Living in a studio apartment — like the 350 and 450 square foot options at studios180 — is a great way to save money and avoid living with a roommate, but it does mean you have a little less space to work with. Here are some quick tips to help you get the most out of your small space.

Use Functional Furniture

Filling your studio apartment with functional pieces of furniture is an easy way to make the most of a smaller space. For extra storage, you can use a spacious chest instead of a coffee table. If you anticipate having guests, you might want to invest in a quality futon that can act as a couch by day, and a sleeper by night. When it comes to your bedroom area, consider using a platform bed with drawers, or a lofted one with space for a desk underneath. You can also put a traditional bed on risers to make room for some under-the-bed storage.

Be Thoughtful About Organization

When you live in a studio apartment, you have to get a little creative with organization. Don’t sleep on under-the-bed storage, keep your shoes organized with a shoe rack or hanging organizer in the closet, and save space by doubling up when you’re hanging clothes (i.e. putting coats over dresses and tops). Since hats and jewelry are difficult to store, they can take up a lot of space. Try displaying jewelry on a wall-mounted rack, and hang hats on the wall with Command hooks, thumbtacks, or small nails.

Create Defined Spaces

Even though a studio apartment is technically just one room, you can create the illusion of multiple areas with creatively-placed furniture. For example, an open bookcase, like this one from Ikea, can help separate your sleeping area from your living area. Check out this article for some divider inspiration. Even though there won’t be actual walls between the different areas of your studio, you can differentiate them by color-coordinating the décor or using a different style for each one, like a bohemian bedroom versus a more modern living room.

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