Designing Your Dream Home in A Rental Studio Apartment

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As someone who never intended to be living in a studio apartment in my thirties, making sure my apartment felt like my dream home was a top priority. After hunting for an apartment for months, I finally stumbled upon this quaint, private, but tiny studio apartment that I instantly saw huge potential in. With that being said, the potential was buried deep, deep, down. It took me YEARS to reach a point where I felt like I had gotten closer to that ‘dream home’ feeling in my tiny studio apartment. With the help of Pinterest, Amazon, Facebook Marketplace, family and friends, I’ve fully transformed my space. Now I get to share with you what I’ve learned, about maximizing your small rental space with design and determination!

Discover Your Home’s Potential With Inspiration

The first thing I recommend you do when it comes to making your small living space feel more like your dream home, is find inspiration! I looked in a multitude of places for my inspiration. The top three places I recommend you search for inspiration are Pinterest, Youtube, and TikTok. All three of these social media platforms host an array of interior design creators and people that share their homes in hopes to inspire! Make mood boards and save anything you like into categories for each space.

For example, when looking for inspiration for my apartment, I made sure to include the terms tiny and studio in my search. This led to me find some of my favorite creators and favorite home items that make living in a small place one hundred times more livable. A couple standout creators I found during my search are: (1) Alexandra Gator – who has a ‘studio fix’ series on her interior design YouTube channel, and (2) Tara Michelle – who at the time was a fellow single woman living alone that had similar interior design taste to me.

Knowing Where To Start and What To Prioritize

After you’ve found all of your inspiration and narrowed down your design style, the next step is to decide where to start. One of the largest lessons I learned living in my apartment for the last four years, is that design takes time. Unless you have limitless expendable income, you’re going to have to decide what is of upmost importance first and prioritize starting there. Even after taking these photos this past April, my space has continued to change and transform. I like it even better now! I’ve lived in this apartment for four years and it’s gone through many stages of development.

Redesigning The Patio and Landscaping

For my apartment in specific, I started outside. I needed to enclose the patio area for my dog, and make it feel clean and inviting. With the help of my family, we built and installed a gate to enter through. We also built standalone fences to block off the side access points to the yard. This was a priority so I could safely let my dog out into the yard without having to walk him alone in the middle of the night.

When I first viewed this apartment, the outdoor area had a few areas of concern. The area directly outside the entry was paved. However to the side and around the corner was loose dirt with trees interweaved through a chain link fence. I knew this was not ideal because it would require constant upkeep and make my dog a mess. I requested permission to remove the trees and re-landscape. Thankfully my landlords were more than willing to allow us full access to makeover this area! After removing the trees, we covered the dirt with weed blocker and wood chips. We placed a few stepping stones in a path leading to the astroturf patch I scored off Facebook Marketplace. Lastly we installed privacy screen and cafe lights on the chain link fence.

Budget Landscaping and Learning From My Mistakes

Full transparency, this project ended up taking way longer and was way more expensive than I had imagined. The amount of work that went into cleaning up this area was expansive. But with an enormous amount of assistance from family, we made it happen. There was also a large learning curve, being this was my first time designing and attempting to landscape an area. The very first rain storm we had, my patio flooded and spread muddy wood chips all over my entryway and down the entire driveway of the property! We ended up having to install Ikea deck tiles to the corner of the yard. This allowed for better drainage to prevent another wood chip mud slide!

While this project did surprise me with how much it cost, there were a few major things we did to save money! First we reused old wood that my dad had been saving for years to build the gate and the standalone fences. We then painted them white using old paint we had saved (a combo of indoor and outdoor) which has stood the test of time, thankfully! I purchased a small section of astroturf off Facebook Marketplace and chose to cover the surrounding area with wood chips. This was drastically less expensive than trying to install turf throughout the entire dirt area.

Where My Patio And Side Yard Are At Now:

Taking the time and effort to make your space work for you will never fail to elevate your quality of life! Even though you’re renting, it’s worth it!

The amount of work and money I put in, with the help of my family, was thoroughly worth it! This is where my yard has sat for a few years now. I have been incrementally adding furniture, plants, and door mats here and there. I’m actually ready to re-do it, because I no longer need the turf. I would probably suggest skipping that altogether knowing what I know now! I also have discovered a better method of weed prevention because the weeds can get wildly out of hand! Especially considering I have no grass or garden. Point being, taking the time to design, re-landscape, and build things to make your space work for you is worth it. Having landlords that are willing to allow you freedom to do this is also invaluable!

