full or queen size bed, there's always the option of piling it up with pillows, centering it long-wise one that one back wall, and kind of making it into a lounge-y sofa thing. If that's your style. Otherwise, I think the bed get centered in front of the window in that layout. That's going to leave you a space about 8 x 10 on the kitchen side for a living space. You can definite do something with a couple of low, comfy club chairs and a coffee table that can double as both a hanging-out spot and an eating area.

You're going to need a lot of storage pieces, because it looks like your closet space is scant. Good luck.

Hi Andrea,

Congrats on having a place on your own!
Hm, I am scratching behind my ears as well; but I think threeacres's suggestion of lofting the bed is a great one (I haven't thought of it myself) depending on the height of your ceiling.

What I was going to suggest, especially since you will be buying the furniture, how about one of those sofa-by-day/bed-by-night pieces?
I don't really suggest a pullout as those are not that good as permanent sleeping solutions (but I am not that familiar with what's available these days, perhaps things have improved greatly since I had one).
There are some sofas that allow a simple change reconfiguration to quickly transform into a bed - go out to stores, talk to the sales people and find out what's available. I think it would be the best solution for your little space.
You can hide the bedding in some storage unit that flanks the sofa or in some big trunk/coffee table.
Good luck and please post an update!

I would put it close to the cabinet area. Most probably on the opposite wall of the bathroom, so you have all your clothes close. Find something to hide the area so you don't see it when you enter the house and use the rest as living room.

Hello Andrea,

I'd probably explore the possibility of a sofa bed. A loft bed is a great idea, yet in a small place it can take a lot of light away and give a crowded feeling to room. Also the ceiling height should be more than 9 feet in order to feel comfortable up there.

I'd recommend a sofa bed as this here http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S59874504/ from IKEA. It's great for sitting and sleeping, it's easy to change from a bed to a sofa, it's design is airy so it won't look overwhelming in your new place and you can add a little "lack" which serves as a couch table during the day and a bed side table during the night.

Good luck to you and congratulations to your new place! I'd love to see some before and after pics!

Or you can skip de bed... I have an Ikea Ps sofa-bed in my tiny cabin, wtih the high-end latex matress, and it's as comfortable as any stand king sice bed.
It's not as god as a coach, but it allows you to have an spacious living room AND a bed. The only problem is that you have to fold it up every morning.

what about a Murphy bed? Don't know if they are too expensive, but that would leave you more space and a sense of airiness during the day. Congrats on the new flat!

First Congrats!! how do you plan to use the cabinets? I say you place your bed against that wall next to them so that your feet will be toward the bathroombut give yourself enough room to walk or open the cabinet doors or remove the doors all together, same for the closet. Then use something to seperate the space from bedroom and living. and put the tv along that wall. So that you can put a small love seat or something along the side the kitchen is on, facing the wall your bed and tv will be on. Then find a table that can double as your desk and dining table and place it in front of your window.
But I guess everything depends on the size bed you get. I say you go and measure the bed you want and then tape of that area in your apartment, giving yourself room to walk around it and open what you need and work from there. Just remember what ever you buy it always has more then one purpose.

When I saw your post, this House Beautiful spread of designer Ellen O'Neill's NYC studio immediately came to mind. It took me a month to really digest the layout of this space, but I think it's brilliant! Hope it helps you: http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/studio-apartment-decorating-ideas-0710

Congratulations on your first apartment!

If you are comfortable with a twin bed, how about putting the bed in the closet, here's an example:
http://freshome.com/2011/10/11/cozy-one-room-apartment-with-paned-windows-and-parquet-floors/
I think there was a beautiful example on apartmentherapy a while ago, too.

You can have shelves above for books and drawers below for sweaters, etc.

For your hanging clothes, you could use a wardrobe at the entrance, with the doors facing the living space, put hooks on the back of the wardrobe for coats and purses, maybe even attach shelves to the back for hats and for shoes.

if it was my place, i would put the bed in the closet against the wall with the head of the bed next to the cabinets. I'd add either an open bookshelf or wardrobe as a sort of privacy wall between the bed and the rest of the living room. the ikea shelves that use floor-to-ceiling support posts would be perfect. then you end up with sort of zones - lower left is sleeping, lower right is bath, between that is a dressing area and your storage. this concept really depends on how much stuff you have though! go for some under bed storage so you don't entirely loose the closet!

