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7 Ways to Style a Studio Apartment
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  1. Sunset
  2. Home & Garden

7 Ways to Style a Studio Apartment

It won’t feel like one room with these clever arranging tricks

Nena Farrell
Thomas J. Story, styling by Miranda Jones
1 of 22 Thomas J. Story, styling by Miranda Jones

One Room, Infinite Options

Scoring your first studio apartment might seem like a styling challenge, whether you’re a student sharing the space or a young professional living solo in the city. But the right styling tricks can expand a singular space, and we’ve rounded up some of our favorite ways to make your next studio apartment feel huge.

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Thomas J. Story, styling by Miranda Jones
2 of 22 Thomas J. Story, styling by Miranda Jones

Furniture That Divides and Conquers

Create the illusion of multiple rooms with a few well-placed pieces of furniture. Use a couch to divide your living space and “bedroom,” or use a large bookcase to mimic a wall.

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West Elm
3 of 22 West Elm

A Modern Couch

A low couch keeps the room feeling open while dividing up the space effectively.

  • West Elm Finn Sofa; $999
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Ikea
4 of 22 Ikea

A Bookshelf Wall

Looking for more privacy or storage space? Use a modular bookshelf to create a wall with plenty of storage opportunities.

  • IKEA KALLAX Bookshelf; $109
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Thomas J. Story
5 of 22 Thomas J. Story

Bed by Night, Sofa by Day

Skip the bedroom altogether by hiding it inside the living room. Play around with couch options, from a styled daybed to a hidden sofa-bed, or even a futon that can convert from bed to seating.

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Cost Plus World Market
6 of 22 Cost Plus World Market

Daybed

Add a row of pillows for this daybed to act as a sofa for company, and remove them to swap it into sleeping quarters.

  • Cost Plus World Market Indonesian Daybed Frame; $399.99
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Courtesy of West Elm
7 of 22 Courtesy of West Elm

Hidden Bed

No one would guess the bed is hiding within a modern couch like this one.

  • West Elm Bliss Queen Sleeper Sofa; from $2,099
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Thomas J. Story
8 of 22 Thomas J. Story

Go Small on the Coffee Table

A bulky coffee table can eat up valuable real estate in a small studio. Opt for a small one, or even a combo of two side tables or two ottomans instead, to keep the area feeling open.

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Amazon
9 of 22 Amazon

Slim Tabletop

This narrow choice won’t hold up the flow of the studio.

  • Zinus Modern Studio Coffee Table; $45.99
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Amazon
10 of 22 Amazon

Ottomans

One (or more!) of these cubes can go beyond a coffee table proxy—they can act as extra seating, footrests, or hidden storage, and still balance a coffee cup.

  • DHP Emily Square Storage Ottoman; $59
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Thomas J. Story
11 of 22 Thomas J. Story

Layered Rugs

No room for the furniture divider trick? Try using a few rugs to separate spaces in a studio, like living room from bedroom, dining area from kitchen, etc.

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Urban Outfitters
12 of 22 Urban Outfitters

Plush Rug

This modern take on the Moroccan shag rug can add a cozy touch to a living space or bed nook.

  • Urban Outfitters Felize Tassel Shag Rug; from $199
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West Elm
13 of 22 West Elm

Jute Rug

The durable natural material makes for a good choice for high-traffic areas, like an entryway or kitchen.

  • West Elm Jute Boucle Rug; from $79
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Thomas J. Story
14 of 22 Thomas J. Story

Wheeling Cart

The uses are endless for this super versatile, yet small, piece. Transform it into a coffee cart in the kitchen, a bar cart in the living room, or even a shoe organizer or office supply cart to keep clutter at bay.

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Ikea
15 of 22 Ikea

Utility Cart

This IKEA classic has a range of colors to choose from, and a price point that tempts us to buy more than one.

  • IKEA RASKOG Utility Cart; $24.99
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Cost Plus World Market
16 of 22 Cost Plus World Market

Rolling Cart

This minimal cart is a perfect choice for adding storage to spots like the bathroom or office.

  • Cost Plus World Market White Metal Ginger Rolling Cart; $79.99
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Thomas J. Story
17 of 22 Thomas J. Story

Neutral Palette with a Pop

When a space is already small, sticking with neutral tones makes it feel bigger. Add one piece of statement art you really love (like this woven piece from Meghan Shimek) to keep it from getting boring—plus, in a studio space, one big piece of artwork is all you’ll likely have room for!

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Urban Outfitters
18 of 22 Urban Outfitters

Neutral Sofa

This sofa is easy on the eyes and fitting for any cozy space.

  • Urban Outfitters Fletch Sectional Couch; $1,598
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Urban Outfitters
19 of 22 Urban Outfitters

Colorful Print

A blown-up shot of swimmers in Hawaii is a beautiful pastel take on centerpiece art for a studio.

  • Urban Outfitters Max Wanger Waikiki #4 Art Print; from $19
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Thomas J Story
20 of 22 Thomas J Story

Small, Yet Mighty, Kitchen Gadgets

With limited counter space in a studio, there’s no room for bulky tabletop appliances. Instead, focus on one or two small gadgets that you’ll get a lot of use out of in daily meals.

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Amazon
21 of 22 Amazon

A Small Blender

Love smoothies? This mini blender is a tiny yet powerful blender that can be used not only for your morning breakfast, but for cooking hacks like chopping veggies, pureeing a sauce, etc.

  • Magic Bullet Mini; $29.99
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Amazon
22 of 22 Amazon

Multi-Functional Cooker

  • Instant Pot 7-in-1; $99

What can’t a combo pressure- and slow-cooker make? Create a huge roster of meals with this 7-in-1 device.

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