Contrary to popular belief, you can live big in small spaces. Figuring out how to decorate a studio apartment balances its floor plan (an open loft apartment or an alcove studio) with your work/life wants and storage needs. You can transform one small room into a living room, kitchen, bedroom, and office simply by rethinking how you lay out and decorate your home. Thoughtful planning, clever storage, scaled-down furniture, and these DIY projects can give your apartment more room to relax.
Studio apartments do have their challenges, but they all can be conquered. The right studio apartment decor ensures your home feels more like a chic pied-a-terre than a college dorm room. Are you worried about privacy? Bring in a stylish room divider. Not sure if you can squeeze a work-from-home station into your minuscule but mighty dream space? A foldable floating desk fits practically anywhere—and is much better for your back than sitting on your bed or sofa. The right paint color or art can highlight architectural and design features you want to show off—and help hide pain points (especially in a rental). All these improvements can add value to your home too.
We’ve gathered the inspiration and DIY projects you need to decorate your studio apartment from interior designers who’ve mastered the art of thinking big and living large. Your days of feeling frustrated and unable to relax in your home are over. These 33 genius DIY projects prove your apartment can look and feel like a mansion.
Alice Mongkongllite
01. Use Fabric Medium And Acrylic Paint To Turn A Cheap Remnant Rug Into A Custom Statement Piece.
You can usually find remnant rugs at Home Depot or Lowe’; ask for what they might have in stock. Learn how to paint the remnant here.
02. Adhere Some Gold Leaf To Canvas Pillow Covers To Make Statement Pillows.
Here’s the tutorial, although you might want to paint a pre-made cover instead of using fabric glue to make your own.
03. Modernize Your Childhood Dresser (Or An Antique Thrift Find) With A Fresh Coat Of Paint And New Hardware.
Here’s how. EBay has several good finds if you don’t have a convenient flea market. And if you don’t want to buy new drawer pulls, you can spray paint the current ones metallic gold.
04. Paint And Frame Four Doormats For A Faux-Wood Headboard.
Here are the instructions. While you can’t still buy the exact mats used in the tutorial, you can use any rubber doormats you like (this one and this one are similar).
05. Or Nail Salvaged Wood Together For A Minimal But Warm Headboard.
This requires some DIY guts, and the tutorial comes in a few parts: one, two, and two and three.
06. OR, Dumpster-Dive For An Old Door And Paint It A Fun Color.
Here’s how they did it. You might skip the doorknob, though, so you don’t accidentally slam your head against it when you wake up from a bad dream.
07. Turn A 1×1 Cubby Into A Sleek Side Table.
This would work in your bedroom or next to your sofa. This tutorial uses an Ikea Expedit shelf, which you can’t buy anymore but can find similar shelves elsewhere.
08. Or Screw Some Hairpin Legs To A Stained Or Painted Crate.
Here’s how. Bonus: you get a little more bookshelf space.
09. ~Orrr~ You Can Build Your Wooden Top For Your Hairpin Legs.
10. Cover A Dull Mirror With A Fabric That You Love.
Jackie Hernandez / Source
Here are the instructions, but if you don’t mind the edges of your mirror as-is, you can skip the wood veneer step.
11. Warm Up Your Entryway With An Anthropologie-Like Paper Flower Garland.
It’s an inexpensive way to deal with that big, blank wall. Here’s how you can make it, including the printable flower templates.
12. Cover An Ugly Planter In Pretty Rocks For Your Front Steps.
So maybe you don’t have a wrap-around porch, but that doesn’t mean what you have has to be boring. Here’s how to do this.
13. Pick A Tough Fabric And Sew A Slipcover For A Utility Bucket.
Utility bucket = personal ottoman? Yes. Here’s how to do it.
14. Cover An Old Pallet With Foam, Batting, And Fabric For A Custom Living Room Ottoman.
Enlist a couple of friends or roommates to help you with the tufting. Here are the instructions, with photos.
15. If Your Tiny Apartment Can’t Fit A Giant Pallet-Sized Ottoman, Make One Out Of An Old Cable Spool.
Here’s how. To find a giant spool, try calling a local commercial electrician, who might have one you can pick up.
16. Add Simple Legs To An Ikea Table Top For A Midcentury-Style Coffee Table If You Prefer To Skip The Cushioned Ottoman.
It’s cheap, and you could probably put it together in the afternoon. Here’s how.
17. Mount A Cool Shower Curtain On A Bare Wood Frame For A Wall-Sized Statement.
See how to do it here. The hardware store will usually cut wood to size for you, so you only have to nail it together.
18. Glue Old Picture Frames Onto Wooden Boxes For Pretty Framed Shadow Shelves.
Try a local flea market for cheap but pretty frames. Here’s how to make them.
19. Glue Felt Around Wooden Dowels For A Cheap And Pretty Magazine Holder.
(Some of us still do read magazines!) Here are the directions.
20. Recover And Paint Ugly Cheap Chairs For Actually Pretty Guest Seating.
Ok, so maybe this feels a *little* over the top, but if you’re feeling extra crafty, why not? Here’s how you can make them.
21. Hot Glue Paint Chips To The Inside Of A Poster Frame For A Dry-Erase Calendar That Matches Your Kitchen Towels.
To get a pretty background, you’ll also need a neutral fabric. Get more details on how to make this here.
22. Balance A Marble Tile On A Copper Pipe Frame For A Pretty Plant Stand.
You can find single marble tiles at most flooring stores, and ask your hardware store to custom cut your copper pipe for you. Here’s the tutorial.
23. Secure An Old Suitcase To A TV Table For A Small But Stylish Bar.
Here’s how you can do it, even though the tutorial uses empty liquor bottles for some reason.
24. Turn A Couple Of Ikea Pieces Into A Trendy Drink Table With Some Gold Spray Paint.
Here’s the step-by-step. You’ll probably need a couple of tubes of superglue, though.
25. Tie Sisal Rope Onto A Painted Board To Create A Simple Hanging Shelf.
Get the super simple instructions here.
26. Upholster A Piece Of Wood With A Pretty Blanket (And Hairpin Legs, Again) For A Colorful Bench.
Your puppy will love it, too. Here are the instructions.
27. Turn Two Bowls And Some Concrete Into A Beautiful Succulent Planter.
Literally two plastic bowls. It looks hard to make, but it’s not! Here’s how.
28. Knot Together Some Pretty Mini Hangers For Your Kitchen Window.
Here’s the tutorial (illustrated with photos, thankfully), which also includes directions for those pretty ombré pots.
29. Edge A Simple Round Mirror In Copper Tape.
Copper tape is usually used as a “shielding tape” in electronic work. Find out how you can use it to jazz up an old mirror.
30. Or, Adhere The Copper Leaf To A Framed Mirror You Already Own.
Homey Oh My! / Source
Here’s how, and here are some tips on using a metallic leaf.
31. Drill Holes In The Side Of A Ceramic Pot To Turn Your Favorite Pot Into A Hanging Garden.
Read the directions so you don’t crack the pot, and please wear safety goggles! Here’s the tutorial.
32. Spray A Plastic Or Wooden Dowel With Copper Spray Paint, Then Hang Air Plants On It.
Gathered Cheer / Source
If you put this in the bathroom, you won’t have to remember to mist the plants with water because they’ll be moistened every time you shower. Here’s how to make it.
33. Marble A Vase By Floating Nail Polish In A Water Bowl.
Make it even cheaper by picking your nail colors from the clearance bin. Here’s the step-by-step.
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