Studio flats or apartments are very common, especially in large city centres, where space for new housing is limited. At some point, many of us live in a studio, and if you are moving out of a larger house, you may be worried about where you’ll store everything, and how you’ll fit your life into what is essentially one room. While downsizing is always a challenge, studio living can be great if you find a way to do it comfortably. Here’s a look at everything that you need to know before you move into a studio flat.
What is a Studio Flat?
A studio flat is typically a flat without a bedroom. There’s usually one living area, with a bed, living space, and sometimes a dining area all in one room. However, there are different variations of the studio. Some studio flats are much larger than others, with plenty of space to create zones and to fit all of your furniture. Others are very small, and you’ll need to make some sacrifices to live comfortably.
Some studios have a separate room for the bathroom, but everything else, including the kitchen, is in one space. Others will have a separate kitchen. Your studio flat might be quite different from another, but there will be benefits and things that you should know before moving in.
What are the Benefits of Living in a Studio Flat?
There are plenty of benefits to living in a studio flat. They include:
Knowing these benefits can help you to feel more positive about your move, and your lifestyle. Here’s a look at some other things that you should know about living in a studio flat.
Good Storage is Essential
In a studio apartment, storage can be one of the biggest issues. You might not have room for large pieces of furniture, but having everything out on display will look messy, and take up a lot of your space.
The storage that you choose is incredibly important. Take your time to find smart storage, that can be hidden, or is multipurpose, like a coffee table with hidden storage, under-bed drawers, door hooks, and even added hooks and shelves on the insides of cupboard doors.
Make Use of Vertical Space
Add high shelves, hooks, and other storage to your walls adds storage without taking up floor space. Wall mount whatever you can, to free up space on the floor and open up the room.
You Need to Have a Clear Out
If you are moving from a larger house, you need to have a big clear out before you move in. Sell or donate what you can, commit to a thorough, and ruthless, declutter, and if there are any large pieces that you know won’t fit, but can’t bear to part with, ask if any friends or family could take it for a while, or look at storage options.
Having a Bed in Your Living Space Isn’t a Big Deal…
One thing that you are probably worrying about is having your bed in your living space. However, this isn’t as big a deal as you think it is. You’ll quickly get used to it, and even start to enjoy being able to lounge on your bed easily.
…But You Should Make It
However, your bed is going to take up a lot of space in your living area. It might be the largest piece, and so is the focus point. This means that if you don’t make your bed, the whole room will look messy. Get into the habit of making your bed every morning.
It can also be a good idea to invest in bed linen that you absolutely love, as it will be the focus of the room. You might also want to add throw cushions and blankets to create a cosy atmosphere.
You’ll Need to Get into Good Cleaning Habits
Making your bed is a fantastic start, but you always need to get into great cleaning habits to reduce clutter and mess thatcan’t be hidden behind a closed door. Get into the habit of cleaning as you go, and of tidying everything away when you are finished with it.
There are Great Ways to Separate Space without Wasting it
A big mistake that people make when moving into a studio flat is trying to separate the space into individual rooms by adding large pieces of furniture, and heavy screens everywhere. If you’ve got a huge space, this can work well. But if your studio is very small, adding extras will only waste space.
If you do want to use furniture to divide space, make sure you add things that you actually use, and limit how many spaces you try to create.
An alternative is creating zones with different flooring, adding a rug to the bedroom area, sticking to hard floors in the rest of the studio, or using different colours and styles of décor to clearly define zones.
Don’t Leave Repairs
In a bigger home, you can get away with leaving minor repairs for a while. In a studio flat, even something small like a cracked kitchen tile or a dripping tap will be noticeable all of the time. Click here to find some of the best plumbers London, so that you always know who to call when you need help and try not to leave repairs any longer than you need to.
Think Carefully About What You Really Need
In the ideal world, you might love to have a dining room, a reading corner, and a home office. But in a studio, you need to prioritise. Think about what you really need from your home and forget everything else.
Floor Plans Are a Great Way to Prepare
Before you move into any new home, it’s a good idea to prepare a to-scale floor plan using accurate measurements. This can help you to plan where your furniture will go andhelp you to make sure you don’t buy anything that won’t fit.
Shop Little and Often
The kitchen in your studio might not be as large as you would like, and storage might be limited here too. Instead of big monthly food shops, get into the habit of meal planning and writing lists, and shopping for a few days at a time, only buying what you need.
Moving into a studio isn’t usually as much of an issue as people expect. You’ll quickly find ways to turn your studio flat into a home so that you can start to enjoy its cosy atmosphere and unique space.
