Studio apartment layout: Optimise your space without sacrificing style

When coming up with your studio apartment design ideas, focus on how you can make the most of your space. 

When every inch counts, a smart layout and the right furniture can make all the difference. Small doesn’t have to mean cramped — it just means being clever with what you’ve got.

In a small space, every piece of furniture must have a use and ideally more than one. Multi-functional furniture will help you to make the most of every inch of your space, so that you can keep it clutter free and always looking its best.

• Sofa beds with storage — perfect for day-to-night living, these give you a place to relax by day and a bed by night. Look for designs with a comfortable mattress and built-in compartments underneath, ideal for tucking away bedding, books, or even seasonal clothes.
• Coffee tables with drawers — not just a surface for mugs and magazines, but also a clever way to hide away chargers, remotes and everyday clutter. Some even come with shelves beneath for books and games, or tops that lift up to transform into a dining table when space is tight.
• Fold-out worktops — a practical solution for compact kitchens, these can be pulled out when you need extra room to prepare meals, dine, or even work from home. Once you’re done, they slide neatly back into place to free up space again.
• Modular pieces — smart, flexible furniture that adapts to your needs. Think ottomans that double as hidden storage, extendable tables for guests, shelving that transforms into a desk, or wardrobes that conceal a pull-down Murphy bed for overnight visitors.

Using the full height of your studio walls frees up your floor and makes your whole home feel more spacious. Here are five vertical furniture tips:

1. Tall shelves — floor-to-ceiling storage for books, plants or kitchen gear, while adding character to a room.
2. Wall-mounted cabinets — a mix of open and closed compartments, perfect for kitchens, bathrooms and living areas.
3. Loft beds — lift the sleeping zone and reclaim the space beneath for a desk, lounge or dressing area.
4. Fold-away (Murphy) beds — fold flat against the wall to free up valuable floor space during the day.
5. Hooks and bars — ideal for utensils, towels, coats or bags, and handy on splashbacks or the backs of doors.

When you live in a small space, it’s important to get rid of your excess clutter to free up space for things you actually need.

To become a tidying expert, read the bestseller by Marie Kondo, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. 

Use visual and decorative tools to subtly define the different areas of your studio apartment – your living, sleeping, cooking and bathing areas.

With various creative solutions, you can create visual separations across your studio apartment.

• Room dividers: available in modern, classic and antique designs, look for room dividers that can be easily folded away or moved around to screen off different areas to suit your needs.
• Shelves that double up as partitions: shelving that is open on both sides can be used to store books and ornaments and to separate your living space from your sleeping space, while still letting natural light through to both areas. 
• Draw the curtains: curtains aren't just for windows, draw them to separate your sleeping area from your kitchen, for example. 
• Get creative: be inventive about dividing your space, use large house plants or stacked stylish storage boxes to create a visual barrier between zones.
• Divide with colour and texture: paint sections of your home in different colour schemes or textures of wallpaper to show where, for example, your bedroom stops and your living space begins.

Lighting isn’t just for mood — it can shape your space. Use different types of lighting to define your zones.

• Lighting targets: use lighting to define your work, living and dining areas. Direct lighting above a desk, for example, creates a focused concentration space, while softer, diffused light in your sleeping area helps you unwind.
• Pendant lights: create a design statement and target light on a specific area, such as your dining table.
• Accent lighting: strategically place a table or floor lamp in areas where you like to read or work.
• LED strips: integrate LED strips that can be changed to different colour schemes, place these under shelves and kitchen cabinets or around your bed.
• Use dimmers: these let you change the light intensity and mood of each space in your home at the touch of a button.

On grey and short winter days, you want your studio apartment to receive as much natural light as possible. It will make your space appear bigger and brighter, improve your mood and well-being, reduce your reliance on artificial lighting and cut your energy bills. 

Hang curtains and blinds so that they don’t block any natural light from your windows when not in use.

