5 Superb Tips for Moving Into a Studio Apartment

Whether you’re moving into your first apartment (and looking for independent, affordable living accommodations), moving temporarily to a different city (and looking for a modest but convenient place to stay until you can get back home), wishing to live closer to amenities and work (and looking for a downtown apartment, no matter how tiny it may be), or downsizing your home as you no longer need the extra space or can’t afford it anymore (and looking for a smaller residence that will be cheaper and easier-to-maintain), moving into a studio apartment may be the perfect solution for you. Moving into such a small place, however, is a really big challenge.

If you think that the relocation process will be simpler just because you’re moving into a smaller home, think again – you will not only need to organize the move (in much the same way as any other house move, regardless of its size), but will also have to find a way to fit your life into your tiny new place.

Living in a studio apartment calls for a completely new perception of space and perspective – the kitchen, living room, and bedroom are all in one (so managing the layout can be really tricky), the space is quite limited (so you need to be very careful when choosing what to keep and what to discard), and the tight quarters may make you feel confined and claustrophobic. Making the studio flat functional, comfortable, and lovely, regardless of its small dimensions, requires a lot of creativity and skill.

If you’re not sure how to achieve all of this – a smooth relocation and a practical, elegant living space – the following tips for moving into a studio apartment are just for you.

Step 1. Choose Your Studio Apartment Well

Depending on your specific reasons for moving into a studio flat, you may want it to be located in a particular neighborhood or area of town, to have a monthly rent or mortgage lower than a certain predetermined amount, or to be equipped with specific amenities.

Such requirements will narrow down your choice, but it should still be possible to find an apartment that will suit both your needs and your preferences (as well as your available budget).

Just make sure you know what to look for in a studio:

• Convenient layout – Different studios have different designs and different square footages (even if all of them are really small), so you need to consider the specific layout and floor plan of the place before making your decision – think about how your items will fit inside, how the traffic will flow, etc.;
• Vertical space – High ceilings not only open up the place, but also “add space” to the room – to hang things, install shelves, mount your TV to the wall, etc., so you’ll definitely want your small flat to have plenty of vertical space;
• Closets – A large closet (or a few smaller ones) provides you with ample storage space and a convenient place where to keep your belongings out of sight and out of the way, so make sure your chosen studio has sufficient closet space;
• Large windows – Abundant natural light makes a small flat look brighter and more spacious, so be certain to opt for a place with a lot of tall windows (preferably facing east or west) to get the optical illusion of a larger place.

If you’re renting, you should also check for full-sized appliances, built-in shelves, and other features that will make your studio life easier and more comfortable (if you’re buying the flat, you’ll probably want to bring your own furniture and appliances).

Needless to say, you’ll have to compare the prices as well, so that you can find the most conveniently located, well-designed studio apartment at the most affordable cost possible.

Step 2. Plan the Space

Once you have chosen a studio flat to buy or to rent, you need to measure the available space and create a floor plan of your new apartment:

1) Measure the width, length, and height of the studio and draw the room (in its precise shape) on graph paper to scale (it’s considered best to represent one foot with two squares on the graph paper). Don’t forget to mark the exact place and size of doorways and windows, as well as the location of electric outlets, heating vents, and other installations that are difficult or impossible to move.

2) Assess the studio layout and the available space and designate separate areas for your different “rooms” – decide where you’d like your cooking and eating area to be, where to place your bed, etc.

3) Measure your furniture and other bulkier household items and draw them on separate cardboard pieces. Use the same scale you did when drawing the room and label the pieces.

4) Cut the templates and move them within the layout sketch of your studio flat to see where they fit best and how they match one another. Do not forget to leave pathways, so that you can move around freely, and be sure to allow for easy access to every single item. Rearrange your household items models until you nail their perfect position and create the best possible design for your small studio apartment.

When your floor plan is ready, you’ll know which of your old items will fit in your small studio flat and which ones you need to get rid of prior to your move.

Step 3. Pare Down Your Possessions

Moving is the perfect time to declutter and let go of unneeded items. This is all the more true when moving into a small studio apartment – you need to adopt a minimalist mindset and approach to life in order to feel at home in your tight quarters.

