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Making the Most of Studio Space

Spacious Studios

Love your studio apartment? But wish it was just that much bigger? Getting organised will instantly create more space. It will also increase enjoyment of your home, giving you the freedom to relax and even feel more energised. Who doesn’t want that? Follow these easy steps to make your studio work for you!

1. Plan the purpose

Know what you use your space for. Do you entertain often? Or perhaps you’d like to? Do you want your home to be a magnet for family events, or is it merely somewhere to change between work and socialising? Do you want it to be homely, child-friendly, a private oasis or perhaps it needs to accommodate your home business? Knowing the function of your apartment is the first step to truly enjoying your space.

2. Clear the clutter

Being clear about the purpose of your pad, allows you to know what you need and what you don't need there. This works on two levels: for things entering your home as well as existing possessions. Be clutter conscious and only allow things you really want, into your home. From junk mail to presents you’re never going to use, stop them at the door. Remember this is your haven and it is worthy only of the things that suit your bigger picture.

As for things already inside, what do you need to let go of? If you have trouble letting go of things that you know deep down don't really serve your purpose ask yourself these three questions:

How does this serve my home’s purpose?
How will this maintain or improve the quality of my life?
If I don’t keep this, what will happen?

Be honest, and be amazed at what answers come up!

3. Pick a place

A place for everything and everything in its place! No matter how much ‘stuff’ you have, it all needs a home. It will of course stray from its home. Maybe even for weeks at a time, but that’s not important. What is important is that it has a place to go when you get sick of it roaming around the apartment or hogging precious bench space.

When deciding on homes for your possessions, think about access. Keep daily-used items at arm’s length from where they are used. Weekly-used items in a prominent position of cupboards or shelves. When creating homes for lesser used items, think lower for heavy items, higher for lighter items and deeper for things kept in drawers.

4. Save some space

Ensure your plan encompasses even the larger pieces in your pad. Don’t buy piecemeal. Use furniture that serves your bigger picture. Large (not oversized) pieces can work well in small spaces. Chosen and placed aptly they promote a feeling of space and grandeur as opposed to lots of little bits all thrown together, which inevitably create a cluttered look and feel.

Similarly, to avoid the cluttered effect, keep your floor space as clear as possible. Replace floor lights, fans and heaters with ceiling or wall mounted alternatives. Depending on personal preferences, you can use up to 30% of your wall space for mounted or hung items. Again avoid a piecemeal approach as well as lots of little ‘bits’ everywhere. A sleek, tall thin vertical floor to ceiling cupboard can work wonders to give illusion of height. As long as the door is not see-through, little ‘bits and pieces’ can live inside the cupboard. Floor to ceiling window coverings will also promote a feeling of space and height. Curtains and furniture that end halfway up a wall, will create a ‘cut-off’ effect and ultimately present your studio smaller than it is.

Double purpose furniture is also a classic consideration: sofa beds, beds, ottoman, tables and even chairs with built-in underneath storage.
Additionally fold-out-from-the-wall furniture is great, especially if you have low tolerance to visual distraction. Increasing types of wall-fold-outs are available: beds, tables, computer desks, ironing boards and media units. In the smallest apartments utilising fold-out furniture can instantly double floor space!!

5. Stay on Track

Once you have your system set up, it will need to be maintained. You’ll be happy to know, that generally studio apartments can be maintained with very little effort and time if the original set up is apt. If you like routine, pick a time of the week to attend to it regularly. Return things to their homes, fill a bag to go to the op shop, make a pile of things to be returned to friends, work, the library. And take them! That day. If routine’s not your thing, maintain as the mood takes you. You’re bound to stay on track once you see and feel the benefits of a clear fresh space.

‘Spacious Studios’ article written by Professional Organiser Roz Howland from In Order Organising on behalf of the Australasian Association of Professional Organisers (AAPO) www.aapo.org.au

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