Last updated on July 28th, 2023 at 08:44 am
Most times, studio apartments are small and don’t give you many options for decorating. It’s even worse if you have to transform this small space into an office, a bedroom, a kitchen, and a living room. Yes, you have your work cut out if you want to bring your 400-square-foot space to life. Since you’ll be spending a lot of time in your apartment, it’s a great idea to breathe life into it. Here’s how you can create a clutter-free, stylish, and comfortable abode. Here are the best 400 sq ft studio apartment ideas.
How to Decorate a 400 Sq Ft Studio Apartment
- Make it Colorful
Use paint to make your space look bigger and livelier. Brighter colors give the illusion of extra space. Some dark colors, such as gray, also work well in small studio apartments. Combine bright colors with greyish hues to make your small apartment look spacious.
- Change the Window Shades
The right window shades can make a small space look sophisticated. Beautiful window treatments raise your home’s profile and transform it to a cozy space where anyone feels comfortable.
- Get Creative
One way you can partition the space is by installing a glass screen. It’s also a great way to let the outdoors in. If you can’t use permanent dividers, install a folding screen. You can also add shelving, create an accent wall to draw attention away from the size of the room, or decorate with large art pieces.
How Can I Make My Studio Apartment Look Nice?
Remember, you’re decorating your apartment for yourself, not for other people. Feel free to decide what you’ll add to enhance its appeal. Your studio apartment will look nicer if you add a personal touch, and here’s how to go about it.
- Declutter
Your space is already small, so the last thing you should do is hoard stuff. Your studio apartment will look more cramped. Hold a garage sale if some of your stuff is still usable. You can make some extra money and get yourself new stuff for the apartment.
- Improve the Lighting
Use lighting to create the right mood. There are three basic types of lighting: ambient (general lighting), task (for performing tasks), and accent (for beautification). When these lights are layered throughout a room, they create a rich and flexible lighting design. If you live in a warmer region with plenty of natural light, use it to grow plants and to boost your home’s beauty. After all, natural light is the best light.
- Play with Color
Painting is a DIY project you can take up to improve your studio apartment’s appeal. You can paint one wall (an accent wall) or all the walls. You can also add pieces of art to make the apartment pop. And don’t stop there. You can also get a colorful sofa, throw pillows, or a rug.
What Is a Good Size for a Studio Apartment?
The average U.S. studio apartment is about 500 sq ft. Some apartments are 600 square feet, but you can also find larger studios–up to 800 square feet. If you live in a smaller studio apartment, you have to get creative to make the most out of the limited space.
Is 400 Sq Ft Too Small?
No, a 400 sq ft apartment is not too small for one person. It’s the equivalent of a 2-car garage, which makes it ideal for someone starting life on a tight budget. The apartment you get is influenced by your income and where you live (some cities are very expensive to live in!).
The ideal space for a studio apartment is about 600 square feet. At the very least, you can work with 400 square feet. You may have to stack up a few things, but you’d be comfortable.
Is A 500 Sq Ft Apartment Small?
500 square foot apartments are all the rage in Europe. In the US, however, they are not as popular. They’re mostly set aside for people looking to live on a slim budget. If you are alone, you can comfortably live in a 500 sq ft apartment.
A 500 square foot apartment is small for someone with a lot of stuff. It has a small living area, a small kitchen, a small dining area, and a closet. The living area also doubles as the bedroom. It’s not too cramped, but you may have to adopt a minimalist lifestyle.
Can A Studio Apartment Have 2 Bedrooms?
No, a studio apartment is a room that combines the normal functions of different rooms. The bedroom, kitchen, dining area, and bathroom are all in one room. If the studio apartment is big enough, you can partition it to create two separate sleeping areas.
However, if an apartment has 2 bedrooms, it ceases to be a studio apartment. You can call it a 2-bedroom apartment. You can creatively use room dividers to partition your large studio apartment into a 2-bed unit. Alternatively, you can have an open-plan studio apartment with two areas for sleeping.
