12 Ways to Create a 'Bedroom' in a Studio Apartment Either by choice or by the vagaries of fate, you have found yourself living in a studio apartment. And maybe you're cool with that, but you don't feel like looking at your bed all day long. Or you need a little privacy for when houseguests stay, or you just want to create a little separation between the parts of your apartment devoted to sleeping and waking. Apartment Therapy has a few ideas. Above: the inhabitant of this live-work studio, from Domino, has created a separation between working space and ceiling space with a ceiling-mounted curtain. Mounting a curtain in a track is an especially good idea because it means the curtain can be easily drawn back to join the two spaces when you feel like it. This curtain is made of corduroy and lined with blackout fabric, so it's almost as good as a wall. Willa Kammerer uses a curtain to separate sleeping space from work space in her 300 square foot New York apartment, spotted on Houzz.
(Image credit: The New York Times) Here's an idea, from The New York Times, that's simultaneously bold and surprisingly practical: ceiling-mount curtains around your bed, canopy style, and draw them closed when you want a little privacy. (Image credit: Country Living) This charming space, from Country Living, makes use of a pre-existing nook to provide a little privacy for the bed. A curtain (hung on a railing made from electrical piping!) completes the separation. In her 280 square foot studio in Paris, Elodie makes use of bookcases and curtains to create a tucked-away sleeping space. (Image credit: 79 Ideas)This little studio, spotted on 79 Ideas, uses sliding ceiling-mounted fabric panels to separate the bed from the rest of the room. I know you can get these things at IKEA — does anyone else have any other sources? (Image credit: Chris Nguyen) In his Houston apartment, Chris used a credenza, and a fabric panel, to give his bed a little privacy.
Bonus: the panel also doubles as a projection screen. (Image credit: IKEA Family Live) In their Brooklyn apartment, Laurie and Garette created a separation between the kitchen and the bedroom with IKEA Expedit bookcases. In her 480 square foot studio apartment, Maura went for the nuclear option: building actual walls around her bed. It actually works out quite nicely because one end is left open, and the high ceilings allow the little bedroom box to become an interesting design feature. The bed in this little studio from Makeover.nl is right next to the couch in floor plan — but elevating it vertically allows it to feel like its own space. (We're guessing there's plenty of storage behind those curtains below.) (Image credit: Living in a Shoebox) Nikki, whose studio apartment we spotted on Living in a Shoebox, placed the sofa at the foot of her bed. If your space allows, this is a great way to create a kind of separation between the sleeping and living parts of your space, without blocking anything off with furniture or curtains.
And finally, the bed in this studio space from Domino isn't really separated from the rest of the apartment — but the flanking bookcases give it a little extra coziness, which is always nice to have in your 'bedroom', even in a little bitty apartment.In a nutshell, you should start by editing your possessions to a bare minimum—keeping only those you love. You should also base your furniture selection on pieces that can perform multiple functions, and concentrate on a single aesthetic that speaks to your tastes. Ready to brave the scary world of micro living? Find out how to achieve it in high style.Chic is not exactly the first word that comes to mind when we think of studio apartments. But if you're moving into your first apartment, or simply living in a city with astronomical rent prices (hello, San Francisco and New York!), sometimes an open-plan space is your best option (goodbye, nosy roommates). Prior to moving, you might have night terrors of feeling cramped, cluttered, and generally claustrophobic, but we promise it doesn't have to be the case.
Well-designed studios actually offer plenty of possibilities. Chic is not exactly the first word that comes to mind when we think of studio apartments. In a nutshell, you should start by editing your possessions to a bare minimum—keeping only those you love. Find out how to achieve it in high style. David Land for Domino; Design and Styling: Lauren and Suzanne McGrath Many up-and-coming NYC-based interior designers start out in a studio—giving us plenty of inspiration. This is the case for Lauren McGrath who co-owns the design firm McGrath II with her mother. A thoughtful plan and smart furniture choices make this studio feel like a fully customized abode. Freestanding shelves flanking a daybed create a built-in look, while sconces hung on the bookcase’s sides provide reading light at night. An overall palette of soothing white punctuated by concentrated color brightens and enlarges the small space. Serena & Lily ($148) Courtesy of Fantastic Frank
At first sight, this Swedish studio apartment appears to be quite spacious, when it it in fact it's barely 250 square feet. The entrance, kitchen, and bedroom are all painted in different but complementary colors, creating a visual progression of space. The sole pop of color is in the back living space—everything else is kept completely neutral. In this open studio space, the resident opted to take advantage of a perfectly sized nook to place a sleek daybed, with extra storage. A curtain separating the sleeping and living areas allows the alcove to be closed off when entertaining. A smart glass wall in this petite pad separates the bedroom area from the main dining and living spaces but still allows natural light to permeate through. The twin bed is surrounded with built-in storage, so everything else can be kept light and bright. If there is a right way to do a studio apartment, this is it! In seriously cramped living quarters, you have to get creative. Though this bed is seriously close to the kitchen sink, the unified color scheme feels clean and spacious.
We often advise not to push furniture against walls or windows, but this is the perfect case for breaking the rules. Courtesy of Meg Pflug In this little Manhattan pad, the designer used tension rods to separate the bed from the rest of the apartment. In a rental, this is a great solution that doesn't require a drill (or losing a security deposit)! Serena & Lily ($495) A platform bedroom in this split-level studio apartment not only separates the living room from the sleeping quarters, it also provides much-need storage! Granted this isn't possible in all studios (you need to be graced by the ceiling gods), but it might just be the best studio layout to have. Genevieve Garruppo for Lonny; In this narrow NYC space, close quarters call for the apartment’s original tub to be placed directly next to the home’s kitchenette. A plexiglass divider keeps the spaces separate without feeling cramped, and a floor-to-ceiling tufted-print wallpaper in the sleeping and living areas creates a feeling of luxury.