Enhance space in your small apartment design

A pint sized studio apartment needn't cramp your style. if you need help with interior design in your slightly (or very) small apartment, take heed of these teeny tiny tips.

When most of us think of studio apartments, the words 'shoe box' and 'claustrophobia' readily spring to mind, but living in a studio doesn't have to feel like you're living in one room.

"By cleverly delineating living areas with the use of colour, texture and well-selected furniture, studios can be very comfortable and livable, " says Dorothy de Guara, senior designer at Domayne Bathroom & Kitchen Design.

Investing in studio apartments

Indeed, studio apartments (where the bedroom, living and kitchen areas are combined) are experiencing a renaissance. According to Tim Storey, managing director of Colliers PRD, up to a third of new inner-city apartment developments now comprise studio units.

"Primarily this trend has been driven by construction-cost increases over the past four years," he says. "A lot of developers haven't been able to produce cost-effective products of one or two bedrooms for the same amount of money, so what's inevitably happened is that a lot of the product has become smaller."

Contrary to popular belief, it's not just investors who are snapping up studio appartments. As housing affordability in the capital cities continues to decline, young professionals wanting an inner-city pad they can call their own are now starting to think small.

"We're starting to see an owner-occupier trend emerge, particularly in Sydney where affordability and availability is becoming scarce," says Tim.

Is a studio apartment right for me?

So if studio living is for you, how do you go about making a tiny space as functional and livable as possible?

According to Dorothy, the key to small apartment design is creating the illusion of multiple rooms and clearly designating certain areas for certain activities.

"Don't let your kitchen or living activities spill over into your bed and bathroom areas, or vice versa," she says. "For example, if your space allows for it, a simple Japanese-type screen can be used to close the bed area off from the rest of the space and create the illusion of a separate bedroom."

Finding furniture for studio living

Dorothy also recommends shopping around for the right furniture. There are many items on the market now that have been specifically designed for studio appartments and small-space living. And, of course, keep clutter and mess to a minimum.

"When you've got a small footprint, you should also be clever with your vertical dimensions," suggests Fred Ward from 1+2 Architecture, which recently won two National Architecture Awards for a ground-breaking studio apartment development in Hobart. "For example, if you've got a high ceiling, you could raise the bed onto a higher shelf and use the space underneath as a study area."

Create more space in your small studio apartment with good design tips from professional interior designers: