Living in a studio apartment

The design of the studio apartment It requires specific skills and aims to overcome spatial limitations by ensuring users comfortable and liveable environments. Unlike apartments with more generous sizes, in this case it is necessary to maximize the space available and concentrate all the essential functions for daily life in a single environment. Furthermore, it will be appropriate to take care of the aesthetics of the single-room apartment to guarantee the psychophysical well-being of those who live in the residential unit and satisfy their tastes and needs.

Contents:

• How to design a small studio apartment
• How to furnish a studio flat with space-saving solutions
• Practical tips for enlarging the space of your studio flat
• The project of the studio flat with mezzanine

Below we will analyze some important steps to obtain an efficient design result. First of all, it is necessary to evaluate the dimensions of thetechnology unique and define the layout of the areas with different intended uses. Once the planimetric organization has been defined, it is necessary to choose the most suitable furniture for this type of building. In this regard, multifunctional and transformable models are considered the most suitable for small spaces.

In addition to the furniture, it is a good idea to opt for finishes and small details that can improve the perception of narrow spaces, expanding them. Finally, it should not be forgotten that each studio apartment It is different from the other and can sometimes present particular spatial characteristics that require tailor-made solutions, capable of ensuring a good level of liveability. 

How to design a small studio apartment

As can be deduced, the studio apartment consists of a single environment, designed to contain within itself numerous functions normally distributed in different areas within apartments with more generous dimensions. For this reason, it is necessary to immediately establish how to divide the single room and choose the furnishing solutions and finishes aimed at making it as livable as possible. The secret is to consider the reduced space as a stimulus to better design the apartment, through a correct functional distribution, leaving aside the preconception that reduced square footage corresponds to unpleasant spaces.

According to the law, the a single-room apartment must measure at least 28 m38 if intended for a single inhabitant and XNUMX mXNUMX if there are two cohabitants living there.
The minimum height required for the environment is the same as for other residential typologies and coincides with 2,70 m. Furthermore, it is mandatory that there is at least one opening towards the outside, in order to guarantee the correct air-lighting ratio. These general provisions are valid throughout the Italian territory even if there may be small variations reported in the local building regulations, depending on the Municipality in which you are located. In any case, to enhance the space and recreate a small functional apartment and aesthetically pleasing, it is necessary to evaluate the available space and study the most suitable planimetric organization.

Open space?

Sometimes you decide to keep the open space conformation, an open environment without physical dividing elements. This option allows you to obtain a seemingly freer and larger space, where light enters fluidly through the openings, without encountering any obstacles. Otherwise, if you decide to divide the surface by inserting physical diaphragms, you will need to exploit even the smallest corner, in order to gain space. However, you should not think that the only solution in this case is represented by masonry walls, but know that there are numerous methods aimed, for example, at dividing the living area from the sleeping area. These are wooden diaphragms, metal strips and even inlaid panels, capable of letting light flow and providing a good aesthetic result.

Another solution is represented by glass windows: whether they are made of satin panels, post-industrial scans or sliding glass, they are able to divide the space with timeless elegance.
The division of space within the studio apartment it can also be entrusted to furnishings that delimit an area, performing specific functions or to particular finishes at floor and wall level.

The bathroom

The third function to be foreseen and of essential utility is covered by the bathroom. In this case, it is essential to reduce it to the bare minimum, taking into account the regulations and the elements necessary to make it efficient. Surely, water-repellent paints will be preferred to tiles that exhaust useful space, showers to bulkier tubs, sinks of small dimensions, suspended sanitary ware and mirrors to enlarge the small room. In this way, following some simple rules, even very small spaces will be able to provide a comfortable environment complete with everything you need.

To view some examples of apartments with a surface area of ​​38 mXNUMX click here

How to furnish a studio flat with space-saving solutions

Changes in social models and traditional family structures have caused a reassessment of individual needs with a consequent increase in demand for smaller housing schemes. For this reason, the studio apartment represents a building typology that has been rediscovered and has achieved considerable success. This consensus is also due to the ability to recreate small, fully-equipped apartments, within small spaces.

