For the love of studios

I was recently approached by Redfin to add my two cents to an article they were writing for ApartmentGuide (a subsidiary of Redfin.com). The article is about studio apartments - how to arrange furniture to make such a small space work for a person (or a couple). You can read the full article here: An Apartment Dwellers 101 Guide on How to Arrange Furniture in a Studio Space

I agreed and thought about it for a bit. This is something most of us deal with when we first spread our wings, leave the family nest and leap into independence. Like - living on our own, paying our own rent, doing our own laundry, figuring out dinner by ourselves... It's definitely scary and overwhelming, the financial aspect in particular, so most people start small. You're a responsible grownup now - you have to budget, be sensible, and make life manageable. A studio apartment ticks all the boxes.

So here you are, young and broke, with dreams and so much hope for your life, and a pinterest board packed with incredible living spaces that just seem so far from reach, at least for now. You secured your first lease that has your name on it, you've got the keys and it's exciting, but the space is sooooo tiny. Maybe even Manhattan-tiny (the most extreme kind of tiny). How could this tiny box ever feel like home? How could I ever feel cozy here? Yes, yes - you can, and you will, and it'll reflect your personality and your style too. You just have to trust your gut and not be scared of colors & textures or having your bed in your kitchen. Instead, embrace the quirks and have fun. And if you really want to know what I think could help, here are 3 simple rules I would stick to:

1) Say no to artificial separation

Many people try to add separation within a studio apartment, to create an illusion of rooms that aren't really there, which then results in a choppy and cluttered space. I believe in an entirely different approach: making the space work as a whole in a cohesive way.

2) Don't mind the functional overlap

It's ok to have your bed across the room from your kitchen - style the kitchen so it feels like furniture and use smart storage to keep it clutter-free. Working from home? No problem - invest in a desk with storage, so that you can put all your work stuff away when you're done working and use the desk for other things - a pretty plant, a whimsical candle holder, maybe a record player.

3) Don't shy away from color

Stick to a color palette you love and incorporate it throughout the entire apartment (think wall paint, stick & peel wallpaper, upholstered furniture, bedding, curtains, rugs, art). Personally, I'd go as far as color-drenching the apartment because that can make the space appear larger (stay away from accent walls - this creates the opposite effect). If you love color but are afraid to use it on walls, try painting the ceiling instead. Check out some colorful ideas below (I made these with the help of AI).