This 36sqm studio with a mid-century interior was designed by a designer
A designer transformed this 36sqm studio for rent into a mid-century style space on a small budget with colourful choices
The design of this 36sqm rental studio began with a specific vision. Here, the owner wanted to recreate the atmosphere of 1960s Eastern European films, with a touch of nostalgic warmth, deep, contrasting colors, and simple comfort. Designer Viktoria Ukhova took on the challenge in this small apartment, working with a limited budget.
Even before meeting the designer, the owner knocked down the partition between the loggia and the main room. A wise decision, as the extra space completely changes the perception of the room’s dimensions. The floor plan shows a studio with clearly defined zones: a kitchen along one wall, a dining area in the center, a living area, and a sleeping area side by side, separated by a shelving unit. Everything is in the same open space, with no hallway. Movement flows smoothly and is pleasant for daily life.
The herringbone-patterned oak floor runs across the entire main area. This choice was intentional, as the V-pattern visually elongates the room and gives the floor character.
The custom kitchen features two tall light wood columns that frame the cooking area. The upper cabinets are white, the lower ones oak, a classic mid-century combination, the style chosen for this 36sqm studio. Satin brass knob handles on the upper cabinets add a luminous golden touch.
The backsplash features two colors, with white relief tiles on the upper half and dark terracotta tiles on the lower half. This choice is original for such a small kitchen. Rather than aiming for subtlety, the designer embraces color here. The black round table with its light wood legs, paired with classic Cesca chairs featuring a chrome frame and cane seats, perfectly completes the ensemble. These 20th-century design icons and the amber vase with pink ranunculus on the table are all it takes to dress up this space.
Color is present throughout the apartment. The brick-red sofa dominates the living room. It sets the tone. Around it, the designer has added colorful elements, such as the salmon-colored nightstand, the burgundy and cobalt blue striped rug, the multicolored striped cushions, and the electric blue vase on the shelf. This create an effect of a balanced visual harmony.
The off-white, cream-colored walls serve as a neutral backdrop. They let the objects take center stage. This is not a minimalist decor. The mustard yellow of a cylindrical cushion, the bluish gray of the glasses on the table, the navy blue of the office chair, each element responds to another.
This is the element that holds everything together. A black metal structure with light oak shelves separates the sleeping area from the living room without closing off the space. The sense of openness is preserved, while making the sleeping area more intimate.
This shelf effectively replaces a wall since it serves a practical purpose. It holds books, serves as a display, and defines the space. The shelves hold vases, hanging plants, and vintage finds. A turntable sits atop the closed base unit, a highly sought-after piece these days. Record collectors will appreciate this vintage detail. It’s exactly the kind of item that gives a rental apartment a real personality, helping it stand out from the ordinary. Two framed Soviet film posters from the 1960s, hung behind the structure, are perfectly in line with the desired style.
The project features three distinct lighting modes. General lighting for mornings and moving around. Task lighting for the office area and work. The third, softer and more directional, is perfect for creating an evening ambiance. In this 36sqm studio where everything coexists in the same room, lighting allows the space to shift from one use to another;
The floor lamp with a stem of stacked black spheres, visible near the desk, is a fine example of a decorative light fixture that also gets the job done. Next to the bed, a sky-blue Scandinavian PH pendant lamp, instantly recognizable, brings a touch of international design to this interior firmly rooted in an Eastern European aesthetic. The mix works because both objects share the same reference decade.
Six hand-painted canvases decorate the apartment. Above the bed, a large geometric composition in blue, gray, and ochre dominates the wall. Two smaller pieces accompany it, including a stylized portrait reminiscent of 1960s fashion illustrations. In the living room, two vintage posters framed in black add a retro touch.
This choice of original works rather than generic prints radically changes the perception of the space. The artist has matched the tones to the overall color scheme. Nothing is left to chance. For a rental apartment, this is a rare investment in decor, and that is precisely what makes this 36sqm studio extraordinary.
The entryway and walk-in closet are painted in a dark terracotta, almost reddish-brown. Walls, ceiling, and the archway’s frame, everything is painted this color. The immersive effect is total and deliberately theatrical. The black-and-white octagonal tile floor creates a strong, graphic contrast. A mirror with a black rounded frame and a gray stool soberly complete the space.
Replacing the walk-in closet door with a gray graphic-patterned curtain visually lightens this narrow hallway. A good alternative, especially when the curtain itself becomes a decorative element. The plaster archway leading into the main room deserves attention. It creates a theatrical framing effect toward the panoramic window. This interior design decision changes the perception of the entire studio from the threshold.
It is small but well-designed, with the wall behind the sink featuring slate-blue stoneware tiles laid vertically. This layout visually elongates the height. The side walls are tiled with large-format white tiles. A light oak wall-mounted cabinet with its oval mirror in a wooden frame brings the necessary warmth to this bathroom. The white globe wall sconces evoke retro lighting from the 1960s.
The floor features the same black-and-white octagonal tiles as in the entryway. This common thread between the two areas lends coherence to the overall layout. A bamboo basket, a wooden tissue holder, and a discreet fragrance diffuser on a shelf, these accessories add a pleasant natural touch.
This studio proves that a rental apartment can have real decorative personality without breaking the bank. The designer’s approach relies on a few clear choices, such as selecting a bold color for each zone, well-chosen iconic furniture, and original artwork rather than the generic decor found everywhere. The mid-century style is present, but without excess, it creates a genuine personality tinged with a touch of nostalgia.
