What Is a Studio Apartment? Here Is a Quick Guide

Studio apartments are self-contained spaces that address your living room, bedroom, and kitchen requirements. But they are not designed as typical bedroom-hall-kitchen apartments. So, what is a studio apartment? How does it differ from a typical 1 BHK? To understand this, let’s begin with what is meant by a studio apartment.

What Is a Studio Apartment?

So what is a studio apartment? A studio apartment comprises one large multipurpose room with an open floor plan. As stated earlier, such a room combines the functions of your bedroom, living room, and kitchen. This type of apartment comes with an attached bathroom.

You can find built-in partial walls in some of the studio apartments. Such demarcations can offer you a certain amount of privacy when guests arrive. But most studio apartments are without partial walls or any possibilities of differentiation. So, you will have to demarcate areas for each specific function.

For instance, this studio apartment has a partial wall demarcating the kitchen and living area.

While a studio apartment is designed to serve the purpose of different rooms from a single space, it does not mean such a space lack amenities. Rather, it offers you a comfortable and convenient dwelling choice at an affordable rate.

Types of Studio Apartments

Now that you know what is a studio apartment let’s know its types.

While the basic setup of your studio apartment will comprise a single multipurpose room with an attached bathroom, there may be some variations in the layout. We can place studio apartments under three categories. They are:

Regular Studio Apartment

This is the most common setup. Your regular studio apartment will have a single room with an attached bathroom. When you ask what is a studio apartment, this setup is what most people mean.

This room won’t provide you with any pre-defined space for sleeping, dining, cooking, etc. The advantage of such a space is that you can define spaces and arrange everything according to your convenience.

Alcove Studio Apartment

Wondering what is a studio apartment when someone says it’s an alcove studio? An alcove studio is a traditional studio apartment with an L-shaped partition. This partition provides a separate space to place your bed and enjoy privacy.

Convertible Studio Apartment

You must have heard of studio apartments, but what is a studio apartment that is convertible? A convertible studio is akin to a traditional studio apartment. The only difference is that it’s big enough for you to put up a partition and create a separate sleeping nook. You can create a partition in various ways, such as using room dividers, bookshelves, curtains, etc.

Size of a Studio Apartment

A studio apartment generally follows the principle of effective utilisation of space. But what does a studio apartment mean when it comes to size? You may find it surprising that there is no specific size of such apartments.

Generally, the size of a studio apartment ranges from 250 sq. ft to 700 sq. ft. The size may vary based on several factors, such as the apartment’s location, the developer, the demand for studio apartments in that particular city, etc.

Studio Apartment: Who Is It Ideal For?

Studio apartments score high in terms of sophistication and style. These apartments are a smart lifestyle solution for both individuals and couples.

It is an ideal dwelling option for you if you are a student or a working professional who lives alone and wants to stay close to your educational institution or office. As a couple, it can be a perfect choice if you have a limited need for space and want affordable accommodation without compromising comfort or convenience.

But what is a studio apartment for a first-time home buyer?

Thanks to the economical price of these apartments, they are a great option for you if you want to set up your first home within a tight budget.

What Is the Difference Between a Studio Apartment and a 1 BHK Apartment?

Now that we have a fair idea of what is a studio apartment let’s understand the difference between a studio apartment and a 1BHK apartment. Studio apartment and 1 bhk are two terms that are used interchangeably by many people.

But these two specific housing options have several differences between them. So, what does a studio apartment mean in terms of configuration, occupancy, privacy, etc., that makes it different from a 1 BHK?

• There are no wall separations in a studio apartment. But 1 BHK has walls that restrict the areas for you to carry out various functions within the apartment.
• A studio apartment has just a single room. You have to allocate spaces for everything within this room. This is not the case for 1 BHK as the configuration provides you individual rooms for a bedroom, hall, and kitchen.
• While studio apartments are suitable for individuals, 1 BHK apartments are suitable for individuals and small families.
• A studio apartment offers you very little privacy. But a 1 BHK can provide you with more privacy.
• Since a studio apartment has limited space, you may not be able to store many belongings in it. In comparison, a 1 BHK apartment may offer you more storage space.
• When buying or renting an apartment, a studio apartment’s advantage is that it will cost you less than a 1 BHK apartment.

Benefits of a Studio Apartment

A studio apartment can offer you a lot of benefits. But what is a studio apartment’s major benefits that will make it ideal for you? Here are some to help you make a better decision:

• A studio apartment is affordable if you want to own a stylish bachelor pad but face a cash crunch.
• When renting an apartment, you will usually have to pay a lower rent for a studio apartment than apartments with other configurations, such as 1 BHK, 2 BHK, etc.
• A studio apartment will be easy for you to clean and maintain as it has just one room to take care of.
• Since a studio apartment is practically a one-room dwelling place, as an occupant, you will be consuming less electricity and water in such apartments.
• Studio apartments are usually centrally located. As such, they can offer easy connectivity with other city areas.

