Although studio apartments are commonly associated with students and young adults, they’ve become increasingly popular with people of all ages in recent years. For one thing, with cost of living steadily on the rise, studio units represent the largest apartments many of us can afford. This is particularly true in densely populated urban areas, where space is a precious commodity. Still, if you’re not used to residing in a compact living space, moving into a studio apartment is liable to take some adjustment. To help ease this transition, put the following space-saving measures to good use.
Invest in Multipurpose Furniture
A studio apartment is likely to have trouble comfortably accommodating many pieces of furniture. As such, instead of purchasing a bevy of individual furnishings, you’d do well to double up. This entails purchasing furniture that serves multiple purposes. For instance, if you don’t have sufficient space for a sofa and a bed, why not invest in a good futon? Additionally, if there isn’t enough room for a dining table and a desk, invest in a table that fulfills the functions of both.
When seeking out suitable shelving for a studio unit, opt for tall shelves instead of wide ones. Furthermore, look for shelves that feature the maximum number of layers. If you don’t have a lot of floor space for shelves, look into wall-mounted shelving. After all, if you have a considerable amount of free wall space, you have every reason to put it to good use. By the same token, wall-mounting your television can effectively save you the trouble of investing in a space-consuming TV cabinet.
Be Extra-Mindful of the Purchases You Make
Residing in a studio apartment stands to save you money in a number of areas. For example, studio units generally have more reasonable rents than larger apartments. In addition, their limited space helps keep utility costs under control.
There’s also a third key area in which studio living can prove cost-effective: shopping. When you have an extremely finite amount of space to work with, you’ll have to be extra-mindful of virtually every purchase you make. Since every new item you bring into your apartment stands to eat up precious space, you’ll need to carefully consider every shopping-related decision you make. After all, acquiring something new may require you to get rid of something old.
Install Compact Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans can be a boon to home cooling. This is particularly true in the case of compact living spaces like studio apartments. The smaller the space, the quicker it can be cooled. However, when residing in a studio unit, you may have very little ceiling space to spare. Fortunately, not every ceiling fan is a hulking behemoth. Dependable ceiling fans come in a wide variety of styles and sizes, and it’s never been easier to purchase small ceiling fans. As an added bonus, high-quality ceiling fans are affordable on even the tightest budget, so you needn’t worry about exorbitant price tags hindering your home cooling efforts.
Consider Outside Storage Options
If your studio apartment doesn’t have enough space to house various non-essential items, it may be time to consider outside storage options. For example, if your apartment building provides residents with designated storage spaces in the basement, you may want to take advantage of this amenity – particularly if it’s available free of charge. Alternatively, if you have any friends or family members with ample space to spare, there’s certainly no harm in asking them to house your unneeded items. Lastly, if you’re not opposed to spending a little money, look into renting out an outside storage unit.
When searching for a new residence, many of us adopt the mindset that bigger automatically equals better. However, if you’re working with a very limited budget, you may need to make some large concessions with regard to size. For example, if you’re just getting your start or moving to a pricey urban area, a studio apartment may be your only viable option. If you’ve never resided in a studio unit, you may understandably be put off by the lack of space such apartments offer in comparison to roomier residences. Fortunately, with the previously discussed tips at your disposal, you should have no trouble making the most of limited space.