Can a Couple Live in a Studio Apartment?
A studio apartment is a great option for couples who enjoy open, intimate spaces. Most studio apartments have the correct layout to make a cozy home for a couple. The apartment is also ideal for couples who want to save on rent. If you live in an expensive city, living in a studio apartment is cheaper than living in a one-bedroom apartment that costs more. The only drawback of living in a studio apartment is the lack of privacy if you host people overnight.
How Small Is Too Small for an Apartment?
Cities worldwide have a challenge with affordable housing. Major cities in the US classify housing units that measure 250 sq ft to 420 sq ft as micro-apartments. Cities such as Hong Kong have small apartments that only fit the basics. These housing units measure about 180 square feet (it’s unbelievable, we know!). In some cities, very small apartments aren’t considered decent housing.
That said, a small apartment is subjective. A 500 square foot apartment may be too small for a family. However, if you are a college student living on a tight budget, it could be perfect.
How Do You Decorate a Small Apartment on a Budget?
There are two things working against you in a small apartment: you don’t have the luxury of space or a big budget. Still, don’t let that stop you from redesigning your small apartment. Do this to liven up your space:
- Use Wall Art. Art offers one of the most affordable ways to decorate your small apartment. It doesn’t take up any of the already limited floor space. You can hang paintings, tapestry, and DIY art on walls to make your small apartment look appealing.
- Carpet the Studio. Use big and small rugs because they don’t consume space. A patterned rug with intricate detail takes attention away from the size of the house. This way, the place remains decluttered and looks wonderful.
How Do You Decorate on a Tight Budget?
One of the best ways to decorate on a budget is to buy small, inexpensive decor pieces. This may be anything from house plants to unique furniture. You can also get statement rugs, tapestry, and strip lights to enhance visual appeal.
Since you don’t have the money to hire professional interior designers, use the opportunity to become a DIY expert. Follow tutorials on making crafts and use the decor pieces to decorate your apartment.
You can also search for the best deals online. Sites such as Amazon and eBay always have people selling cool decor pieces at relatively low prices. Other sites, such as Etsy, bring together creative minds who sell affordable decor and art.
What Are the 7 Elements of Interior Design?
There is more to interior design than creativity and buying beautiful art. The 7 elements interior designers use when decorating spaces are:
- Space
Planning your space is essential to successful decoration. Space can either be positive or negative. How you use it determines the tone of your decor. Spaces that have furniture are positive spaces, while spaces left deliberately empty are negative spaces.
Finding a balance between both creates an illusion of more space or an intimate, cozy space. To use space well, consider the size of your apartment, what you will use it for, and how it can limit your design. Also, know that over-furnishing your space can make it look cluttered.
- Lines, Lines, Lines
Create horizontal, vertical, or dynamic lines with furniture. How well you experiment with lines shapes your rooms and directs the eye. To create the beauty you want in a room, introduce furniture and art pieces that focus on lines.
Tables have horizontal lines that make rooms look longer and wider. They generate a feeling of stability. Doorways and windows create vertical lines and produce an illusion of taller space. Avoid diagonals because they make people feel uncomfortable.
- Form
Form is the interior design element that adds depth to your room. It can be geometric or natural. Natural forms are open or closed. To make the most use of form, be careful how you combine scale, proportions, color, and texture.
Add complementary forms to your studio apartment to draw the eye. The shape of your walls and how you place objects in a room are influenced by form. Every addition you make to your room should follow a rule of form and each item should contribute to the space.
- Light
Light influences our perception of texture and color. It affects a room’s mood and tone. The best light is natural light that comes in through open doors, windows, or skylights. Use other forms of light such as mood lights, accent lights, and task lights to create unique tones in your studio apartment.
Your choice of lights will also be determined by the natural light available, the room’s use, and the ambiance you expect to achieve. For a stylish finish, add light fixtures. If you need versatile lighting, dimmers are best.