Source : DZEN
The loggia integrated into the living area
Even before meeting the designer, the owner knocked down the partition between the loggia and the main room. A wise decision, as the extra space completely changes the perception of the room’s dimensions. The floor plan shows a studio with clearly defined zones: a kitchen along one wall, a dining area in the center, a living area, and a sleeping area side by side, separated by a shelving unit. Everything is in the same open space, with no hallway. Movement flows smoothly and is pleasant for daily life.
The herringbone-patterned oak floor runs across the entire main area. This choice was intentional, as the V-pattern visually elongates the room and gives the floor character.
A kitchen that embraces symmetry
The custom kitchen features two tall light wood columns that frame the cooking area. The upper cabinets are white, the lower ones oak, a classic mid-century combination, the style chosen for this 36sqm studio. Satin brass knob handles on the upper cabinets add a luminous golden touch.
The backsplash features two colors, with white relief tiles on the upper half and dark terracotta tiles on the lower half. This choice is original for such a small kitchen. Rather than aiming for subtlety, the designer embraces color here. The black round table with its light wood legs, paired with classic Cesca chairs featuring a chrome frame and cane seats, perfectly completes the ensemble. These 20th-century design icons and the amber vase with pink ranunculus on the table are all it takes to dress up this space.
The three-color palette, earth, mustard, and blue
Color is present throughout the apartment. The brick-red sofa dominates the living room. It sets the tone. Around it, the designer has added colorful elements, such as the salmon-colored nightstand, the burgundy and cobalt blue striped rug, the multicolored striped cushions, and the electric blue vase on the shelf. This create an effect of a balanced visual harmony.
The off-white, cream-colored walls serve as a neutral backdrop. They let the objects take center stage. This is not a minimalist decor. The mustard yellow of a cylindrical cushion, the bluish gray of the glasses on the table, the navy blue of the office chair, each element responds to another.
A shelf-partition as the centerpiece
This is the element that holds everything together. A black metal structure with light oak shelves separates the sleeping area from the living room without closing off the space. The sense of openness is preserved, while making the sleeping area more intimate.
This shelf effectively replaces a wall since it serves a practical purpose. It holds books, serves as a display, and defines the space. The shelves hold vases, hanging plants, and vintage finds. A turntable sits atop the closed base unit, a highly sought-after piece these days. Record collectors will appreciate this vintage detail. It’s exactly the kind of item that gives a rental apartment a real personality, helping it stand out from the ordinary. Two framed Soviet film posters from the 1960s, hung behind the structure, are perfectly in line with the desired style.
Three lighting moods for a single apartment
The project features three distinct lighting modes. General lighting for mornings and moving around. Task lighting for the office area and work. The third, softer and more directional, is perfect for creating an evening ambiance. In this 36sqm studio where everything coexists in the same room, lighting allows the space to shift from one use to another;
The floor lamp with a stem of stacked black spheres, visible near the desk, is a fine example of a decorative light fixture that also gets the job done. Next to the bed, a sky-blue Scandinavian PH pendant lamp, instantly recognizable, brings a touch of international design to this interior firmly rooted in an Eastern European aesthetic. The mix works because both objects share the same reference decade.
Original Artworks
Six hand-painted canvases decorate the apartment. Above the bed, a large geometric composition in blue, gray, and ochre dominates the wall. Two smaller pieces accompany it, including a stylized portrait reminiscent of 1960s fashion illustrations. In the living room, two vintage posters framed in black add a retro touch.
This choice of original works rather than generic prints radically changes the perception of the space. The artist has matched the tones to the overall color scheme. Nothing is left to chance. For a rental apartment, this is a rare investment in decor, and that is precisely what makes this 36sqm studio extraordinary.
The terracotta entryway
The entryway and walk-in closet are painted in a dark terracotta, almost reddish-brown. Walls, ceiling, and the archway’s frame, everything is painted this color. The immersive effect is total and deliberately theatrical. The black-and-white octagonal tile floor creates a strong, graphic contrast. A mirror with a black rounded frame and a gray stool soberly complete the space.
Replacing the walk-in closet door with a gray graphic-patterned curtain visually lightens this narrow hallway. A good alternative, especially when the curtain itself becomes a decorative element. The plaster archway leading into the main room deserves attention. It creates a theatrical framing effect toward the panoramic window. This interior design decision changes the perception of the entire studio from the threshold.
The slate-blue and wood bathroom
It is small but well-designed, with the wall behind the sink featuring slate-blue stoneware tiles laid vertically. This layout visually elongates the height. The side walls are tiled with large-format white tiles. A light oak wall-mounted cabinet with its oval mirror in a wooden frame brings the necessary warmth to this bathroom. The white globe wall sconces evoke retro lighting from the 1960s.
The floor features the same black-and-white octagonal tiles as in the entryway. This common thread between the two areas lends coherence to the overall layout. A bamboo basket, a wooden tissue holder, and a discreet fragrance diffuser on a shelf, these accessories add a pleasant natural touch.
What Planète déco takes away from the layout and decor of this 36sqm studio
This studio proves that a rental apartment can have real decorative personality without breaking the bank. The designer’s approach relies on a few clear choices, such as selecting a bold color for each zone, well-chosen iconic furniture, and original artwork rather than the generic decor found everywhere. The mid-century style is present, but without excess, it creates a genuine personality tinged with a touch of nostalgia.
Source : DZEN
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