I would consider taking over the closet space as well. A variant of Young House Love's master bedroom might be usable. http://www.younghouselove.com/2008/02/over-our-heads/
Second choice would probably be a sleeper sofa. Though I also think that 4-post beds can serve well to create an instant bedroom within a studio with the addition of a few light curtains. Ikea has one that is decently priced.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49861540/

congrats on your first place andrea!

i agree with threeacres and would consider lofting your bed if your ceiling is high enough(loft beds needn't be for kids anymore! they can be cool, cozy, and dare i say grown-up??) i came across this article a couple years ago of this super cute tiny studio with a custom-built loft bed and i loved it so much that i made the image my desktop wallpaper for the longest time: http://decor8blog.com/2009/02/04/meet-interior-designer-robin-sillau/

i love how she turned the space under her bed into a "walk-in closet", while still having space for a proper desk & chair. i think it's important not to forget about "vertical spaces" when working with a small space.

good luck!

I would do a Sofa Bed. Put it on the wall opposite the kitchen/bath and then put a storage ottoman on wheels in front of it. You can roll it out of the way when the bed is open, use it for storage of your comforter & sheets, you can put a tray on top when you want to use it as a coffee table and you can use it as extra seating when you have friends over!
American Leather, though slightly expensive, makes the most comfortable mattress, its a high density foam! Beleive it or not, you dont feel the metal bars underneath you! ....and they are 100% made in america!

How about a day bed, centered on your one long wall? Put the TV on the small wall opposite, and add one or two small chairs for company. Maybe use an end table at either end of the bed as a nightstand--you might not have room for a coffee table.

Then put a small table and chairs by the window for meals.

Or, put the small table and chairs across from the day bed and create a small reading nook with a comfy chair and small end table and floor lamp over by the window, to take advantage of the light.

I really like this westelm daybed. "http://www.westelm.com/products/window-daybed-g093/?pkey=cdaybeds-futons-sleepers"
It would be so cute in white with a bunch of pillows. Put a coffe table in front and a tiny little cafe table and two chairs by the kitchen. The obvious downside is not getting much action in a twin bed, but it would look the best so oh well.

i second xarcady's suggestions. daybed stacked high with pillows, small table with 2 chairs between the stove and the doors, 2 comfy chairs, maybe a thin low chest for storage can double as storage and a coffee table. make the space as 'you' as possible, before you share your space again with a roomie or partner.

I am unsure if there are doors on the marked closet space by the tub or not, but if there not, I would center the bed up to the threshold and hand curtains/large headboard behind it, then place a cradenza at the foot of the bed to mark the "bedroom" space from the "living space" sort of like this: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/good-questions/good-questions-open-closet-headboard-010684

am i the only person that thinks a studio is best for just basic function? meaning... everyone wants to "SQUEEZE" entertaining in this studio.

and that is not the point of a studio apartment. this is one reason it is so difficult. i recommend having a full bed. and making the sheets very nice and making your bed every morning. that way your studio is always inviting.

of course this is hard to plan without knowing your priorities. never remove storage from a studio. it will be your undoing...

daybed or sofabed: make your choice. if a sofabed, that will limit your bedding which will suit your space and make life easier.

if a daybed, you can either get a literal twin-size daybed, or get a full-size bed (no head or footboard) to turn sideways on the longwall and use a three euro size pillows to make it couch-like during the day.

if you get a dresser, make it low-slung to fit under the hanging clothes in the closet.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63122153@N00/2434972707/in/set-72157623185972361

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63122153@N00/1881016685/in/set-72157623185972361

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63122153@N00/3689487966/in/set-72157623185972361

I would choose something like the West elm daybed, place a nightstand beside, a rug, coffeetable and armchair in front of it- instand seating area. I have a similar layout in my room (I live in a flatshare without a living room, so my bedroom is also my living and studying room), just that I use an ordinary twin bed since in Switzerland daybeds are not very common.

Hi Andrea,
Definitely go in for a day bed with lots of cushions.

As far as the placement goes, I'd place it facing the closet with a sofa table behind it.
This way you have a place to put down yourr keys etc when you walk in. It could also be a couple of shoe cabinets instead of a sofa table. If you sandwich a fold-able screen between the table/cabinet and the daybed you would create a foyer like space.Depending on the space you can go for one or more arm chairs. A fold-able table near the stove will add counter space, a dining nook and a work space all in one.
As for furniture

Go in for a ornate looking daybed I love this one from westelm http://www.westelm.com/products/window-daybed-g093/?pkey=e|daybed|4|best|0|1|24||1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-

For armchairs these are some cute options http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80100878/ or http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60103180/

The foldable Table could be http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10125113/

Shoe cabinets
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00148563/

For more idea on room dividers
http://www.designsponge.com/2007/12/room-divider-roundup.html

Add lots of color and fabrics really soften the space.

