In a crowded world where human beings continue to wander and multiply, the availability of habitable space is a constant challenge. One of the solutions to alleviate this problem is the introduction of studio apartments. In essence, studio apartments are single-room dwellings that feature all important areas in a typical house such as the kitchen, bedroom, and living area. Hence, everything is contained in one room with the exception of shower and toilet.

Hence, it is now up to the owner or landlord of the studio apartment to decide how to allocate each space of the unit. If you are in this dilemma, then you know it is not easy to subdivide a single room into different areas, especially when the entire space is quite small. If you have a substantial number of furniture and home essentials, then it is a bigger challenge to fit all of your belongings in a miniscule area. So, what home layouts work best for this kind of space? Here are some tips on how to design your studio apartment.

Know your colours

Selecting the right colours for your apartment is a superb way of lighting up your space and making it roomier and homier. For a studio unit, it is really important to choose colour schemes that will make it look airy and spacious, instead of busy and messy.

The best design principle to follow is the 60-30-10 colour rule. In this scheme, one colour takes 60% of the total area. You may choose a colour with different tones and shades, such as different whites, in order to create depth and drama in the space. Another colour should be at 30%, and the last one at 10%. For small areas, it is highly recommended to choose a neutral colour for the dominating 60% so your space will open up as much as possible. For the 30%, opt for a semi-soft colour that completely complements your neutral. Have fun with the remaining 10% and splash some bold colour as your accent colour.

Make sure you spread you colour scheme across the entire apartment rather than creating different styles in separate areas. This is actually what you need to avoid. By incorporating the colours across the space, your overall design will feel more cohesive, easy, and very pleasing to the eyes.

Divide creatively

Your studio apartment needs to be divided in order to identify the kitchen from the bed, and from the living area. That being said, it is important to choose dividers that truly work for your space. Using too many dividers will create too many edges and your apartment will look really crowded and squeezy. Using the wrong type and you will not achieve a great sense of balance and harmony in your space. The basic idea is to divide the apartment without segregating each part. Hence, before you begin shopping for dividers, think of where you will use them and now.

Classical dividers are best to use around the bed area where you need a little more privacy. Choose dividers that allow more natural light to shine through in order to avoid completely cutting the area from the rest of the space. You can also opt for open shelving which is also an excellent storage option for you. Just make sure the lower shelves are properly filled so guests will not be exposed to what you want out of sight.

For the rest of the apartment, think of other creative alternatives for typical dividers. You can have a sofa that will separate the living room, or a tall cabinet for your kitchen. Decorative items like large vases or personal valuables like a small piano will also be excellent dividers.

Create height

A clever way of making your apartment look higher is by creating visual heights. In this way, you draw eyes upward, making people look up and down and around the room. This creates a sense of space and depth for the guests. To make this happen, make use of anything that makes people look up such as a vertical shelving, a large work of art, a vertical mirror, or even a signature lighting fixture. Besides, these pieces will also make people gape in wonder and admiration of your space.

Do not forget functions

Just because it is a studio apartment, it does not mean it is fine to disregard functions. No, do not simply settle for a unified design and then assume a utilitarian or multi-functional space. Give your apartment due attention and clearly define each functional area. Make each section feel like a room even when there are no walls that separate them.

Designing a studio apartment is truly challenging. Over-design and you will cram the area. Under-design and you will waste valuable space. Hence, a proper balance of creativity, wit, and practicality can transform your small studio apartment into an elegant and comfortable haven.