Other inspo pics didn’t upload lol oops

I lived in a studio in Chelsea NYC for a few years that was half this size or less - and a lot less storage.

It was close to my job in FiDi & Tribeca and I was out with friends etc a lot so it wasn’t terrible but it certainly gets old…

I recommend a Murphy bed and wall mounted tv. Foldable table & chairs for company.

https://preview.redd.it/scgljqpv100f1.jpeg?width=1668&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0c16848919954a7723a0e844b484b17f56cd6163

Would something like this work? Also congrats on your new home!

Also frankly it is worth it to use an air bed and a couple of folding/borrowed chairs for a month or two until you see how your living rhythms, traffic patterns, and the light work in the space.

This is one of those places where people really underestimate the size of furniture. I've taken your kitchen at 5' wide and made a queen sized bed that matches that dimension. It just happens to fit between your built ins, but barely. The sofa is a 3 seater at 32" deep and 77" wide, and is one of the smaller 3 seaters available at IKEA. I've plunked a TV ontop of a media center that can hold your gaming console, remotes, board games, sewing kit, whatever. That table with the fold out leaf is as small as you would want to go for two people and would fold out to a cozy 4 person dining experience. And a dresser behind the couch where you can put your beer when watching the game. You can mostly see the TV when you're cooking. There are arms that articulate TVs vertically (not cheap compared to fixed ones) so you could mount the TV on the wall at one height for when you're on the couch, and lift it up if you want to watch TV in bed. I hate watching TV in bed, but some people love it. It's an option.

It's a small space. There's not much you can do. Maybe it would help if we know what you "needed" in the space. Do you read a lot of books? If it's a Kindle, you don't need a bookshelf. Are you a PC gamer? Then you probably need a desk.

This is what I'd do with the info I have:

https://preview.redd.it/v6thumgx510f1.jpeg?width=922&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d2e2e2c1013ba6cb0cecdde36a3afb6d1cb3596b

Happy to help!

Where are the power outlets? I thinks that's one of the most important factors to plan around.

Based on this, divide the long space into rough thirds.

If the shelves (unseen) don't take up all of the wall space, divide them to the far side & place your entertainment console in the middle. Turn the love-seat/sofa to face this with the chair to the right (in this view) wall making a cozy conversation area.

This now clears about 5 feet on each side wall to place/create dedicated desks as work spaces. Back the sofa with a narrow depth 4ft bookcase just tall enough to be used as a console from the sofa side. Define the central area with a lengthwise manila toned sculpted berber from the sofa console/shelves to just shy of the dining space. Get rid of the front left corner table and lamp. Get a large enough mirror to place here in this wallpaper & frame it to replicate the window to create a faux window wall. Extend the window treatment to abet the effect... Use a drapery valance to cover the length of the header space & hide the hardware. Match both corners with your torchièr floor lamps. Center the dining table to this space. This frees the left lateral wall space to use 12 inch floating floor to ceiling shelving (light wood tones to match your table) for displsy or serving pieces/bar service.

The modern central ceiling light doesn't fit the space (imo) replace it with something more linear... Like an "H" split rail track light about 6 ft long each side with the down spots dedicated to each side desk area.

Place art work to the "living room" section & work sections that compliment each other but further define each personal space.

If you don't want to fit in an extra desk, you could use the dining table as a multifunction desk and dining area. If you want a permanent workspace set up you could have the table with the short side up against the wall and have your workspace on that side and divide the table up with house plants.

Also, get a big rug for the center of the room :)

That’s small??? That room is bigger than all the entire apartments I lived in in NYC. Combined.

