When you live in a studio or loft apartment, your space becomes an all-in-one area including the kitchen, living space, office corner, and bedroom. If you’re new to renting one of these open-concept apartments, it can seem overwhelming. How can you create a sleep sanctuary in the place where you
spend most of your day in? Whether you’re renting a studio in Seattle, WA, or a loft in New York, NY, there are plenty of ways to make a cozy bedroom in your place. To help you get started, we’ve reached out to experts for their best advice on how to make a bedroom in a studio apartment or loft. From scents that promote sleep to storage solutions, here’s how you can create your own sanctuary.
Incorporate items that help you relax
Defining your space is extremely important when working with small quarters. A weighted blanket is a great tool to help promote a relaxing space, giving your bedroom a different feel from the rest of your studio. It’s the perfect way to get big comfort in a small space. – Tuc Blanket
These three tips will help make a bedroom in a studio
- Create a bigger space by using a wall bed or secret storage
- Use a platform bed with storage
- Install glass partitions
Don’t overlook the impact of a room divider
Room dividers are an excellent way to create distinct spaces for living and sleeping in a small apartment or a backdrop for a video call. Look for a double-sided design so that you get a beautiful view from either space. Foldable screens are especially useful because you can easily close and store them when not in use. – Oriental Furniture
Bookshelves can be a great way to divide spaces
Bookshelves are a functional division of space, especially in a studio apartment. The height allows you to take advantage of vertical space, which is so valuable. The shelves are useful for extra storage of personal items or an opportunity to add your personality with accessories. There are some really cool designs and finishes available for added interest. – Gina V. Roth, Abode Interior Design
When working with a small space, create clear zones
To create a bedroom, I like to start by painting (or wallpapering) the corner of the room where the bed will go to separate it from the rest of the space. Use soft tones to make this corner calm and bed ready. If you want extra privacy, an easy trick is to add a partition wall using either shelving or slats. I love a slat wall because they are easy to make and let the light through so the bedroom corner doesn’t feel too claustrophobic. Finally, I would add lots of personal touches like house plants, incense burners, cushions, and blankets to make this corner of my home extra cozy. – Melodie Telliez, A Softer Edge
Divide your space to have a cozy corner
If you live in a large loft or studio, my recommendation is to slightly divide the space and create a cozy corner for night time. An easy way to do this is to install a see-through shelving unit and put decorative objects that you can enjoy from both sides. This is a quick and elegant way to create a cozy apartment and adds a feeling of privacy to the sleeping area. When working in smaller studios, it’s crucial to be ingenious and favor multi-functionality. A good idea is to consider the bed as a sofa during the daytime. I put multiple layers of pillows to reduce its depth and put a chest as a coffee table in front of it. At night, all the pillows go into the chest and the bed is ready for a great night’s sleep. – Nadine Teboul, The French Apartment Gallery
Style your bed to complement your small studio
In small spaces, such as studio apartments and tiny homes, bed linens make a big impact. Selecting a couple of lightweight, yet cuddly layers will provide great functionality for changing seasons, and make a great looking bed, which is often always on display. Select a neutral coverlet for the first layer which is comfy for sleeping and easy to keep tidy. Then select a second layer that has a bit more drama for your second layer. This can be folded neatly across the foot, used as a throw for those weekend binge-watching sessions, and pulled up on cool nights. Add a single statement accent pillow to finish the look without creating clutter. – Amity Home
Use items that serve multiple purposes
When creating the perfect bedroom space in an open-concept room such as a loft or studio, we recommend starting with a multi-functional bed frame. Choose a bed frame that does double or even triple duty with underneath storage drawers, a built-in shelf headboard, and an embedded light fixture. This eliminates the need for extra bedroom furniture that takes up extra space, keeping true to the open space plan and combining function and design to make your bed your new favorite part of the room. – Becky Brown, Domestications Bedding
Going vertical is always a great option when making a bedroom in a studio
When you don’t have much room to work with, you’ll need to make the most of your vertical space. Instead of adding nightstands next to your bed, which would take some of the much-needed floor space, consider adding floating shelves to the sides of the bed to store your essentials. You can even get creative with the design, and add multiple shelves in an interesting pattern to create a focal point that will draw eyes away from the bed itself. – Georgie Mihaila, Editor, Fancy Pants Homes
Everything comes down to the details
We’re strong believers in the idea that a home is made in the details. It’s the little things, like candles, that can make a big impact on the overall feeling of a space. Of course in the evening, you want to create a cozy, relaxing environment in your home that encourages you to power down and let go of all the tension from the day. A lavender-forward scent, like Siblings No 05, is a go-to scent that can help set a calming mood. Or something very comforting scent like our coconut-fig scent No 09, is a perfect way to soothe the senses while you’re getting ready to sleep. – Eva Eckerblad & David Bronkie, Siblings Co
Make choices to give you more space
When creating a bedroom in a smaller space like a studio apartment, you might find that you don’t have the space for a regular bed frame and headboard. Using a platform frame will not only give you additional storage space underneath but allows you to get creative at the head of the bed. In place of a headboard, try painting an arch, installing wall sconces, or hanging wood panels to give the impression of a headboard without wasting any space. – Maggie Antalek
Embrace the open concept layout, but make it work for your needs
The ideal way to work with a studio apartment is to celebrate the open-concept, but still find ways to make spaces within the home feel separated. Use built-ins to separate spaces. You can use a large bookshelf to function as a wall, and on one side could be your sleeping area/bed, and the other could then be the rest of the home. Or if you really commit yourself, the built-ins could be continued on the other side to make a seating area that functions as your dining or breakfast nook. To top it off, adding lighting over a table allows enough more of a distinguished space within the studio.. – Hayley Francis, Neon Doves
Create compact luxury
Smaller open plan spaces offer the opportunity to create a luxury-inspired ‘suite’ similar to a 5-star hotel. Sleeping and other function zones don’t necessarily need to be strictly divided but rather composed as a harmonized assembly for personal use and enjoyment. Employ designer style drama to best effect with one carefully selected oversize piece of furniture or art as a focal point or backdrop. Avoid high wattage floor lamps that flood the entire space with light all at once. Place dimmable reading lamps or sconces strategically to cast pools of light that highlight furniture, art, and accessories. – Joseph Szymczak, SLATEspaces
Consider a weighted blanket to signal that it’s bedtime
It can be hard to escape the ‘eat, play, sleep, repeat cycle’ in a small space because every distraction is within arm’s reach 24/7. However, training your brain to recognize that it’s bedtime can be as simple as adding a weighted blanket to your nighttime routine. Using deep pressure stimulation to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, weighted blankets can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, increase the feelings of relaxation and trigger a sleepy feeling. While a better night’s sleep is the goal, in a studio apartment every choice matters. Grabbing the biggest weighted blanket you can find isn’t a good use of your space. Instead, select a weighted blanket that is heavy enough to do the job but thin and small enough that it doesn’t get in the way. – Hippo Hug Weighted Blankets
Create a cozy space in your loft bedroom by using pattern, texture, and color
Create a mural behind your bed, defining the space and creating a whimsical or happy focal point. I love incorporating fiber art, a weaving, or even a quilt to create a soft, sound-catching piece over your headboard near your bed. Make your sleeping area a sanctuary by surrounding yourself with your own preferred soothing colors. For some people, this is a palette of colorful items, for others it is a single color with a combination of saturated and pastel hues. Use a painted side table and bedding of the same color to unite the space. Low contrast rooms create a soothing atmosphere and can speed the onset of sleep. – Kirsten Conner, Kirsten Conner Interior Design
Originally published by Redfin
