More and more people are choosing studio apartments that are more affordable. Meanwhile, to fit the functionality of several rooms in a small space is not an easy task. Our tips will help you choose the right studio design trends 2022.
The history of studio apartments began in the 1920s in the USA, the layout was developed by the German apxitectop-modnist Ludwig Mies van deep Poe. In the 1960s, it was improved by A.V. Purgin. Open space apartments have become popular in America and Europe among creative youth. And now studios are more often chosen by young people and couples without children, because this is the most budgetary option for housing.
How to choose a design studio
A studio is a small apartment with no interior partitions, except for a bathroom. Such a solution, on the one hand, gives a feeling of more free space, on the other hand, it creates difficulties in design development.
The free space gives the false hope that renovation in the studio is quite easy. However, in the absence of walls, the need for zoning falls on the design decision. Color, light, selection of furniture – all this should play on dividing the zones of the kitchen, bedroom, living room, office. A banal screen is not always the best way out in this situation.
When choosing a studio design, start from the features of the space: the room is more elongated or square, how the natural light falls and which side the windows face. Think about what functional areas you want to highlight. Maybe you need more space in the “kitchen” or it is important to allocate work space. Or do you often host? All of this will affect the project.
Make the most of the available space. Maybe the windowsill will become part of the table?
Pay attention to the built-in furniture, which will create the effect of a monolithic block with a wall and will not visually “eat up” the space. This technique can be used when placing wardrobe and kitchen appliances.
Avoid bulky furniture with an abundance of unnecessary details – such things fill up the space and create visual noise that in a studio apartment will interfere with both movement and “put pressure” on the tenants. Heavy curtains have the same effect. Pay attention to more functional transforming furniture, only necessarily simple and concise.
Be neat and bright with colors. The abundance of color spots in a small space will quickly get bored and tired. For visual expansion, it is recommended to use light muted tones.
Lighting is your faithful assistant in dividing space. Interior lighting will help highlight each area.
Whenever possible, make the most of modern technology, such as hobs instead of traditional stoves, microwave ovens and steamers.
Remember that saving on the hood and refrigerator will go badly for you. A noisy refrigerator will interfere with sleep and work and create the most uncomfortable atmosphere, and a hood will save you from kitchen odors.
Make sure that the entire studio space is designed in the same style, and the interior details – furniture elements, textiles, colors – overlap with each other. This will make the space look more harmonious.
Design studio 20 sq m
Often a 20 sq.m studio is a rectangular room with a square bathroom inside. The living area is 14 – 16 sq. m.
The smaller the area of the studio, the more carefully you should approach the development of the project. Take your time and think about what you need to have in your apartment. Small rooms do not tolerate unnecessary details. It is no coincidence that minimalism is often used for such spaces, which involves the use of light shades, simple shapes, a minimum of decor and a maximum of functionality, which is most important for a studio of 20 sq.m.
A small studio is not the place where it is worth clearly identifying zones and splitting up an already small room. The best solution would be a single color for the flooring material and the walls. Strong contrast between floor and walls should be avoided.
Light and cold shades will add space.
If you are intimidated by the idea of white furniture, look for shades of light wood. In a small apartment, you should limit yourself to a small set of colors. Combinations of white, gray and light wood look very stylish in such a territory.
Be careful with drawings. Plain wallpaper or coloring will look advantageous. Curtains with bright patterns are also worth leaving in the store, and prints are better for accent items.
Design studio 25 sq m
All recommendations from the previous block will be relevant in this case. A well-thought-out built-in storage system, multifunctional furniture, a single style and color scheme will create a beautiful and comfortable interior.
Play with the shape of the furniture: a round or oval table looks less bulky than a rectangular one.
A round or oval table looks less bulky than a rectangular one.
When looking for design inspiration for a 25 sqm studio, look for Scandinavian style. It is distinguished by a choice of colors (white as the main, beige, gray, muted blue, bright colors are used as accents), an abundance of light, a choice of natural materials and strict, simple functional furniture.
The new trend is japandi style. The name comes from the combination japan + scandi. The style has incorporated the best features of the Scandinavian and Japanese, such as functionality, simplicity of forms, plain textured textiles, a minimum of decor, a natural range with bright spotted accents. Eastern traditions add warm colors to the interior.
If you want to add fashionable shades to the interior, take a closer look at the marine, terracotta, pale pink, fresh meadow shades. Pale mint green and light gray-blue will be good.
Design studio 30 sq m
The larger the studio area, the more interesting solutions you can include in your design. Here you can show your imagination in the zoning of the room, play with colors and textures, for example, decorate the sleeping area in darker colors, and the living room in light colors, or highlight some area with brickwork.
It will be interesting to look at such a zoning method as a floor or ceiling drop. If you want to use partitions, look at rack and pinion options instead of deaf ones. A rack or whatnot, behind which you can hide a desktop, will help to delimit the space.
If in a small studio a sofa or a built-in bed is often used as a sleeping place, which is removed for a day, then in this case a separate area can be distinguished.