Leave the dining area as is. I would move the arm chair closer to the couch. And maybe move the bookshelf closer to to the TV. Is the wall on the right now available to set up your workstations? How much stuff do you need to create proper workstations for you both? Here are some small desk ideas too. https://heavy.com/home/2019/07/desks-for-small-spaces/

Please provide the actual room dimensions I'm visually guesstimating 12 x 18? If possible, also another camera shot from the entry doorway to back wall

PLANTS ��

Congratulations on your new apartment! Here are a few recommendations to make your apartment feel bigger and more personalized without breaking the bank:

• Mirrors: Mirrors are great for creating the illusion of more space and amplifying light. Consider placing a large mirror on a wall or using smaller decorative mirrors to brighten up dark corners.
• Wall Art: Choose a few statement pieces of art or photographs to hang on the walls using removable adhesive strips. Opt for lighter colors and abstract designs.
• Floating Shelves: Install floating shelves to display plants, books, and decorative items without taking up floor space.
• Area Rugs: Use area rugs to define different zones within the apartment and add warmth and texture to the floors.
• String Lights: Hang string lights around windows, along walls, or above the bed to create a cozy and inviting ambiance.
• Greenery: Add indoor plants to bring life and freshness into the apartment. Choose low-maintenance varieties like succulents or snake plants.

Utilize your vertical space. Shelves or other hanging/wall-mounted storage solutions that you can get up off your floor does absolute wonders!

We have a folding craft table with drawers on the side in our living room. It’s great for storage and tucks away nicely next to the kitchen island, and can expand out either half way or full if you need all of the space.

I’d also recommend if you go for an ottoman or coffee table to make sure that it has storage. We tried to make sure that most of our things have multiple functions.

We also mounted the TV on the wall, since that eliminated the need for a bulky tv stand that would take up space on the floor

Personally we enjoy many of our Ikea items a lot. They have couches you can easily transform into beds, bed frames with storage, space saving storage options, various kinds of shelving options. Our latest purchase was the morbylanga table, I absolutely love the design on the legs, leaves a lot of leg space - and is bug enough to sit six if needed (this is the smaller size table) if we have that many people over.

There are many interior design channels on YouTube that cover Ikea and give ideas, especially for smaller spaces as well. I think some people look down on Ikea, but honestly we love our items and they’ve held up exceptionally well, especially considering the price point.

I feel you homie im actually in the same situation. It's quite simple but pinterest has actualy helped me a lot to find some interesting stuff.

https://www.pinterest.ca/kennyhhin/smart-furniture/

Pinterest has some interesting pictures of pieces for small spaces.

Organizing the entryway! What are some shoe storage solutions when your entrance is small? Coat storage? Where to put purses and bags etc?

Love the pivoting table-shelf combos.

The tables that are shelves. nifty

Guest comes to house. Confused because he can't find a chair. Owner says "take a load off and sit down." Guest says where. Owner with shit eating look on his face says "anywhere everything is a chair" as he flips a small cube into a fucking sectional couch 🤣

Every sitting and sleeping area looked uncomfortable after 30mins of use.

Dad brought home every sample the company showroom had to offer!

Lol I came to say the exact same thing. 75% of that space they're saving by turning a table into a smaller table could be saved by having one less table.

Vertical space is your friend! If you’re lucky enough to have kitchen cabinets that aren’t flush against the ceiling, that could be storage space for your materials & any machines like Cricut you might have. IKEA has several options for desks & tables that fold up against the wall like a Murphy bed, and in many apartment closets there’s room at the top for an extra shelf. My hall closet has room at the top AND bottom, I opted to zip tie extra shelves to the lowest built-in shelf and use the top space for bulk paper towel & toilet paper storage (and hiding snacks I don’t want to share with my kids). Once you find an area for your crafting/art station, you can figure out a way to install a shelving or pegboard system for your stuff.

When we first got married, my husband and I lived in a 250-sqft studio with no kitchen, and we ended up staying there for five and a half years. I remain amazed that we didn't kill and eat each other that entire time, but then again, it IS rather difficult to fit an adult corpse in a mini fridge.

The biggest thing to remember when living in a very small space is communication. You and your partner need to be really clear about your needs and if one of you is getting on the other's nerves, you gotta talk it out right away.

Try to compartmentalize the studio as much as possible with clearly defined spaces, using furniture or room dividers. It'll make the place feel larger and give each of you a little spot to call your own or hide when you can't stand the sight of each other.