In the UK, grey skies and short winter days make natural light even more valuable. It not only improves mood and wellbeing but can also reduce the need for artificial lighting — cutting energy costs and boosting sustainability. If you'd like more natural light in your space, consider installing roof windows or a roof balcony window. In rooms without access to windows, consider adding a VELUX sun tunnel to funnel natural light in from the roof.

Your choice of colours, textures and materials plays a vital role in creating a beautiful and practical studio space.

Light colours and neutral palettes will make your small space appear larger.

White walls or pastel tones reflect natural light, helping your studio apartment feel brighter.

Add pops of colour with your furniture and accessories.

Use different textures and materials to add interest without cluttering your space.

• Mixing and matching textures: combining soft fabrics, like velvet or chenille, with hard materials, like wood, metal or glass, provides an interesting contrast.
• Root your home in nature: natural materials, such as wood, stone or wool, help to promote a calm and welcoming atmosphere.
• Get reflective: mirrored, glass and polished metal surfaces bounce light around your space to make it feel more spacious.  
• Play with pattern and colour: go for pillows, rugs and window dressings made from a mix of different textured plain and printed materials in a variety of hues.
• Think stylishly and practically: select materials that look great and are also durable, easy-to-clean and environmentally friendly.

Designing your studio space so that you can cook, sleep, bathe and entertain in it, doesn’t mean boxing it off into different areas, A few simple tricks can help you define its different functions.

Use a lightweight room divider or curtains to separate your bed from the rest of your living space.

A two-sided shelving unit can also be used to screen off your sleeping area.

If you have a high ceiling, consider a loft bed that is raised above your living area.

Finally, indulge in a quality mattress and bedlinen to transform your sleeping area into a cosy inner sanctum.

With more of us now working full or part-time from home, having a space where you can work comfortably and productively at home is increasingly important.

Choose a space that is well-ventilated and full of natural light. Look for multifunctional furniture, such as a shelving unit with a pull-out desk or a desk concealed in a cupboard, which you can hide away when your work is done.  

Finally, add some personal touches, such as plants, photos and books to stimulate creativity.

In the digital age, seamlessly integrating technology into your studio apartment layout will make it function so much better. 

Smart devices allow you to control your lighting, heating and windows from an app. You could, for example, programme your system so that your roof windows open a few minutes before you arrive home to bring in fresh air.

The VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO system allows you to automatically regulate the climate in your studio by adjusting the amount of natural light and fresh air coming in.

Adopting sustainable practices in your studio flat design will benefit the environment, your wellbeing and your bank balance. How can you best create a healthy and planet-friendly living space?

When you make your home more energy efficient, it becomes more sustainable and you reduce your gas and electricity consumption and your household bills. Make your studio apartment design more efficient by:

• Choosing energy-efficient household appliances
• Installing efficient heating and cooling systems
• Using LED lighting, known for its low energy consumption and long lifespan
• Installing double-glazed windows for better thermal insulation and reduced heating and cooling needs.
• Using smart thermostats that automatically adjust the temperature according to your lifestyle habits, optimising energy consumption without sacrificing comfort.

Deploy greener materials and habits to benefit the planet and your wallet.

Use recycled, recyclable and eco-friendly materials wherever you can. This will help the environment and make your home a healthier place to live.

Choose bamboo, a rapidly renewable material for your flooring, for example, go for paints with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and sustainable textiles, such as organic cotton or linen.

The finishing touches to your studio apartment design are the personal items that reflect your personality and passions. This could be photos, artwork, collectables or plants that have a special meaning for you.

These personal elements are what transform your studio into your home.

Coming up with studio apartment design ideas can be challenging because you’re limited by space and there could be other obstacles to overcome, such as insufficient natural light and budget restrictions. But, with the right layout, multifunctional furniture, clever storage, VELUX roof windows and great lighting, you can turn your tiny space into a stylish, inviting and practical home and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

From sustainable design to personal style, your studio can be as expressive as it is efficient. It’s not about having more — it’s about making the most of what you’ve got.

Enjoy your studio flat!