The 10 Smartest, Most Stylish Studio Apartments of 2019
Living in a small space is an impressive enough feat, but turning a tiny studio apartment into both a functional home AND stylish space is something truly extraordinary. The renters and homeowners in these 10 studio apartments were able to accomplish both, and these spaces—though petite—serve as inspiration for any size home.
1. This 600-square-foot home that’s an example of furnishing on a budget
Erin Miles and her boyfriend Alex were able to create a soothing home on a budget in their studio apartment. They were inspired by Scandinavian design (lots of bright white, natural textures), and Erin stuck to a simple color palette throughout the small space, which helps make it feel bigger than it is. She didn’t splurge on new, store-bought stuff when it came to furnishing the space. Instead, she went shopping on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and other discount spots, as well as literally finding some items for free.
2. This cozy 400-square-foot Manhattan home with inspiring small space ideas
For Raechel and Ryan Lambert, this 400-square-foot home is actually HUGE, since they were living in just 240 square feet in San Francisco. Now relocated to the East Coast in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, they’ve upgraded to a slightly larger space, but it’s still teeny, especially for two people. But, like their tiny San Francisco space, they’ve filled this one with inspiring small space ideas and solutions.
3. This exceptionally stylish 275-square-foot Philadelphia studio apartment
There are tons of small space organizing ideas that make Joseph Abbott‘s 275-square-foot studio feel so much bigger. In fact, this is one of the most successfully laid out, well-appointed tiny studio apartments we’ve ever seen. Joseph has taken a teeny one-room space and turned into not just a functional home, but a cozy, beautiful one you’d want to spend time in.
4. This well-designed Manhattan studio has good vibes
Ilse Paanakker uses plants and DIY projects as more than just creative decor elements. As the founder of Habit House, a wellness tech startup whose mission is to help people create healthy habits, it’s important that she has a space that rejuvenates and encourages her so she can help others build and achieve healthy habits. Her Manhattan studio is small but smart… and filled with good vibes.
5. This 225-square-foot studio full of storage solutions
Whitney Thayne‘s 225-square-foot studio is small, but it doesn’t feel cramped at all, thanks to the clean, all-white color scheme. “The only way to function in a space like this is to get really creative with how and where things are placed,” she wrote in her studio tour. “Built-ins are your friend. Learning how to maximize and find the exact thing that will work is ultimately worth it.”
6. This super organized 305-square-foot Miami studio does a lot with a little
Just 305 square feet isn’t a lot to work with, but designer Francis Domínguez overcame the challenges of living in a small studio space by “coming up with a well thought floor plan and by using scale appropriate furniture.” The result is the kind of space you don’t even realize is all one room.
7. This 370-square-foot Bay Area studio that prioritizes functionality
Naimah has made a simply beautiful studio home in the Bay Area, and she’s done so while only working with 370 square feet. Naimah accomplished it by being intentional with what she brought into the small home. “I think that starting with things that you love and thinking of how you actually live is a good way to build your space,” she says. “It usually comes together naturally and with less regrets if you start there.”
8. This 400-square-foot studio that feels spacious despite the small size
Noelle Lacombe is the Photo Editor at WSJ. Magazine and lives in this small but peaceful 400-square-foot studio apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant. “I can’t help myself from meticulously curating every aspect of my home,” she says. Purchases for this apartment were intentional. She “vowed to not introduce any items into my home that didn’t serve a purpose and fit my vision.”
9. This 600-square-foot studio with an easy, elegant divider solution
Channing Foster‘s Washington, D.C. studio is on the “larger” side at 600 square feet, but it’s still just all one open room. She’s designed it elegantly though, by carving out separate “rooms” with an easy, affordable divider solution.
10. This 420-square-foot Chicago studio that uses every bit of space wisely
Jonathan Black‘s small Chicago studio is a great example of how to use every square inch of a small home. His closet, for instance, took up too much space the way it was, so Jonathan removed shelves, added curtains and lighting, and turned the area into a dressing room. And that’s just one of the creative solutions he came up with.