Small Homes:Jennifer’s Double-Duty Studio

I live in a roughly 400 square foot studio apartment. It’s definitely been a challenge to find space for all of my belongings. My strategy is to try to buy thrifty pieces that can be used for multiple functions. I’m also a firm believer in going vertical and using all your available wall space. Wall to wall shelves, backs of doors, closet walls, you name it, I’ve got something on it!

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Highlights of Jennifer’s Room

In kitchen pic #1, this is the first thing you see to your right when you walk into my apartment. This is pretty much all the kitchen space I have because the other wall is a small washroom and closet. As you can see I store all my cooking utensils and knives out on the counter so that they’re handy and don’t take up much needed drawer space. I also bought an over the sink shelf so I could store my sugar, tea, and coffee in canisters and save a little more room elsewhere. Having the paper towels under the cabinets also helps save a little counter space. The canisters, knife block, and burner covers were all super thrifty Goodwill finds and the “tile” hanging on the wall above the stove is actually a trivet (also found at a Goodwill) that I painted to match the other tiles below it!
Kitchen pic #2 gives you a shot of the fridge.
Kitchen pic #3 is the other side of my kitchen. The double doors are a small washroom and the single door is a closet. Since I don’t have a washer/dryer I get to use them both for storage and I don’t need both doors to get into the washroom. I got this table from my boyfriend because he didn’t have a place for it and it fits just perfectly! I love that it folds down and the stools can go underneath because there’s no way I could fit a regular table and chairs in the limited space. I also utilized the empty closet doors by hanging up a bulletin board and calendar for reminders!
Kitchen pic #4 gives you another view of the table.
In washroom pic #1, you can see the washroom with both doors open. Not having a washer/dryer does have its advantages because obviously I NEED the extra storage space! The dresser was another thrifty find (free by our dumpster!) if you can believe it! It fits just perfectly and still leaves enough room for laundry baskets and recycling bins!
In washroom pic #2, you can see the top of the washroom. I use it mainly for game storage, as you can see. Also on the left hand side, you can just barely see my fold out ironing board, which saves so much space and is very convenient!
In washroom pic #3, you can see that I bought an over the door shelf for the other door, which is used to house all my cleaning supplies. It’s very handy and makes finding everything a breeze!
In living area pic #1, this is what you see once you get past the kitchen. Having everything in one room has been a challenge, but multifunctional pieces solve that dilemma. I purchased the loveseat at an estate sale for seating for guests. It had a very retro pattern, but a simple slipcover gave it more the look I wanted. The end table was another thrifty find that does double duty as a nightstand. The two tables in the middle of the room can be pulled around for extra table space or seating. My day bed works perfectly as an oversized loveseat when people come over…
…but in living area pic #2, you can see that it also performs double duty as a bed in a jiffy!
Living area pic #3 is the far wall of my apartment when you walk in and it is my workspace. The door to the left also leads to the bathroom. Since I only have a laptop computer, I tuck it away in the keyboard tray of my desk, leaving room to display some of my favorite things on top. The mirror was also a dumpster rescue that a simple coat of spray paint and a window decal did wonders for!
Living area pic #4 is the wall across from my bed. This wardrobe was a steal at a closeout store and was originally intended to store clothing…
…but as you can see in living area pic #5, I use it to keep all my media components in order!
Living area pic #6 is by far my favorite. I dedicated this entire wall to my favorite thing in the world…literature! My papasan chair rounds out the seating area and also provides a cozy place to read!
Bathroom pic #1 is basically just a shot of my toilet and shower. My jewelry box sits on the toilet tank and a plant stand on the other side holds a few little trinkets.
Bathroom pic #2 is a shot of both of my bathroom walls. Not a lot of room, so I just hung some towels, a mirror, and some artwork. The “art piece” in the middle is just a dollar store frame with some of my own nature photos in it.
Bathroom pic #3 is where you walk into the bathroom. I absolutely hate walking out the door in the morning not knowing what my outfit actually looks like together, so I bought an over the door full length mirror to solve that problem. It also makes the bathroom look bigger!
Bathroom pic #4 is a shot of the sink. That was all the cabinet space I had when I moved in, so I bought the little white cabinet next to it for extra storage. A few pretty baskets also help hide things away.
In bathroom pic #5, you can see my linen storage on the wall opposite the sink. I keep some washcloths out in a bowl for easy access when someone spends the night.
I hope you have enjoyed the tour of my apartment!
Note: Thank you so much, Jennifer, I enjoyed your tour a lot. You have a lovely small place and I appreciate you putting so much work into your entry. You did an excellent job all around!

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