Seeing Potential Beyond The Surface

When I toured my apartment I could have easily been thrown off by the stark difference between the current tenants taste in home decor and my own. It’s important to be able to focus on the bones of the unit rather than what you see on the surface. One of the first things I noticed when I viewed this apartment wass that the feng shui was off and there was no ‘flow’. The fridge was blocking the walkway to enter and storage shelves were covering the windows. Once all of the previous tenants items had been removed, I realized that I could move the location of the fridge to beside the door. This opened up the entryway and also made space for me to install vertical storage!

The Quickest Upgrade With Major Impact: PAINTING

I think this goes without saying as most people think of painting first! In my delusional state, when I first viewed this apartment I told myself I’d be okay if I didn’t paint the cabinets or front door. Now in hindsight I’d confidently say that girl was insane! Taking the time to repaint the cabinets from blue to white, and the front door from hot pink to camel were the BEST upgrades I made! My home is my actual safe haven where my nervous system can be regulated and recover. I honestly think the color of the door and cabinets before would have spiked my cortisol on the daily! lol.

Major shoutout to all the friends and family (not all pictured) who put in WORK to get these painting jobs done!

Measure Twice Before Purchasing

When deciding what to purchase for a small space, it is imperative that you measure well and make a plan before purchasing anything! I knew that I would need more counter space and kitchen storage. A few friends of mine had utilized these Ikea Kitchen Carts in their various apartments and homes so I knew they were a great option. Luckily at just under 17 inches deep these kitchen carts fit perfectly while still leaving ample walk through space. Not only do they add more drawers, storage shelving, and counter space to my tiny kitchen, but they host my camper stove and toaster oven! (Did you notice yet that my apartment has zero stove or oven?!)

Making Sacrifices For What’s Most Important

When deciding whether or not it would work for me to live in an apartment that had zero cooking appliances, I had to consider my options. For me it was worth it to find appliances I could purchase to use in my tiny kitchen in order to live in this apartment. The rent was right, the landlords were great, they allowed dogs, and gave me free reign for updating the place! Luckily my friends and family were MORE than generous with gifting me most of my appliances as house warming gifts.

These are the appliances and tools I have that make cooking and living in this tiny studio apartment so functional that I almost forget I don’t have a stove or oven. I have two separate “stove” options: a butane camping stove and an electric hot plate. I prefer to use the butane stove most of the time but am thankful to have the hot plate as a secondary option when I need to use two pots at once! My Ninja Air Fry Countertop Oven can toast bread, roast vegetables, broil pizza, and even bake sourdough! The only drawback is the lack of vertical space. I have to make very tiny loaves of sourdough so they don’t rise too much and burn on the surface!

I use this next appliance way less than the other two but it has been very handy and useful. My Instant Pot works to make rice, slow cook chicken, prepare beans, and make soup! Now my most used appliance is definitely my Nespresso Verturo Next! I had a hard time narrowing down which type of coffee maker I wanted because I am a coffee addict! Sometimes I want drip, sometimes I was espresso, and in a small space it can be hard to have it all! I have been more than pleased with this Nespresso machine and use an electric kettle to make americanos mostly!

Utilizing Vertical Space For Storage

When trying to live functionally in a small studio apartment one of the most helpful tips is to utilize vertical space for storage. Install shelving, cabinetry, use baskets on top of furniture, the list goes on. I personally purchased these wall hanging shoe storage bins from Ikea to increase my kitchen storage. I was inspired by a post I found on Pinterest to create a shelf that goes atop the bins. Thus creating a more aesthetic yet functional entryway. Of course, hanging a mirror in your entryway is a necessity for that last look before leaving your safe space. Each bin has a separate function: one for pans, one for tools, one for utilities, one for rain boots!

The second area I utilized vertical storage was above my kitchen carts! A friend of mine was getting rid of her stainless steel shelving. I decided to utilize it, since it was free! These shelves are nice because they don’t collect as much dust as solid shelves would. That is something to keep in mind when deciding what to store on open shelving! Everything will collect dust so make sure it’s something you wash often or has a closed lid! I like to keep my dry goods in jars on mine and also some larger bowls that can be hard to store!

Don’t Be Afraid To Tackle DIY Projects

Directly across from the kitchen carts is the only counter space and cabinetry that actually came with my kitchen. One of the first additions I knew I’d want to make in this space was to add open shelving between the cupboards! It just looked like it was meant to have shelves there.This became the perfect place to keep my dishes, wine rack, and cook books! Seeing the photo of the before reminds me how unfinished this area looked without these shelves!

Because this area was so custom I figured it would be best to DIY the shelves. I really got to practice my DIY skills with this project! I bought one or two long pieces of 2 x 10 lumber that we cut to size. We utilized this wood for the kitchen shelves, the entryway shelf and the bathroom shelves! I had my dad help cut all the wood, then I got busy sanding and staining. For the hanging hardware I bought heavy duty ‘L brackets’ from Home Depot and spray painted them matte black. All that was left to do was to install them into my apartment. Thankfully I had family to help mount these to the walls. Making sure these weren’t going to just fall out of the wall was important!

Everything Needs A Home

Something I’ve learned from living in tiny spaces my entire life is that everything needs a home! When you have a large space, with a walk in closet, and a connected bathroom, having a dirty clothes hamper stuck in the closet or bathroom doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. However when you can see every corner of your home from your couch, you don’t necessarily want your dirty clothes hamper sitting out. This concept applies universally because if you leave one thing out in a studio apartment, your house will feel unkept and more cluttered.

That’s where one of my FAVORITE finds and purchases comes into play. One day while scrolling for inspiration I saw a video where this girl shared these standalone storage cabinets she found on Amazon. They fit right into my design style and they looked like the right size to fit in the hallway directly outside of my bathroom! Lucky for me they were affordable enough and the perfect depth to still allow space to walk by from the living space into the kitchen.

I purchased two of these storage cabinets and placed a few enclosed baskets on top. I store my step stool in between them, and keep extra paper goods and products in the baskets atop. The shelves that came with the cabinet are adjustable. I was able to arrange them to have open space on the bottom while still having shelves for storage on top. One cabinet holds my rechargeable stick vacuum on its charging stand, a mini ironing board, a mop, rag towels, and other miscellaneous cleaning supplies. Essentially it acts as my broom closet! The other one holds my laundry hamper, my jewelry, my sunglasses, my bathroom linens, and other misc. supplies.

Get Creative When Dividing Space

Working out the most resourceful way to fully utilize my bathroom took some time. The vanity cabinet did not have a drawer anywhere near the top. I had a hard time figuring out how I wanted to store my makeup and hair tools, my medicine, and other products. The first thing I did (after installing the open shelving mentioned above) was purchase these short but wide containers from Ikea and also the lids. They fit the dimensions to slide under the vanity and store all of my travel products and back stock. After trying out a multitude of different set up and options, I ultimately found having my makeup vanity inside my bathroom worked best!

I already owned this console table and used it as my vanity in my last living space. All my makeup is organized in these clear drawers. However, I had the console placed directly in front of a window for the best lighting. Unfortunately there is no window in my bathroom. The next best option was to purchase a vanity mirror with lights. Having good lighting is so important when doing makeup. As a beauty professional, I prioritize this! I opted to mount it to the wall (even though it came with a stand) in order to maximize surface area on the vanity.

Make Decisions That Work For You

While I like everything to have a home, there are some things whose home needs to be open and visible! As someone self-diagnosed with ADHD, out of sight out of mind is something I majorly struggle with. That is why I decided to install these small open shelves to the side of my sink to hold my skincare and some toiletries. I also found this cute basket weave tiered tray to hold my hair clips and hair ties. This helps keep them all from living on the counter. It also ensures I’m using them, instead of just storing them behind a closed door.

The Main Living Space

Now that we’ve made it from the patio, through the entryway, past the kitchen and bathroom, we can finally address the main living space! In a studio apartment this typically means you have one large area to host your living room, bedroom, and office. (And in my case, the piano I inherited from my Grandma.) In the first year of living in my apartment, I rearranged the layout of my furniture no less than ten times! I also swapped out my furniture as I learned what worked and what didn’t. It’s a good idea to bring what you already own, and see what you can make work. As you live a little, you will quickly learn what is too large or not efficient enough. When living in a tiny space you can’t afford to keep something that is too large for your space or doesn’t have enough usage.

