Features of a two-room studio apartment design

What is it?

First of all, let’s define the terminology. Euro-dvushka, the second name is studio + bedroom. A room with a large kitchen and bedroom.

It is considered a one-room apartment by type, but in terms of area and functionality it is comparable to a two-room apartment: unlike a standard one-room apartment, in addition to one living room in a European-style two-room apartment there is not a tiny 6 sq. m. kitchen, but a spacious one, combined with a living room.

Pros and cons

We will discuss the design of a European-style two-room apartment further, but for now let’s look at its main advantages:

1. Favorable price. Due to the absence of extra corridors and walls between the kitchen and the living room, you get approximately the same space in terms of functionality, but 20-30% cheaper than a regular two-room apartment.
2. Freedom in interior design. It is more convenient to furnish one large room in a European-style two-room apartment with different functions than two tiny ones separately. Zoning techniques come into play, which can enliven any design.
3. Modern furnishings. Kitchen-living rooms are a real trend, many specifically approve the demolition of walls in the BTI, and in a European-style two-room apartment everything is already ready!
4. Saving square meters in the kitchen area. When the kitchen is already allocated, and you do not need so much space for cooking, it is not possible to do anything else in it. However, in a European-style two-room apartment, the reduced kitchen gives way to a living room, study, children’s room, or other areas.

The layout also has a number of disadvantages:

1. Additional costs. Since the kitchen and living room are located in the same room, you will have to choose more practical upholstered furniture and install an exhaust hood.
2. A small bedroom. There is enough space in the bedroom for a maximum of a bed and a wardrobe. Rarely, a desk.
3. Extraneous noise. A turned-on exhaust hood, dishwasher, or blender in a European-style two-room apartment will interfere with the rest of other family members in the living room or while watching TV. A separate kitchen is more practical in this regard.
4. Lack of light. If a large room has only one window, the main lighting will be artificial, which is not always convenient. In addition, it will no longer be possible to divide it into 2 spaces.

A controversial issue is the area of the apartment. If you look at the numbers, standard two-room apartments are usually larger than small Euro-style two-room apartments of 10-12 square meters. But if you delve deeper into the issue, you will understand: most of these 10-12 square meters are useless, consisting mainly of corridors.

The photo shows zoning with shelves

Recommendations for zoning

It is customary to start the design of a Euro-style two-room apartment with a large room: this is where you will spend most of your time. What zones can be arranged in the main room:

• A kitchen with cabinets for storing food, a work area, and appliances.
• A living room with a comfortable sofa, coffee table, and TV.
• A dining room with a dining table or bar counter, and chairs.
• A bedroom, if the second room is given over to a nursery.
• A nursery, when the second room is occupied by a bedroom.
• A wardrobe or study that does not fit in a small bedroom.

The photo shows the division into zones by a table

Simply by placing a lot of furniture in one space, you will create chaos: zones need to be separated from each other, filling the room with logic.

In the photo, a bar counter behind the sofa in a European-style two-room apartment

Zoning options:

1. Furniture. A simple, effective, functional option for replacing walls. A classic example is a sofa between the kitchen and the hall. In addition to it, cabinets, bedside tables, and shelving are used. Designers choose light shades for decoration that do not look bulky.
2. A screen, a portable stand, a sliding door system, a partition made of glass and metal or wood – in the arrangement of a combined room they do not take up much space, while 100% cope with their task.
3. Color. You can divide a room during renovation: use different materials or shades in different places to visually delimit the space. This applies to walls, floors, ceilings. Example: tiles in the work area, laminate in the living area.
4. Light. Lighting is a great way to leave a small room free, but divide it. You will need a good electrician and a project: hang different lamps in different places, set them up with separate switching scenarios.
5. Level. Do not forget about vertical zoning – a bed under the ceiling in a European-style two-room apartment is guaranteed to look separate from other functional areas. The second example is a podium, where a sofa or a dining table is placed in a European-style two-room apartment.

How to arrange the rooms?

Once the question of how to carry out zoning is resolved, we proceed to the arrangement. Here, on the contrary, we will start with the bedroom: decide what exactly will be in a separate room, remembering that guests will not have access here. Most often, the matrimonial bedroom is located separately. It makes sense for young families with children to give a separate space in a European-style two-room apartment to the little ones.

In addition to the bed, the bedroom has a storage area (a wardrobe or a sliding door), as well as a desk, if there is enough space.

Let’s move on to the bathroom: is there enough space for a washing machine? If not, the equipment is moved to the kitchen.

Now you know what should fit in a large room:

• cooking area,
• rest area,
• children’s room or parents’ bedroom (if necessary),
• workplace (also if necessary).

You can’t move the wet area to another corner, so where should the The kitchen will be prompted by the communications or technical plan. The rest of the space is used and divided as we see fit.

The photo shows an office in the passageway

The space near the living room or the balcony is suitable for the office of a modern remote employee – but first It is worth insulating it.

Beautiful design ideas

The apartment is too cramped for classic or baroque styles, so it is better to implement modern styles in its design:

• Minimalism. The absence of unnecessary details will help to avoid the effect of chaos, it is easier to maintain cleanliness in a minimalist European-style two-room apartment.
• Provence. There is a lot of decor, but the European-style two-room apartment will be rustic and cozy.
• Scandi. Another decorative style. Light, cool shades make small spaces look more spacious.

The photo shows bright accents in the kitchen-living room

• Japanordic. Scandi mixed with Japanese pragmatism. The same cold light palette, but absolute minimalism.
• High-tech. The use of reflective surfaces – glass, gloss, mirrors, metal – visually increases the space. The minimum design makes the room cleaner, although some will find the room uncomfortable.
• Loft. Aren’t you afraid of visual reduction? Use rough metal, matte black, wood texture, concrete, brick. Industrial design fits perfectly into open combined studios.

Euro-double-room apartment, like any other layout is an option for an amateur. Those who are not embarrassed by obvious shortcomings will be able to turn these walls into a stylish functional space.