Experiment with styles. Scandinavian, loft or eco-style in the studio will look very organic.
Popular questions and answers
What to look for when designing a studio?
There is such a pattern in design: the smaller the room and the more functions it will carry, the more responsibility you need to approach the design. A studio apartment has a lot of functions.
It differs from an ordinary small apartment in the absence of partitions between rooms. This, on the one hand, opens up more opportunities for design, on the other hand, you will have to solve more problems when planning.
Each item, furniture and equipment needed for your home, you need to determine the place right away. For a worker – bring sockets and lamps, for a sleeping room – separate from the “noisy” part, for large objects – install fixtures on the ceiling.
Separately, I will note the lighting and sockets – they need to be given exactly as much attention as zoning, and maybe even a little more. Successful lighting can highlight the dignity of a room or become an independent interior object. In the studio, with the help of lighting, you can create the currently needed function rooms and turn off those that are not needed now.
The primary question is whether there will be a sleeping area in the apartment or enough sleeping space on the sofa. I am always for a full sleeping area. It can be separated from the rest of the apartment by curtains, a screen, furniture or even a plant. If the space of the studio allows, you can separate the bed with something more static: a decorative partition or glass doors.
Storage systems in the studio should be placed up to the ceiling. Firstly, there is more space for things and kitchen utensils, and secondly, there will be no temptation to throw something that is very sorry to throw out on the “roof” of the cabinet, and thirdly, in this way the cabinets become part of the wall and visually do not clutter up the space …
For small rooms, it is better not to choose classic motifs, as they will overload the interior, creating a feeling of being crowded and cramped. Modern styles with conciseness and simplicity of forms are preferable.
What’s the best way to zone a studio space?
Working with a small space, paradoxically, is much more difficult than creating the interior of a large apartment. The design of the studio requires the most detailed study and thought through all possible functions of each zone. The main mistake that is made in studio design is the absence of a designer. A layman, faced with this task, will not be able to take into account even half of what an experienced designer and architect could foresee. Competent planning of zones, engineering (communications, electrical), a combination of colors, natural and artificial lighting, correct interior solutions are the main tasks that a designer solves. If you make mistakes, then in a small space, dissonance will immediately be noticeable. Non-professionals, as a rule, make a big mistake in the combination of colors, bringing together clearly inharmonious colors and textures in the interior,
Studio zoning is extremely important. First of all, the kitchen area is visually separated by means of a bar counter or a small dining table. Next, the guest room stands out, where the sofa is usually located, which serves as a bed. If the area of the studio allows, then the bedroom can be allocated into a separate area, including with the help of light partitions. But the most optimal and comfortable solution for me is transformable furniture that can change the functionality of the space to suit your current goals. For example, in my projects I prefer to use a bed that can be transformed into a wardrobe or removed into a created niche. It will be much more comfortable than a fold-out sofa, since a full-fledged bed cannot be replaced by anything, even a very good sofa. Again, laying out a sofa every day and removing bedding is not a pleasant task. Returning to the issue of zoning, I want to note that light also allows you to successfully divide the space, highlighting the active areas where a person works or prepares and areas for recreation. You can combine and install both a ceiling light and a side light, a spot light and even a floor light. Do not forget about natural light at different times of the day.
When creating a studio interior, the functionality (multifunctionality) of each zone and the ergonomics of the space are extremely important. A person should be comfortable and convenient to live in a small space. On the one hand, everything is at hand, but on the other, it should feel like you are not in one large living room or, on the contrary, in the kitchen. The size of the furniture, the distance between it, the transformation – all this is very important to calculate in advance so as not to stumble over corners later. The large dimensions of objects in the studio, of course, are not welcome, they will not look harmonious and will only take up space. For example, you can choose an armchair 90×90 cm or 65×65 cm, of course, it makes sense to take a smaller size for a studio. It is necessary to maintain balance, leaving room for matter and for air.
The main task in the design is the need to fit several zones with different functional purposes into one room at once: kitchen, dining room, bedroom, living room. An open layout without dividing into rooms and, most often, a small area require careful study. For this, it is important to understand who will live here.
- It is best to start by identifying a place to sleep, which must be placed in the most secluded part, and give the main area for the living room, kitchen and dining room.
- Do not overload the space. To make the interior harmonious, and the space does not seem cramped, try to use light tools for zoning: curtains, screens, open shelving, slatted partitions that allow air and light to pass through. If you want to separate one of the zones with sliding doors, it is better to choose models made of transparent or frosted glass.
- Make the most of your layout. If the apartment has high ceilings, then you can organize the second tier and place a sleeping or workplace on it and also use the space under it. Don’t ignore niches and wide corners. They can organize storage space, or even equip a work area.
- It is worthwhile to think over the lighting correctly. It is very important to provide enough light. The studio consists of a single space with all kinds of partitions that prevent natural light from spreading throughout the apartment, so artificial light must be carefully thought out. Also, lighting is one of the zoning tools. With the help of different types of lamps and their location, you can emphasize the functional areas of the apartment.