The universal rule is to maximize space, while still ensuring a good level of living comfort. The choice must fall on a few elements that are functional, meet the aesthetic taste of the user and are appropriately distributed within the house, without leaving empty spaces and without overloading others. To better organize the environment, we often resort to a delineation of the spaces through the use of furniture and accessories. It is important to create balance between the different elements and place them ensuring freedom of movement and the safety of the user.

Transformable furniture

In order to ensure good functionality to the room, among the optimal choices are transformable furniture, capable of changing its appearance and its utility depending on the specific need. Examples of this are disappearing kitchens, sofa beds, equipped walls and all those extendable and foldable solutions that can be used only when there is real need.

These types of furnishings allow the uses of the living area and those of the sleeping area to be harmoniously blended, guaranteeing high efficiency. studio apartment. It is also possible to choose products characterized by modular components, thanks to which it will be possible to obtain maximum flexibility and ease of use over time.

The Kitchen

For the living area, one of the central elements of the project is the kitchen which, in the case of very small spaces, it is advisable to choose the disappearing models.
These are complete compositions with appliances and wall units that, once used, can be hidden behind custom-designed sliding doors. In this way, what during the day represents the space dedicated to preparing meals, during the night will become a simple wall in line with the rest of the house. Instead, if the dimensions allow it, the table and chairs can be a constant throughout the day: used to eat meals, work or meet and chat with a friend.

If the single room is very small, there are space-saving solutions, folding or extendable from the wall, which allow the table to be opened only when strictly necessary. Furthermore, it is good to remember to also exploit the smallest and most angular spaces, as in the case of the corner kitchen, where appliances and cabinets are placed that can play on the depth to ensure greater storage capacity. Even the vertical surfaces between the hob and wall units can become practical areas to anchor tools and useful objects. If, on the other hand, the floor plan is regular and larger, for design lovers, compact kitchens with a mini peninsula that will serve as a snack counter, area for preparing meals and support surface will be perfect.
In some cases, this shelf can also be closed so as to gain a few centimetres of surface area. studio apartment.

The sofa bed

Often, the living area also functions as a sleeping area and for this purpose one of the most used pieces of furniture is the sofa bed.
In fact, the latter boasts the dual function of seating for the living area during the day and an indispensable element for sleeping at night. Thanks to simple and quick gestures it will be possible to enjoy the multifunctionality of this element, capable of significantly changing the identity of the environment. The alternative to this solution is the fold-down bed: during the day it appears as a simple door and at night it becomes a single or double bed, depending on the need.

Finally, if you have the possibility of recreating a sleeping corner that is more intimate and independent from the rest of the room, it is advisable to choose a container bed thanks to which you will gain useful space to collect objects and clothes, always maintaining order in the house. In this regard, it is very important to organize the spaces so that they are always free from clutter and are not overloaded, especially in the case of small spaces.
For this reason, benches, containers and, where possible, storage spaces created from the wall will be useful: 60 cm of depth is enough to obtain a very functional hidden space.

Practical tips for enlarging the space of your studio flat

As anticipated, one of the main features of the studio apartment is represented by the small size. However, this aspect can be solved thanks to the ability to optimize the floor plan and exploit every corner of the house. In addition, there are some simple tricks to expand spaces, through which it will be possible to make the residence welcoming. The basis of this objective is the choice of colors and materials to be used inside the small apartment. For the former, neutral and light shades of white, ivory, beige and pastel colors will be suitable, all capable of increasing the sense of spaciousness and depth of the room. Specifically, white, in addition to expanding the space, gives a sense of cleanliness and brightness and adapts to any style of furniture.

On the contrary, wallpaper is not recommended as it tends to narrow the space but, if you cannot do without it or you want to personalize your studio room, it will be appropriate to place it using small wall inserts, leaving the ceiling white and the other walls painted. Even when choosing materials, you need to pay attention and prefer natural ones and specifically wood which infuses warmth and makes the small spaces very welcoming. Resins have also recently gained particular approval, thanks to their minimal appearance and continuous installation, which are able to give fluidity and homogeneity to the environment.

Steel cantilevers arms

As for the spatial organization, it is necessary to make the most of the heights through suspended shelves and exposed shelves. These solutions in fact guarantee a good storage capacity without weighing down the perimeter walls of the studio apartment. In addition to being a decorative element, they are practical and useful in the kitchen for arranging pots, accessories and glasses. Perfect for industrial kitchens, the most popular ones are made of metal profiles and are sometimes custom designed and made by the blacksmith.
These elements maximize the potential of the space developed in height and allow you to gain precious centimeters at floor level.

From the point of view of furniture and accessories, it will be good to choose modular, disappearing and transformable solutions, to maintain order and ensure good functionality. Furthermore, the wall mirrors which will increase the sensation of depth, hiding the limits imposed by the perimeter walls. If possible, it is advisable to place them near a light source as they will double the light entering the room.

The project of the studio flat with mezzanine  

In order to increase the available space within very small housing schemes such as the studio apartment, the mezzanine solution is often used. In fact, thanks to this element it is possible to maximize the surface in height, obtaining a practical and tidy environment, very useful for the correct functional subdivision. However, this stratagem is not feasible inside all homes but it is necessary to observe some rules dictated by the current legislation. The methods of inserting the mezzanine inside an apartment are regulated by the Ministerial Decree of 5 July 1975 but each Municipality may be subject to specific provisions established by the Building Regulations.

Minimum height

One of the essential prerogatives is represented by the minimum height of the room to be lofted, which is set at 4,5 m. In this way, the loft can be habitable, offering a wide choice of uses to reserve for it. Furthermore, measures and characteristics are established that must be respected to obtain a safe and comfortable solution.

The size of the mezzanine must not exceed 1/3 of the total surface area of ​​the room, the windowed portions must occupy a maximum space equal to 1/8 of the size of the mezzanine and finally To be safe, the parapet must be no less than 1,10 m high.. Taking into account the provisions of the law, it will be appropriate to carefully design the physical conformation of this very useful component. 

In the case of an open space, you can choose between exposed mezzanines, screened by decorative elements, enclosed in suspended geometries and still supported by kitchen blocks located on the floor level. The type will be selected depending on the spatial conformation of the room and the function of each usable surface. For example, if you decide to place the sleeping area in the mezzanine space, it will be optimal to screen this area so that it remains hidden on the lower floor where the living area will be located.

Space for work and study

If, however, there is a need to create a space for work, the mezzanine will be used as a study and the area below will combine the kitchen, living room and bedroom, through the use of transformable furniture. If then the studio apartment is intended for students, it will be necessary to opt for a functional choice that includes the addition of a sleeping area on the upper floor, in addition to the one already integrated into the living area on the lower floor of the single room.
Another aspect concerns the materials used to create this compositional element that can be chosen according to the style of the environment: wood for classic studio apartments, metals for high-tech lovers and even white brickwork for minimal spaces.

The ladder

In Studio flat with mezzanine the staircase plays a very important role from both a practical and aesthetic point of view.
The staircase very often provides scenic effects of impact, even when it is exploited in the space below to insert bookcases or closets. Usually these are solutions with steps anchored to the wall that can be in wood, metal or glass.
The type, structure and materials will be chosen based on the organization of the entire environment and the storage and aesthetic needs of the users. As for the furnishing of the mezzanine, depending on the intended use, the number and type of pieces needed will be evaluated. It is advisable to opt for a few furnishings that adapt well to the available space and the style of the environment. It is also necessary to take into account the more or less consistent presence of incoming natural light.

In the case where the mezzanine is inserted in an attic where there are dormers and Velux windows, essential for thermal and lighting comfort, you can enjoy natural lighting. Otherwise, floor lamps and adjustable spotlights should be chosen in order to ensure comfort and maximum functionality.

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