So, to make things work, you need to “compact” your life and cull your belongings:

• Make a list of the items you will definitely bring along – all the practical household items that fit in your new apartment, all the personal belongings you need on a daily basis, all the things you love too much to part with, etc.;
• Throw away damaged items and items that are too worn out to be used ever again;
• Set aside duplicate items, outgrown items that are still in good condition, rarely used items, items you’re keeping “just in case”, and items you don’t really like or won’t be able to use anymore. Sell them to pocket some extra money or donate them to charities to help people in need;
• Give away to family and friends items of higher aesthetic or sentimental value that you don’t want to end up with random people, as well as any of your no longer needed items that you know your pals or relatives would like to have.

If you have things you absolutely want to keep but don’t have enough room for in your small apartment, you can put them into storage. Renting a storage unit will provide you with the additional space you need when living in a tiny flat – you’ll not only be able to store away everything you’re not ready to let go of and all the items you think you may need some time soon, but will also have the chance to rotate the things that are currently in your studio (according to season, occasion, etc.).

Keep in mind though that paying for storage will put an extra burden on your budget, so it may not be a financially wise idea (especially if you moved into a studio to save money).

Step 4. Organize the Move

Moving into a studio presents a different set of challenges than moving into a larger place. Most aspects of the relocation process, however, remain the same:

• You still need to find good, affordable movers to help you relocate – research your options, ask for recommendations, fill out a moving quote to get in touch with severable reputable moving companies in your area, see what they have to offer, read moving reviews left by their previous customers, narrow down your choice to three or four companies that seem to best suit your needs, ask them for in-house estimates of the moving costs, discuss the details of your move (pick-up and delivery dates and times, necessary extra services, possible difficulties, etc.), compare the offers (rates, services, special conditions, etc.), make sure you’re dealing with licensed and trustworthy professionals, and choose the best movers for you;
• You still need to make a moving inventory of the items you’re going to take to your new home, so that you can better organize them, keep track of your possessions during the entire relocation process, and have proof of their pre-move condition in case they get damaged while in the movers’ custody;
• You still need to pack your belongings with utmost care to ensure their safety during transit (consider hiring professional packers to prepare your most valuable and most delicate items for shipping);
• You still need to put the required paperwork in order – change your address, collect medical and school records, transfer utilities, etc.;
• You still need to prepare well for the movers – reserve an elevator (if necessary) and a convenient parking place for the moving truck, ensure a safe, obstacle-free path between the truck and the entrance to your home, etc.;
• You still need to take efficient measures to avoid property damage and prevent accidents and injuries on Moving day.

A specialized moving into a studio apartment checklist, however, includes a few differences as well:

1. You’ll be relocating relatively few items, so you may be able to move without professional help – especially if you’re moving short distance. Just make sure you rent the right size of moving truck to accommodate all your belongings and don’t forget to ask some good friends of yours to come and help you load and unload your heavier household items;
2. You’ll need to disassemble your larger furniture in order to get them into your tiny new apartment. It will be really difficult to squeeze bulky pieces through single doors, narrow corridors, and other tight spaces, so you’re strongly advised to take your large furniture apart – remove any detachable parts (drawers, shelves, doors, legs, etc.) and dismantle the main frames (if possible) – to make them easier to carry and maneuver into your small apartment;
3. You’ll have to get your larger items inside first (before the smaller ones) – bigger pieces are more difficult to move around, so it’ll be easier to maneuver them inside your studio apartment while it’s still empty. Once the large furniture and household appliances are in place, it will be fairly easy to unpack and arrange your smaller items;
4. You’ll have to find creative ways to make the most out of your small living space.