Wall mounted cabinets and shelves were a godsend in our old place. If you don't have a lot of floor space, get some shelves and run them all the way up to the ceiling. If you don't want to or can't drill holes in the walls, there are shelves that mount with floor to ceiling tension rods kinda like the corner ones they make for shower caddies.

Im currently renting out a single bedroom (~200sqft) with my partner, and we’ve been here a year. The biggest thing Ive learned, is to remember to make time for yourselves outside of the house. Hang out with friends, go places, do things. Time apart, time spent dedicated to yourself is amazing.

Another thing, is to not let it get crowded. Keep things simple. The more stuff, the tighter it feels. We made the dual mistakes of not completely unpacking/downsizing, and starting to collect things for the new apartment too early (like boxes of kitchenware and such). Our tiny living space is very, very, very crowded, and leaves the room feeling constantly overwhelming.

Also, utilize under-bed storage. Can use totes, can use drawers, whatever works for you. It gives easier access to things that you dont want out and taking up room, but want to grab on a whim (art supplies!).

This is more a lesson on what NOT to do lol, as we fudged it from the beginning. Hopefully its smooth sailing for yall.

multipurpose furniture and a wholeeeee lotta communication!!!

Multipurpose furniture. I currently live in a 350sq ft apartment and buying furniture that has more than one use makes a huge difference.

I got one of those IKEA cube storage shelves to create a little wall but I got the cube inserts as well which is where I’ll put stuff but it looks more presentable. Their inserts can be drawers or doors. Each fit into the cubes which I think looks a lot nicer than the fabric baskets you normally see. This sits right next to my bed and I also use it as a night stand. I have a small couch on the other side and you could easily do something similar to give yourselves the feeling of space without having to leave.

Getting a bed frame that you can put stuff under. I put anything I don’t need all the time. The short rectangular boxes are perfect. You can put extra blankets, bags, shoes, off season clothing.

I also gave a ton of stuff away. For the first few months each month I would get rid of a little more. I just needed less clutter and certain stuff just had to go because there was no place to put it.

For the kitchen cut back on how many dishes you have. Less pots and pans. Only keep what you absolutely need. I cook a lot so my kitchen is more cluttered than I’d like.

I got magnetic spice racks that sit on my fridge, they are super sturdy too and fit a lot. I got a paper towel rack that hooks under my cabinet. Anything that takes crap off the counter and saves drawer space will help.

In the bathroom get those hanging racks you stick onto the shower wall. Get multiple if you need to.

I have a nice sized closet where I can store a lot of my stuff too. I don’t like to shove tho so I have nice baskets.

My smaller apartment made me a lot more minimalist. I just keep less of everything I have. I personally love this apartment. It’s a good price for my crazy city too. I don’t plan on leaving if I don’t have to.

I watched a ton of TikTok videos on studio apartments and apartment hacks. Which is where I found a ton of inspiration. @smallspacebiglife is a good one. They live with their partner too so their advice might be more helpful and relatable for you.

I like to browse Expand Furniture and Resource Furniture for ideas. There are some great videos showing transformable furniture in action, too. IKEA tends to have stuff for every nook and cranny, and it’s affordable.

I ended up just building a murphy bed myself. Will probably add a folding stay-level desk soon to eliminate another floor-space hog.

not really furniture, but I like the container store for overpriced but durable storage things

Check out the Luonto elevate couch. It’s a couch that folds out to a bunk bed with side tables. Luonto is the manufacturer and they’re retailed through a few different stores, I’d look around because I’ve seen them priced differently depending on the store. Here’s a link https://www.boulderfurnitureandmattress.com/_CGI/MODEL?KEY=LUONTO:ELEVATEBUNKBEDSOFASLEEPER&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuaiXBhCCARIsAKZLt3kMsGt-GZvy4QC7IXbGcn1XftM9Y1zqWotTUYaVypVr6_rnGhVvHQgaAvxfEALw_wcB

The folding table from IKEA is good and even has storage built in.