Off The MRKT

Your guide to New York real estate and more

Off The MRKT - Where New York's, Real Estate, Life Style, and Culture Converge

  • Real Estate
    • New York
    • Hamptons
    • Connecticut
    • Philadelphia
    • Florida
    • Submit Your Open House
  • Food & Wine
    • Wine and Spirits
    • Where To Drink and Eat
  • Events
    • Events Gallery
    • Submit an event
    • Calendar Listings
  • The Look
    • Travel
    • Health and Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Lifestyle Guide
  • About

How to Maximize Space in a Small Studio Apartment

May 19, 2020 by Jeremy Lindy

By Aleksandra Scepanovic, Managing Director, Ideal Properties Group

Aleksandra Scepanovic

Aleksandra Scepanovic

Most New Yorkers are self-quarantining at home during the COVID-19 pandemic…and some are even finding themselves isolated in a petite studio apartment. The average Manhattan studio apartment runs at about 550 square feet, which in comparison to the average home size in the United States (of 2,700 square feet), can be quite the squeeze. This holds especially true in a city hard hit by the novel virus, in the days when New Yorkers spend so much of their time – at home.

So how can you maximize your living space in a New York City studio? Consider these tips – they are evergreen but can be especially important during the pandemic:

Opt for double-duty décor

When you’re living in close quarters, the Mies van der Rohe’s “less is more” rings even truer. But that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice your personal style by forgoing decorative pieces in order to save space. There are plenty of ways to work your décor into functional, purposeful pieces. For example, bar carts, storage ottomans, macramé baskets or apothecary jars are all ways you can store additional items in a more polished manner without your storage options being obvious or taking up too much space. A bar cart can serve as a stylish, decorative yet functional piece for parties, but can also house and display special-occasion glasses and dishware when not in use. Storage ottomans can be a practical place to store bulky sweaters or blankets. Apothecary and mason jars can store just about everything – from kitchen items to cosmetics.

Customize

If you’re renting your first studio apartment and don’t plan to stay forever and a day, this might not be the right option for you. But, if you do plan to call your studio home for a few years, it could make sense to invest in furniture pieces that fit your specific space. Apart from beautifying, the choices may help improve your apartment’s functionality. An alcove studio (often L-shaped) separates a traditional studio with the living and sleeping quarters. If your residence’s configuration allows it, you can partition the areas off by allowing custom furniture to transform them: a cleverly placed and curated Murphy bed or table that folds up into the wall can help maximize your living quarters while lending charm to the entire space.

Fake it ‘til you make it

When in doubt, deploy tricks of the (interior design) trade that can help make a space feel larger. Hanging mirrors on the walls can create an illusion of a larger space by providing a sense of depth. Interior designers are also known to hang a curtain rod slightly above the window frame, a discernible modification that draws the eye up and makes the ceilings feel higher. In a studio, it can be difficult to distinguish one area or section of the space from the next, but using different sized area rugs can help to visually separate the spaces. Bright colors can often make a small space feel crowded, so if you have the option to paint, opt for soft neutrals for the wall color, and add dashes of color through hanging art. Making these minor adjustments can trick your mind into thinking you have more space than you really do… and inch your studio a step closer to it feeling like home.

While studio apartments vary in size, traditionally speaking, they are significantly smaller than other housing options in the city. The layout of a studio (and its inherent openness) may not be for everyone, but the lessons from interior design portfolios – especially during these times when people are sheltering at home – can offer some creative ways to make your small space feel like a home of much grander proportions.  

Aleksandra Scepanovic is Managing Director of Ideal Properties Group, a leading residential real estate firm specializing in premier Brownstone Brooklyn and Manhattan neighborhoods including Park Slope, Carroll Gardens and Brooklyn Heights, as well as Williamsburg, Gowanus, Chelsea and other sought-after locations.

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Featured
Medsker_TheFulton_305.jpg
Aug 4, 2025
Shuck Yeah: Where to Celebrate National Oyster Day in NYC This Year
Aug 4, 2025
Aug 4, 2025
unsplash-image-guy5aS3GvgA.jpg
Aug 4, 2025
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Luxe: Introducing Off The MRKT’s Philadelphia Page
Aug 4, 2025
Aug 4, 2025
Top Hamptons Beaches to Visit This Summer
Aug 4, 2025
Top Hamptons Beaches to Visit This Summer
Aug 4, 2025
Aug 4, 2025
1133_Park_Ave_12W_1.jpg
Aug 4, 2025
The Prewar Dream, Reimagined: A Smarter Way to Finance Fixer-Uppers
Aug 4, 2025
Aug 4, 2025
Outdoor Dining Guide for the Hamptons Summer
Jul 31, 2025
Outdoor Dining Guide for the Hamptons Summer
Jul 31, 2025
Jul 31, 2025
Screenshot of offthemrkt.com - Travelling Through NYC For Business.docx - Google Docs (2).jpg
Jul 30, 2025
The Best Ways of Traveling Through NYC for Business
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
land-for-sale-image1.jpg
Jul 30, 2025
Why You Should Consider Investing in a Plot of Land
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
Exploring the Hamptons: Beaches and Beyond in 2024
Jul 29, 2025
Exploring the Hamptons: Beaches and Beyond in 2024
Jul 29, 2025
Jul 29, 2025
NYCWFF 2025 Tickets On Sale: Festival Moves to the Seaport for a Star-Studded Culinary Celebration
Jul 29, 2025
NYCWFF 2025 Tickets On Sale: Festival Moves to the Seaport for a Star-Studded Culinary Celebration
Jul 29, 2025
Jul 29, 2025
unnamed (3).jpg
Jul 28, 2025
Inside the 12th Annual Luxury Luncheon with Jill Zarin and Ticket2Events in the Hamptons
Jul 28, 2025
Jul 28, 2025