Drawbacks of a Studio Apartment

While a studio apartment offers several benefits, it also suffers from a few drawbacks. So what is a studio apartment’s drawbacks? Here are some you should make a note of:

• A studio apartment is unsuitable for you if you have a large family of 4 or 5 members.
• No clear areas are marked for your use as bedroom space, dining space, kitchen, etc.
• Since there is a lack of privacy in such apartments, it may not be easy for you to invite guests.
• The limited space in a studio apartment can make it tough for you to socialise in such a space with a large group of friends or family.

How to Set up a Studio Apartment?

Studio apartments are the latest rage in housing options. Since now you know what is a studio apartment, you must be curious about setting up one. Here are a few tips that can help you set up a studio apartment like a pro:

Create a Cosy Sitting Area

What is a studio apartment setup would you prefer? You can start by creating a sitting area in your apartment. A nice and cosy sitting area will ensure that you and your guests have a space other than the bed to sit and chat.

While restricting a sitting area, keep enough space in the apartment for other activities. Another point to remember when you know what is a studio apartment is that when selecting furniture for your seating area, ensure they don’t exceed the demarcated space.

You can opt for different colours, textures, and fabric patterns to bring alive your sitting area. Take a look at the image. The sofa, chair, and centre table arrangement create a nice area to sit down with coffee and talk with friends.

Demarcate with Storage Units

We suggest you put up the shelving and storage units in such a way that they serve as partitions in your apartment. You can even select a bedroom wardrobe design that doubles up as a partition between your sleeping and living areas.

Since such units come in various designs, styles, materials, and finishes, you will find plenty of options.

The image here shows how a shelving unit has been placed strategically to create a bedroom nook that offers some privacy.

Go Modular with the Kitchen

You will agree that a kitchen forms an essential part of every dwelling unit. When setting up your studio apartment, opt for a trendy modular kitchen design. It will enable you to have a compact and organised space for cooking. At the same time, you will be able to enhance the style quotient of your apartment.

Keep your apartment’s space availability and décor aesthetics in mind when selecting a modular kitchen design.

In this image, you can see how a corner has been used to set up a modular kitchen that offers a dedicated space for cooking.

Add Colours and Mirrors

Colours can infuse life in any space. What is a studio apartment colour you would prefer to have? Whether you love a neutral or vibrant colour palette, touch up your apartment with colours to break the monotony of a large single room. Also, place mirrors strategically in your apartment to reflect light and create an illusion of a larger space than what it is.

You can introduce colours in your apartment through several means, such as furnishings, storage or kitchen units, rugs, draperies, accent pieces, etc.

Make the Bathroom Count

Ensure not to overlook the bathroom space when setting up your studio apartment. We suggest you look for bathroom designs that blend beauty with functionality. You can introduce bathroom shelves and units that look nice and offer storage space. A mirror can further open up the space.

Wrapping Up

A studio apartment offers a unique combination of flexibility and affordability. There are various ways to design and decorate your studio apartment and turn it into a personalised living space.

If you want to know more about what is a studio apartment and how you can set one up, you can contact our HomeLane team and receive expert guidance.

FAQs

1. What is a studio apartment? What makes a studio apartment?

A studio apartment is made of a single room with an open floor plan and an attached bathroom. When you ask what is a studio apartment, it simply means the enclosed area has no demarcation of space in terms of walls or partitions.

2. How is a studio different from an apartment?

A studio differs from an apartment on quite a few points. One of the major differences is that while a studio has no walls in it, an apartment has walls. Ideally, a studio has just a single room.

On the other hand, an apartment may have several rooms depending on its configuration. For instance, a 1 bhk apartment comprises a bedroom, a hall, and a kitchen. Another difference is that a studio offers less privacy compared to an apartment.

3. Can a studio apartment have walls?

No, a studio apartment is not supposed to have walls. What a studio apartment means is to have an open floor plan. While most studios follow this principle, some have partial walls to provide the occupant with a certain level of privacy.

That said, you can create temporary walls in your studio apartment with the help of dividers. Such dividers can include curtains, shelving units, storage units, etc.

4. How do I make my studio apartment cosy?

There are plenty of interesting ways through which you can turn your studio apartment into a cosy space, such as:

• You can introduce comfortable furniture that offers a welcoming feel. Make sure the furnishings you select match the mood of your space.
• Another idea is to add shelving units and divide the area. This way, you can restrict the apartment and have some storage space.
• Instead of opting for bright lights, you can go for mood lighting. This will add a soft touch to the whole area and make everything appear cosier.
• What is a studio apartment minus some greenery? You can infuse a touch of greenery into your apartment with the help of indoor plants. They can help to circulate the air in your apartment and purify it.