Zoning the Space

When you live in a small apartment, especially one with an open layout, it’s easy for everything to blend together—and not in a good way. The couch becomes the office, the kitchen table becomes the dumping ground, and before you know it, the whole place feels like a cluttered blur of “stuff.”

After moving into our 760 sq. ft. one-bedroom apartment, my boyfriend and I realized quickly: if we didn’t create designated zones, we’d lose both our space and our sanity.

I am on a mission to use my interior design skills to create a beautiful and function space.

1st. step: use the concept of zoning to turn our small apartment into a functional, comfortable, and organized home.

💡 What is Zoning?

Zoning is the idea of creating separate, purposeful areas within a space—especially when there are no walls to help guide you. It’s perfect for small apartments where every inch counts.

Instead of trying to make one room do everything, zoning helps you give each part of your home a “job.”

🛋️ 1. The Living Zone: Where We Chill

We centered this around our sofa, area rug, and a media console. The rug helps define the space visually, and we keep decor minimal to avoid visual clutter.

Tip: Use lighting to your advantage—our lamps makes the living space feel warm and intentional, even though it’s only a few feet from the kitchen.

🧑‍💻 2. The Work Zone: Boundaries for Our Sanity

Since we both work from home part-time, we carved out a small corner with a desk, lamp, and ergonomic chair. The location for his desk was dictated by the internet hook ups - we plan to do more work here, he would really like to have a standing desk. So we will revisit this soon.

🍽️ 3. The Dining Zone: Small but Mighty

Our dining table is small and round—perfect for two. We placed it next to the island so it could act as a continuation if needed.

🍳 4. The Kitchen Zone: Use Every Vertical Inch

Our new kitchen isn't small put its a good size with a nice island.

• A prep zone (with cutting boards and knives within reach)

• A cooking zone (pots and utensils nearby)

• A clean-up zone (organized sink area with drying rack + under-sink storage)

Tip: Command hooks and magnetic strips are everything in small kitchens.

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Shop [Adhesive Decorative Hooks]

🛏️ 5. The Sleep Zone: Calm and Clutter-Free

We treated our bedroom like a mini retreat—I have my vanity space and he has his reading chair and no laundry piles. Soft lighting, neutral bedding, and under-bed storage bins help keep the space both peaceful and practical.

Top Pick from Amazon:

Shop [Under the Bed Storage]- Great for extra bed linens and seasonal clothes. This one has a spot for labels!

Final Thoughts

Zoning your apartment isn’t about building walls—it’s about creating purpose. Whether you live in a studio or a one-bedroom, defining spaces for different activities helps you stay organized, be more productive, and actually enjoy your home.

You don’t need a bigger space. Just a smarter one.

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