Subscribe

Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.

We respect your privacy.

Thank you!
Featured
NYCWFF 2025 Tickets On Sale: Festival Moves to the Seaport for a Star-Studded Culinary Celebration
Jul 29, 2025
NYCWFF 2025 Tickets On Sale: Festival Moves to the Seaport for a Star-Studded Culinary Celebration
Jul 29, 2025
Jul 29, 2025
_DSC4589_14193247.jpg
Jul 28, 2025
North Fork Steals Under $1.5M Amid Record-Breaking Market Surge
Jul 28, 2025
Jul 28, 2025
Screenshot of Full Set - Photography Credit_ Evan Joseph Photography - Dropbox (1).jpg
Jul 23, 2025
JUST LISTED: $20M Maximalist, Moody Chelsea Townhouse
Jul 23, 2025
Jul 23, 2025
unnamed.jpg
Jul 21, 2025
The Best NYC Buildings for Outdoor Amenities This Summer
Jul 21, 2025
Jul 21, 2025
Our favorite listing this week is 508 West 24th Street, Unit 5th Floor, home to NBA Player Carmelo Anthony. The ten-time NBA All-Star, has listed his New York City condo. The home is the largest unit in the Cary Tamarkin designed building at 508 W 24
251 East 51st Street, Unit 2M, listed on the market as a Compass "Coming Soon," is a recently renovated, perfect pied-a-terre (and ideal one bedroom for all the rest of us). What truly sets this pad apart from the rest is the dreamy outdoor
Our last #openhouse roundup will you be checking out this #parkslope home?

#nycrealestate #brooklynrealestate #milliondollarlistings #luxuryhomes #OffTheMRKT
DNA Development announced that closings have commenced at 350 West 71st Street, the successful Upper West Side luxury conversion that seamlessly combines two historic pre-war buildings into one stunning contemporary condominium with a classic fa&cced
Our favorite listing this week is located at One West End, the sculptural glass residential tower designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli within Riverside Center. At $19.5 million, 29B offers 5,302 square feet of interiors space, with four bedrooms, five and
May 19, 2020 /Jeremy Lindy
Byline, Aleksandra Scepanovic, New York Real Estate, Studio Apartments, Real Estate Listing, Real Estate Trends
Comment
 
Off The MRKT Articles RSS

Follow Off The MRKT: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Contact us: Jeremy@Offthemrkt.com                                                                                           

Advertise | Off The MRKT Internship Program | Byline | Bible

Want More?

Want more awesome content like this? Sign up and get our best articles delivered straight to your inbox!

Thank you!
Our favorite listing this week is 508 West 24th Street, Unit 5th Floor, home to NBA Player Carmelo Anthony. The ten-time NBA All-Star, has listed his New York City condo. The home is the largest unit in the Cary Tamarkin designed building at 508 W 24
251 East 51st Street, Unit 2M, listed on the market as a Compass "Coming Soon," is a recently renovated, perfect pied-a-terre (and ideal one bedroom for all the rest of us). What truly sets this pad apart from the rest is the dreamy outdoor
Our last #openhouse roundup will you be checking out this #parkslope home?

#nycrealestate #brooklynrealestate #milliondollarlistings #luxuryhomes #OffTheMRKT
DNA Development announced that closings have commenced at 350 West 71st Street, the successful Upper West Side luxury conversion that seamlessly combines two historic pre-war buildings into one stunning contemporary condominium with a classic fa&cced
Our favorite listing this week is located at One West End, the sculptural glass residential tower designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli within Riverside Center. At $19.5 million, 29B offers 5,302 square feet of interiors space, with four bedrooms, five and
Looking to live in one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Manhattan? SoHo offers some of the most luxurious prime New York Real Estate. Known for its largest collection of incredible architecture in the entire world, SoHo is the heart of the historic
Following the unveiling of Rose Hill, one of the new residential developments in Manhattan's NoMad neighborhood that represents a modern era of Gotham-esque architecture and design by award-winning New York-based design firm CetraRuddy, legendary dev
The ethereal master bath at @theXInyc West Tower Penthouse features a custom sandblasted verde caldia floor, a carved verde scuro tub, and bronze vanities with marble tops designed by #AD100 French interior architect @pierre.yovanovitch.

Situated in