Studio Apartment / Bedsitter Storage

A studio apartment also known as a bedsitter has its upside and downside.  One of the upsides is definitely the fact that you have less space to clean!  However, a major downside of living in such a small space is that storage becomes an issue.  Seeing us everything is done in the same room, it can be a challenge to figure out where to put all your stuff.  Have no fear however; there are indeed great storage solutions for your bedsitter or studio apartment!

In our article titled Sprucing up your Bedsitter, we talked about the need to remove clutter.  Weeding out all unnecessary stuff is the first step to getting your mess sorted.  One of the best things you can do to get your clutter in order is to find ways to store it within other things.  That means that your furniture should be designed with hollow storage space.  Storage space can be created by using beds with inconspicuous drawers, decorative baskets that can be used to store various things in, wicker chests and shelves. 

Basically, you can create storage space in your seats, tables and more.  The idea is to try and use inexpensive yet aesthetically pleasing things. Another great idea is to use your suitcases to store the things you do not use often such as your Christmas decorations.  Large baskets can serve as a place to store your dry goods or canned foods.  They can also be used to store art supplies, extra beddings and more.  A great idea is to use a book shelf as a divider to separate your sleeping area from your living area and use the shelf space for storage.  Bedsitter/studio apartment storage need not be too much of a hassle and you can have a clutter free home!

Sprucing Up Your Bedsitter

I often meet people who tell me that when they move to a larger apartment they will spruce up their home.  The excuse is that they are living in a bedsitter or a one room apartment and as such have ‘nothing’ to decorate.  That is one lame excuse if I ever heard one!  It doesn’t matter how large or small your space is.  It’s your space!!  You have the right to live in a comfortable, aesthetically appealing home.  This article discusses great interior design ideas for your bedsitter.

To begin with, you need to clear all the clutter by creating storage.  Find furnishings that can serve 2 purposes.  These will include coffee tables, ottomans and chairs that can also have storage space in them.  You can use these to store extra blankets, old magazines, extra pillows and more.  Basically, the more space you have the better.  With the clutter out of the way create a focus point in your one room apartment.  This can be done by painting one wall a different color and then against that wall having your entertainment center.  To give the room a larger feel, use mirrors.  An arrangement of small mirrors and one large one will do a great job of creating a larger, more airy feel with lots of light. Another great trick for making the room feel larger is to use tables with glass tops.

The basic idea is to let in lots of light so that the room does not feel crowded and dark.  Be sure that nothing is blocking your windows and instead of heavy curtains use sheers instead to allow light in.  Separate various areas for the various activities you will be carrying out. Let the bed and dresser be together creating a sleeping space, and have a sofa on another side with the coffee table to create a sitting space.  The best thing to do is have one long sofa, preferably a 3 sitter by itself.  If you have extra space you can add one accent chair.  A sofa bed is a great idea if the apartment is extremely small.  If the room is large enough you can use dividers to separate rooms.  This can be a shelf or even tasteful drapes.  Have matching cushions, floor rugs, or throws to tie the different areas together for a great feel.