Do put up some after pictures
All the best

Try two twins stacked on top of each other. Upholster them in the same fabric. Use as daybed or twin but if you have company one can slide out alongside the other. Make sure you have handles sewn and attached to the sides for easy moving. Also DO NOT choose a loft bed. They are juvenile or sophomoric at best.

I lived in a place almost this small once. I had a queen bed and it took up the whole living space. If you plan on spending any time there besides sleeping, I recommend setting up an option for sitting and reading/watching/working. There is something depressing about waking up and staying in bed all day. Having to put sheets on your bed every day is a drag and murphy beds are expensive. If I had it to do over, I would probably loft the bed against the long wall and put a desk/entertainment center under (I would buy a large monitor for my computer as well and forget the TV, thank you HuluPlus). Then put some seating in front of the kitchen area.

If you removed the door to the little closet(?) and put a curtain over it instead, you could then get a full bed with the head placed on the left hand wall so the bedroom and bathroom feel like one, more private section, and the rest of the apartment feels more open and public. This post shows a great example of how to hide a bed in plain sight - behind some low bookshelves.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/house-tours/ny-house-tour-dante-makes-it-happen-012629

i have to stress that you do not have room for a lot of pillows. you have to think about where they'll go when you take them off to sleep at night. that's why three euros (26") that can be stacked beside the bed each night is better. a bunch of throws take up a bunch of space and energy to move.

this space demands simplicity. (a loft bed would be too simple and make the space feel cramped. the space above the floor matters as much as the floor.)

i can't really tell what's going on with that "floating" wall in the kitchen. i would say to put your bed against that wall (the "separating" wall between the kitchen/bathroom and the rest of the space) and then putting a small couch directly in front of it, toward the front door with the back of the couch up against the bed. that way you've separated the space into living and sleeping.

My 1st apartment was a studio. I had a sofa bed but after a while I just got too lazy to convert it back and forth so I just left it open as a bed at all times. I was able to create a loft look overall. I integrated the bed within my decor. I bought sheets/comforter that blended into my color palette. I didn't have a lot of furniture but every inch of space was used to the max. I had an Ikea PS cabinet which I made into the focal point, I installed a couple of shelves on top and painted the wall behind. I had a small dining table with a leaf if needed. I had 2 dining chairs. I had a comfy reading chair, a TV on a cabinet that I could roll around to face the bed or the reading chair, a small computer desk and chair, a few lights, and one side table next to my bed. And that was it. A studio apartment is great fun.It's very intimate and everything's at an arm's reach. LOL I remember how much I laughed when one night I was able to reach into my kitchen sink and put away a dish without even having to get up from sitting on my bed. Enjoy your new place!!

Here's an example of how you could layout your new studio appartment. I've used all IKEA furnature just because I had dimensions to work with off the website (all the prices are in Canadian). This gives you a seperate sleeping/living area with lots of storage. You don't have to get everything but I think I maximized the space. Hope this helps a little bit!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stream13/6238050450/in/photostream

Coming from someone who lives in a very similarly-sized studio with a similar floorplan, my best advice is similar to blackink's...don't try to make it more than what it is. I say put the bed in the most comfortable spot for the way you personally live (looks like the long wall opposite the bathroom/kitchen, perhaps as a daybed?). If there's room to add a chair or settee by the cabinet wall, great! If not, when people visit they'll just understand that it's a small space and they'll make do.

Here's my place if you're still looking for ideas: http://imgladiexist.blogspot.com/2011/08/updates-on-my-studio.html

I know these are often stylistically tacky, but you can get bunk beds with a futon on the bottom and a twin on the top. This one is not super cute, but that's the idea.

The poster above is right that you probably won't do a TON of entertaining in your studio, but make sure there is somewhere for guests to sit. I had a friend once who lived in a studio and was always inviting me over, but I was very uncomfortable because she only had a futon and she never had it made into a couch - it was always in bed mode, and then she had one very tiny chair (she was skinny - I am not). So - nowhere to sit but the "bed" and that was uncomfortable to me.

Oh, BTW. I don't think lofts are juvenile. They can be, but I've seen all kinds of posts where people in NYC with tiny apartments have some kind of sleeping loft. It's all about making your space work for you.

I'm not sure what your budget is, but I think this PBTeen loft/desk is super cool - despite the fact that it's for "teens" I would put it in a guest room if I had one, and when I was a teen, big hair and tight jeans were in style (the first time, ha). It's spendy, though maybe you could find something on Craigslist.

I would recommend a murphy type bed that offers a table http://www.aaacommercialproducts.com/murphybeds.html#anchor02 or a seating area http://www.bedroomsdesign.net/sofa/the-history-of-the-type-of-murphy-bed