- Choice of colors. When choosing the main color of a studio apartment, it is best to choose light and neutral shades. As a base, for example, take white, a light shade of beige, blue, green and others. Light colors will help to increase and expand the visual space. Bright ones should be used carefully, dosed and in the form of accents.
The original solution for highlighting a particular zone is partitions, which are of different types: sliding with a lower support guide, suspended, folding and stationary. Hanging partitions are best used to separate areas within a common space, since there is no rail on the floor, which allows you to keep the floor covering intact.
Sliding and stationary partitions can be used in an ensemble to fence off a corner area: a bedroom or a dressing room.
In addition to partitions, designers often resort to zoning using storage systems: sliding modules, open wardrobe systems, shelving and even wardrobes.
How to design studio lighting?
Lighting in an apartment determines the mood of the people who will live there, the functionality of the room, helps to make the interior more comfortable and even visually enlarges the space. When designing a studio apartment, the main focus is on lighting, which is of great importance in creating an interior.
The huge candelabra in the studio is clearly not the case. Numerous bulbs and diodes are better suited. Separation of space by lighting is also a good option. For example, in the living room you can use the ceiling with neon lighting, and in the kitchen – several bulbs built into the interior. An option is also suitable with different colors of neon ceilings in different places of the apartment. For the bedroom and living room, soft lighting works well to create the right atmosphere for relaxation.
Natural light is of course also important. To make the interior lighter, you should use light and light curtains for window decoration, avoiding dark and heavy fabric options.
The studio is a single space and lighting requires special elaboration. Each zone should have its own idea and separate lighting that meets its requirements and helps to differentiate them. With the help of light, the desired atmosphere of the zones is created. The main requirement for artificial light is to create a comfortable environment in the evening and at night. If the apartment is small, but it has a lot of natural light, then it should be evenly lit. If the dominant tone of the apartment is dark, it is better to divide it into several zones with the help of additional lamps and lamps. Neutral white light must be used as the work light. If you want to draw attention to some accents in the interior, use colored lamps and lamps for this.
What styles are currently relevant in studio design?
As for the design styles used in the studios, Scandinavian minimalism, as well as functionalism and modernism, are still popular today. The Scandinavian style dictates to us white (light) colors with natural natural additions (wood, brick, etc.). But despite the popularity of using light shades in small spaces, in order to visually increase volumes, I want to correct the prevailing stereotype and say that dark shades and even black do this task better. Moreover, a recent PINWIN competition awarded the Grand Prix for studio interiors in black, which speaks of both the growing popularity of dark colors in interiors and the fact that they are optimal shades for small spaces.
For a studio it is best to choose such modern styles as Scandinavian, minimalism, hi-tech. All of them look organically in small rooms and allow you to create a harmonious image that is not overloaded with details.
What colors are currently relevant in studio design?
When choosing the main color for finishing a studio apartment, it is best to stay on light neutral shades, which will help to visually expand and enlarge the room. As a base, you can choose light colors, for example, white, light shades of beige, blue, green and others. Bright colors should be added in dosage and carefully, in the form of separate accents. Popular colors this year include navy blue, mint, pale blue, lilac, pale pink, mustard and graphite. They perfectly complement the interior and accentuate it.
What mistakes are made when designing a studio?
Errors in designing a studio apartment:
- Incorrect or illogical arrangement of zones.
- Lack of delimitation of zones. Many people forget about him. Zoning can be done not only with partitions, but also with finishing materials, podiums and furniture, which will help make the interior harmonious and at the same time interesting.
- Incorrect lighting design. It is better to refuse a common chandelier for all zones. Each zone should have its own idea and separate lighting that meets the requirements. Lighting creates the right atmosphere.
- Unwise use of walls and niches. If high ceilings are a great success, you can make a second tier and place a sleeping place or work area. It is also best to arrange full height storage cabinets.
- Incorrectly selected furniture. For such apartments, transforming furniture is well suited, as well as furniture that has storage compartments.
The main mistakes when developing the interior of a studio apartment are mainly:
- Absolutely unsuitable zoning of space, for example, you should not place a dining table and refrigerator next to a sleeping place: this is tantamount to combining a bathroom and a kitchen.
- Savings on lighting. Don’t use just one light source. One ceiling chandelier will not be enough, especially if the apartment has partitions for zoning the space.
- In a small apartment, you should immediately say “no” to huge wardrobes, massive armchairs that cannot be folded out and other furniture that is not functional. The same goes for overweight chairs and oversized dining tables.
- You should not “paint over” the room white and be afraid of the bright. Today it is recommended to mix textures, especially natural ones: wood and metal, glass and stone. In addition, a noble combination of different shades of a natural palette of colors, characteristic of a versatile and eclectic interior, is welcomed.
- Do not choose blackout curtains. They will take all the attention on themselves and partially deprive the room of light in the daytime. With a studio space, it is better to stick to the golden mean and choose fairly light flowing curtains on the floor as a textile design, complementing them with transparent tulle or Roman shades that gently diffuse light.