Creating Separate Areas

One of the best tips when designing the layout for your studio apartment is to utilize rugs to separate areas. As you can see I used this large jute rug I found at Ikea to separate my ‘living room’ from my bedroom. This made such a huge difference in how the overall flow of my living space felt. I have found that jute will stand the test of time as well! I have had to clean up various spills, from dogs to nieces, and it still looks great! Probably one of the most durable rugs I’ve ever purchased. (Although you do want to try your best keep it dry!)

I debated for a while on whether or not to put a rug on the ‘bedroom’ side of my apartment. The living room rug already created a separation. The reason I ultimately decided to get one was for my senior dog. His paws would slip when jumping down from the bed on the slippery floor. I found that getting an irregular shaped rug like this faux-fur cowhide worked better than another angular rectangular one. Another bonus is that it was machine washable! The exact rug I have is sold out but I found one that looks identical but just doesn’t say machine washable here.

How To Make Your Space Feel Bigger

My tried and true tip for making any living space feel bigger is MIRRORS. Growing up, my bedroom had the classic full size mirrored closet doors. Because my room was so small, it basically took up an entire wall. However because it mirrored back my room to me, my room felt so much larger than it was! I have taken this principle with me to each dorm, trailer, and apartment I’ve lived in since!

In my opinion, you can’t have too many mirrors as long as you use them strategically! In total, my tiny studio apartment has seven mirrors. However, I don’t think anyone would walk in and notice that I have so many. By reflecting the room back to you, it gives the illusion that your space is larger because it isn’t being blocked by a dead wall. You’re seeing the space around and behind you which opens up the vibe.

Utilize Sneaky Storage

Nowadays there are so many options when shopping for furniture that provides sneaky storage solutions. At first glance, you may not notice all the areas in my main living space that work as major storage. The first solution I found was this BESTA media console I actually got for free from my brow waxer! She had used it for her business and was moving so she gave it to me! Little did she know I’d had my eye on the unit at Ikea because of its ample storage space!

Behind those three semi-translucent doors, I store a multitude of items. On the left you’ll find my Apple TV, a DVD player, a drawer with miscellaneous cords, a neck/shoulder massager, games, photo albums, and art supplies. That’s all in ONE section. I’ll spare you from the details behind each door. But just know, I DIY my gel-x nails, print out pictures and file papers, and hoard DVD’s I never use as well.

Get Creative With What You Have

My clothing storage situation could use an upgrade, I’m working with what I’ve got. The armoire closet came with the unit, and I’ve utilized it to my fullest ability. The large basket I found for the top holds all my purses and backpacks. I keep my old yearbooks on either side and hide my internet router and modem to the side. I keep my shoes, my swimsuits, hats, scarves, extra bed linens, weights, yoga mat, and clothes in that tiny armoire.

The only way I’m able to make this tiny ‘closet’ work for my clothes without going insane is by cycling by season. I keep all my off season clothes stored in vacuum space saving bags. Where am I storing these off season clothes, you ask? Why, in my super secret sneaky storage bed frame of course! One of my favorite finds is my bed frame that holds my mattress on hydraulics. With the pull of a tab, my mattress lifts and holds in the air revealing an entire bed sized storage space. I keep my luggage, a walking pad, an air mattress, sewing machine, and lots of space saving bags filled with clothes and extra bedding.

Living Like You Are In Your Dream Home

It has been four years in the making to write this blog post. If you’ve read this far and made it to the final section, you’re a real one. There are so many more details and tips I could give even beyond the <3,500 words I’ve written so far. One of the most real things I can say about making your rental studio apartment feel like your dream home, is this:

Whether you own or rent, whether your space is micro or abundant, it is your home. It deserves to be stewarded well. It is a gift to have a private, safe, and warm place to call your home. What makes it feel like your dream home is all about perspective. Recognize what you’ve been blessed with and be content with what you have!

I hope that by sharing my journey of turning this tiny studio apartment into my dream home you feel more equipped to embrace your own. Patience, determination, hard work, and welcoming help are four of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through the process. Knowing that you have all that you need and the rest is just extra is key.

xoxo Alice

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