One Room Living

If you’d rather live on your own than with roommates, you may be looking at studio apartments. One room living isn’t difficult, can be fun and will help you keep your ‘stuff’ level down. Here are some ideas.

Up high and down low are your storage mantras. Hang shelving (gives the illusion of more space than shelves that sit on the floor) and artistically arrange your belongings. These shelves serve as instant decoration too. Under the bed is a great place to store items you’d rather not have out on display, or seasonal things (coats, blankets) that you don’t need to get at regularly.

If you are a home worker, or at least need a work space, plan for it before you move in. Choose your corner and purchase the bare minimum you need to work comfortably and productively. Hang high shelves above your desk, and if you don’t need a ‘permanent’ desk, consider buying a table you can use for dinner parties.

And yes, entertaining can be done in a studio. If you like to have people over, choose all your furnishings with movability in mind. Have plastic stacking chairs (clear ones look good and you can decorate them with fun cushions); small mobile tables for placing food and strategically placed drinks tables. People can move around, mingle and enjoy themselves freely.

If you are on a tight budget, you can make a normal twin bed into a day bed. Simply buy some large cushions in bright colors or with a pretty print and cover the bed with a coordinating spread. You now have a couch by day, and either your bed, or a guest bed, at night.

Consider having a bedroom loft built. If you plan to be in the apartment a while, make it as comfortable as possible. A loft can also be dismantled and moved along with you. With your bed out of the way, you now have extra floor space to create an office, dining area, exercise space, etc.

Create focal points throughout the room. Highlight certain areas by having a unique floor lamp, stellar piece of art or centering furniture. Paint a bookshelf or end table a splashy color. The eye will rove around, identifying different ‘rooms’ and give the illusion of more space. Investing in some nice accessories will make everyday furnishings look more sophisticated.

Mirrors are a studio’s best friend. They reflect light and make the room look larger. Get a large one and put it in an eye-catching frame. Don’t neglect your lighting. It’s important to have a mix of both functional and ambient lighting. No matter what corner of the room you are in, you want the feel to be one of warmth and relaxation.

Final tip: Keep clutter out. Clutter is chaos in a small space (well, any space really!) and you need to keep on top of the stuff so the stuff doesn’t take over. Living small is cozy, comfortable, budget-friendly, simple and fun. What more can you want from your home?