Styling a small space can be a challenge for anyone, but finding the right pieces will make all the difference and make it fun. Lifestyle blogger Jen Pinkston shows us how she makes the most of her studio. See Jen’s Idea Board for more inspiring home updates.
Before and After
I’ve been dying to share our Austin studio tour with you all and I couldn’t be more excited that this day is finally here. After moving our family across the country from Los Angeles to Austin, we hit the ground running looking for a studio space that we could call our own. We searched high and low. We wanted something central and with great natural light. We found a lot of traditional all-white photography studio spaces on the Eastside. For our shooting purposes we really wanted something that could feel warm and cozy and work for a variety of types of shoots and reflect our personal style. Is that really too much to ask for?! That’s when we happened upon this perfect space which just so happens to be my sister’s guest house. Here’s what the space looked like before I talked her into letting us adopt it as our studio:
This is what it looks like now, after a little paint and a big Hayneedle shopping spree:
Things to Consider For Your Space
To begin, we gave that extra tall 14-foot wall a major makeover with a pink coat of paint. I knew right away that I wanted to swap the positions of the sofa and chairs. The sofa blocks so much of that big window. Plus the pink wall is much larger so it just makes sense scale-wise. I think a good rule of thumb is that the scale of the furniture should fit the scale of the room. This living space area is on the small side, so I was looking for more petite furniture. (That day bed would be great in a big open playroom or bedroom, but in here it was just too big.)
The sofa was the first piece we decided on and it anchored the rest of the design. It’s the perfect color complement to the pink wall and it makes me seriously happy.
A good rule of thumb is that the scale of the furniture should fit the scale of the room
Find a Statement Accent Piece
There was so much wood and upholstery in the room with the sofa, chairs, tufted bench, and ottoman that I knew I wanted something completely opposite for the coffee table. Isn’t this table the coolest?! Don’t be surprised if it finds its way into my living room someday.
Tie it all Together
There’s something about the black and white print of the rug that really grounds the pastel colors making for a more sophisticated look.
Extra Seating
Benches are most commonly found up against a wall or at the foot of the bed – both very good spots for a bench! We used one, though, to actually separate the living space from the kitchen. It keeps everything super open, but also gives a sense of where one room ends and another one begins … plus, it provides a seat for guests.
Functional and Fun
Lastly, you know how much I love a bar cart! I love how narrow this one is – it almost doubles as a console table, but with a lot more storage and interest.
– Jen Pinkston, theeffortlesschic.com and room photography by Kate Zimmerman
