How to Decorate a Studio Apartment: 6 Home Decor Tips for Studios

It can be tricky to decorate a smaller space, but some perks come with it, too. With less room to deal with, you can come up with a more focused approach for your apartment. You can create an Instagrammable apartment interior no matter what your apartment size. Use these tips for how to decorate a studio apartment and wow guests with what you’ve done with the place.

Take Care of the Clutter

Organization is your friend when it comes to maximizing space in a studio apartment and studio apartment decorating ideas. It may not feel like a design tip, but keeping things tidy and out of sight when they need to be can add space you didn’t know you had in a studio.

Think about creative storage solutions and furniture pieces that do double-duty. That can be a funky ottoman in your color scheme that also doubles as blanket storage or a big, a comfortable bed with drawers underneath for clothing items that don’t need hanging. Consider fold-out desks if you work from home. An added bonus is that you can fold your desk away once your work is done to add some separation to your day, too.

Don’t forget about corners, either. Use those empty areas, not for added clutter, but additional storage solutions, even seating, for the guests you’ll have over to show off your new space. 

Go Functional With Your Decor

Show off your personality with decor that’s both interesting and functional. That can be custom shelving that works with the space you have and the items you have to display or closet space that is all your own. 

We don’t mean construct a walk-in closet if you’re lacking the space in a small studio apartment. Use the space you have to get creative with how you store your clothing. Invest in closet organizers that will make you feel good about hanging and folding items out in the open, or use open wall space for additional storage shelving for things you don’t mind being out on display.

Speaking of wall space, if you have a bike that you don’t want to store on a rack out of sight, consider turning it into a statement piece with some wall hooks. Just make sure any nails you’re adding as part of your redecorating are allowed as part of your lease.

Make a Statement

Decorating a smaller space doesn’t have to be about getting rid of larger items you love. That’s especially true for artwork that can be hung on a wall and take up little space overall. 

A big, colorful art print can really tie a room or theme together, and if you don’t overdo it, you won’t need to worry about overwhelming the space. Choose one piece and hang it in a place of prominence, whether that’s above your bed, in place of a headboard or in a living space that is more visible to guests. 

If you’re sticking to one color throughout your small space but want something bright to draw everything together, think about a vibrant rug in your main living area. Rugs can also be an excellent way to add some separation from room to room. That old adage of large pieces making rooms feel smaller just isn’t true, especially if they’re a rug that isn’t taking up any room otherwise.

Create Separation

It can be difficult to differentiate between where you sleep and where you spend time doing everything else in a studio apartment. Decorating ideas for a small apartment are all about using that open concept in any way you choose by creating separation where it makes sense to do so.

Go vintage with a folding screen that can act as a room divider or privacy around a dressing area. Curtains or a large bookcase can also give you privacy and separation between a bedroom and your living room. Consider a glass partition if you’re not so worried about the privacy aspects but still want clear separation. You won’t sacrifice any light that way, either. 

Let There Be Light

Keep things as bright and airy by having an open sightline from the windows through the rest of your studio. If you’re lacking in the natural light department, add lamps and fixtures that will brighten up your space. Hanging mirrors is also a decorating trick that can make a space feel larger. A bright space is a more welcoming space and a place you’ll be happy to return to at the end of the day.

Personalize Your Space

Once you’ve gone bold with a statement piece or two, sticking to one overall theme will keep things coherent in your studio apartment. A minimalist theme may be easiest if you’re dealing with less space, but choosing a color scheme to weave throughout your apartment can also be fun. Studies show that lighter colors make rooms feel larger, so keep that in mind as you’re browsing those color wheels.

Once the decor is where you want it to be, think about those items that will make your space feel more like home. These are those personal items that don’t just speak to your aesthetic but speak to who you are.

Perhaps it’s a coffee table book that has moved with you from place to place or something sentimental from your favorite relative. Just because you’re working with a smaller space doesn’t mean your studio has to feel sterile. It should feel like you.

Rent the Best Studio Apartments in San Diego

Living in a studio apartment doesn’t have to feel like anything less than luxury. The studio apartments at Allegro Towers are spacious and more about maximizing an open-concept plan than about doing more with less. Our apartments also come with balconies and the high-level amenities found in all of our other floor plans.
Visit our apartments in Little Italy to see why so many consider the Allegro Towers the best studio apartments in San Diego.