Step 5. Maximize Your Space

Hard to believe as it may be, there are many efficient ways to maximize space in a studio apartment:

Create more visual space

As already discussed above, high ceilings and plenty of natural light will make your small flat appear larger. To enhance the effect even further, you’re advised to:

• Place large mirrors at strategic places throughout the room, so that they catch and reflect the light, creating an optical illusion of a big, open space;
• Paint the walls in light colors to make the room seem larger and brighter. Adding contrasting accents on well-chosen places will trick the eye into seeing the space several times bigger than it actually is;
• Opt for sheer panels or blinds that can open and close instead of heavy curtains;
• Make sure no furniture pieces or other large household items block the light to any area of the room;
• Go for “slim” furniture, furniture in light, neutral colors, or furniture made of translucent plastic that will allow your vision to flow around with ease;
• Hang paintings, photos, and other wall décor above eye level to make the entire space look bigger and the ceilings appear higher;
• Use layered lighting techniques, chandelier-like pendants, colorful LED fixtures, and other artistic lighting fixtures to create a bright ambience in the room.

Create mini-rooms

To make your small living space more practical, you can break it up into different areas. Do not just install room dividers though – there are much more efficient and aesthetic ways to partition your studio:

• Use different colors to differentiate the space – for example, you can paint your kitchen area in creamy tones, your living room in warm hues of red and brown, and your sleeping space in pastel greens. The different colors will offer an illusion of space and separation (just make sure the shades match one another and create a visual harmony that is pleasing to the eye);
• Use draperies to section off the room – they provide a good level of privacy and can be pushed back to open the space if needed;
• Use glass room dividers to extend the visual sight line further into the room and make it feel more spacious;
• Use art and interior décor to define different areas within your studio – a rug in the bedroom, a clock in the kitchen, a piece of art in the living room, etc.;
• Use bookshelves as room partitions – they will break up the space and provide some extra storage space.

Use multi-functional furniture

Bookshelves are not the only furniture pieces that can serve a dual purpose in your studio flat. In fact, multi-functional furniture is your best bet when living in a tiny space. Not only are you advised to look for multi-purpose items when buying new furnishings for your studio, but you’re also recommended to replace some of your old pieces (even if they fit into the flat) with similar ones that can play dual roles – why keep your old classical sofa, for example, when you can get a pull-out couch that turns into a bed whenever necessary?

So, when living in a studio apartment, you may want to consider:

• Platform beds with drawers;
• Coffee tables, ottomans, and stools that open to reveal storage space;
• Convertible furniture and expandable pieces;
• Furniture that can pull double duty – a kitchen counter can serve as a dining table, a home bar, or a work station; a small desk can double as a coffee table, a nightstand, a TV cabinet, or even a vanity table; etc.

Use the available vertical space

When you don’t have much of floor space, you need to find a way to utilize the vertical space in the room:

• Install floor-to-ceiling shelving on the walls (even if you need a stepladder to reach the items on the uppermost shelves);
• Install shelves and/or cabinets over doors, above desks and appliances, etc.;
• Install racks on the sides of larger, sturdier furniture;
• Put storage boxes on top of wardrobes and kitchen cabinets that don’t go all the way up to the ceiling;
• Create sleeping and reading lofts;
• Hang items on the walls – anything from bikes through tote bags full of odds and ends to jewelry!

Stay organized and avoid clutter

While all the above tricks will help you turn your studio apartment into a cozy and comfortable home, you need to go one step further and make your tiny flat look stylish and attractive as well. This is easier than you may think – all you need to do is keep your small space neat and tidy at all times and add a few select décor items to upgrade your compact residence to an elegant, charming home.

# Rule 1 – Organize your stuff in a practical and systematic manner, so that each and every item is exactly where it fits best, looks best, and works best.

# Rule 2 – Always return items to their rightful places after you’ve used them – leaving them here and there will quickly result in a mess.

# Rule 3 – Store your stuff out of sight – in the closet, under the bed, in stackable boxes, etc., to keep your small flat tidy and clutter-free;

# Rule 4 – Use your household items as storage containers – keep travel items in your suitcase, spice jars in large cooking pots, etc.

# Rule 5 – Do not accumulate too much stuff – you have nowhere to put it. Buy only what you really need or love (not just because it’s trendy or you kind of like it), go for quality instead of quantity (one pair of designer shoes instead of five pairs of cheap ones), never double buy items (you can always get a replacement when you need it), do not stock on food or hygienic supplies (purchase only as needed), etc.

# Rule 6 – Sell or donate things you no longer need as soon as they become useless to you.

Your studio apartment will quickly become your functional, beautiful, sweet home and you may find that you truly enjoy your small scale living.