Living spaces

• The best way to divide up one large area into different sections is with furniture placement.
  
  Do not be afraid to take your couch off the wall and angle it in front of your television set, with an end table on each side. The back of your sofa will act as a visual separation for the sitting area.
  
  For an office space, add a shelving unit as a room divider. If you are going to use it simply for storage of work supplies, make sure to choose one that has an attractive back. Another option is to buy an open shelf that can be accessed from both sides and use it to display collections, other decorative items and plants. Being able to see through it will give the illusion of more openness while the structure itself defines the area.
  
  

Bedroom area

• The bedroom area is one of the trickier parts of studio apartment design.
  
  One option is using a pull-out sofa, daybed or futon to make the space seem more like an additional sitting area rather than private sleeping quarters. If you choose to go this route, investing in an armoire that can be used as your closet, end tables that have enclosed storage and a coffee table or trunk makes it easier to hide your clothes and linens.
  
  If you do want an actual bed, you can separate the bedroom space from the main living area with curtains or a canopy, or you can once again pull the other pieces of furniture away from the wall and make a divider that hides the bed from view.
  
  

Colors

• Another way to create separate areas in one large open space is to use colors to divide the space visually.
  
  In a more contemporary space, use color blocking on the walls. Basically, around a favorite piece of furniture or artwork, paint a frame using a color that complements the decor of that particular area. For a more traditional style, rugs can be used to define the space. For example, a large rug in the sitting area anchors the couch and chairs. A runner can be placed behind the couch that leads to the office area to give the visual appearance of a hallway.
  
  Another studio apartment design idea is to add architectural elements such as chair railing or crown molding around smaller sections to give a line from which to start a different wall color.