- Colour
You can play with colors to define a room’s mood, to stir memories, or to invoke emotions. Colors determine how a room feels and looks. They can make a space feel warm, cold, or more inviting. Neutral colors create harmony, while complementary colors add contrast.
Dark colors will make your room appear smaller and cozy, while bright colors will create the illusion of space. Experiment with different palettes to make your interior stand out. You don’t have to decorate like everyone out there!
- Texture
Texture changes the way a room reflects the sounds and light around it. Color and texture are complementary. Use rugged textures to make your home cozier and shiny or glassy textures to create a formal setting.
Soft textures create a warm and inviting space. To make your studio apartment more interesting and comfy, vary the textures studio. Use shaggy rugs, plaster, textured wall coverings, cut velvet, or stamped leather to add texture to your home.
- Pattern
Patterns add the final touch to interior decor. They are a combination of forms and lines which harmonize colors by adding character and motion. Use wallpapers and furnishings to set the pattern for your home.
You can use patterns to highlight areas of interest–like the living area. However, varying patterns too much can overwhelm your space. So, be sure to use similar ones. Window treatments, walls, furnishings, and floor patterns bring your room to life.
How Can I Decorate Like A Pro?
You can decorate your home like a professional this way:
- Use floating decor pieces. They are a great way to maximize space and add style. Use floating pieces such as shelves on the wall or nightstands. These keep the floor clear and provide storage underneath–if you need it. Also, use wall lights and sconces instead of floor lamps.
- Use the ‘unusable’ angles. Get furnishings that can fit in unconventional spaces. Uniquely-shaped furniture pieces look beautiful and cover oddly-shaped room angles. These are also great places to put your plants. Make DIY planters and place them in these corners.
- You can never go wrong with timeless bookcases. Modern bookcases feature unique and non-conventional shapes that don’t go out of style. Use these bookcases to store more than just books. You can add glassware and art pieces to give your home a unique, beautiful look.
- Use white. Since it reflects color, it adds freshness and brightness to a space. White backgrounds create the illusion of space in studio apartments. A white ceiling will make the room feel larger than it really is. And the good news is there are many shades of white, so you have a wide range to choose from.
- Group decor. Select a color, pattern, or texture to work with. Then look for art, furniture, or statement pieces in that color or pattern. Place these in a section of the room. For balance, you can group decor pieces in odd numbers such as threes. This draws the eye to the display, enhancing visual interest.
- Use lights in different colors. Use lights on furniture and walls to create different moods. Accent lights are a good option if you want a warm mood while string lights work well with shelves.
How Much Would A Studio Cost?
Global housing prices vary from one city to another, even within the same country. Infrastructure, age, and income influence the cost of apartments. For example, California has some of the highest prices for studio apartments. This may be because of the large population of high spenders in the area.
New York is famous for its high rental prices. Studio apartments can cost up to $4,200 a month! In California city, the same apartment may cost $3,000 a month. In New Jersey, studio apartments cost about $3,200 per month.
In other towns such as El Paso, studio apartments cost much less, around $900. You are likely to find more affordable studio apartments in smaller towns. Also, cities with a predominantly young population usually have more studio apartments.
What Is Cheaper: a Studio or an Apartment?
A studio apartment is cheaper than an apartment. However, this is only if we compare rental prices for these housing units in the same locality. This is because a studio apartment in a city like Manhattan may cost more than a one-bedroom apartment in Ohio or Washington, DC.
It’s generally more affordable to rent a studio apartment than a one-bedroom apartment. You will save on both rent and utility bills.
Where Is the Cheapest Place to Rent an Apartment in the U.S.?
Affordable housing is becoming increasingly harder to find, but there are areas with cheaper apartments, like Toledo, Ohio. Over the years, rent has consistently remained low in this town. The median rent is only $550. Memphis and Kansas city are two populous cities with affordable rent. On average, you can expect to pay $728 to $885. Phoenix, Arizona also has low rental prices, about $1,155 on average.