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Consulenza interior design online: cos'è, come funziona e quando vale la pena

Online Interior Design Consultation: What It Is, How It Works and When It's Worth It

by Restylit Interiors in Furnishing Tips

Online Interior Design Consultation: What It Is, How It Works and When It's Worth It

By Alberto, co-founder — Restylit.com

What is an online interior design consultation? It's a professional service in which an architect or interior designer plans your spaces remotely — no physical site visit required. Through video calls, floor plans and photos sent by the client, the professional develops a complete project with 3D renderings, a shoppable furniture list and technical specifications, all delivered digitally.

It's not a reduced version of the traditional service. It's an entirely different model, designed to make professional interior design accessible to those who don't want — or can't afford — the costs and timelines of a physical studio.

How the Way We Design Homes Has Changed

Until a few years ago, hiring an interior designer meant finding one in your city, waiting for them to visit the property, sitting through weeks of back-and-forth for a first draft, and paying a fee that often started at €3,000–5,000 for an average apartment — all while hoping their aesthetic matched yours.

The result was that professional interior design remained the privilege of those with high budgets and plenty of time. Everyone else made do with IKEA, Pinterest, and the builder's advice.

Then online came along. And the model changed entirely.

How an Online Interior Design Consultation Works: Step by Step

The process varies from studio to studio, but the structure is always similar. Here's how we handle it at Restylit.

Step 1 — Booking and choosing a package The client chooses the format that best suits their needs — quick consultation, project with 3D renderings, or full project with technical drawings — and books directly online. No opaque preliminary quotes. Prices are transparent and visible before purchase.

Step 2 — Sending the materials The client sends three things: the floor plan of the space (even a photo of a hand-drawn sketch works fine), current photos of the rooms, and visual inspiration — images of styles, atmospheres, and colours they like. No physical site visit required. The professional works entirely from these materials.

Step 3 — Developing the project The architect studies the space, develops the layout proposal, selects materials and furniture, and builds the 3D renderings. This is the invisible work — the kind that in a traditional studio justified fees of €3,000 and above.

Step 4 — Presentation video call The client sees the project for the first time during a video call with the architect. They can ask questions, request variations, and discuss the choices in depth. The call lasts from 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the package.

Step 5 — Delivery of project files The client receives everything digitally: photorealistic 3D renderings, a moodboard with materials and finishes, a shopping list with direct links to the products, and — in the more complete packages — technical drawings ready to hand over to the contractor.

What You Actually Receive: The Deliverables

This is the question we're always asked: "But what exactly do I get?"

It depends on the package, but a complete online interior design consultation typically includes the following.

Photorealistic 3D renderings Not sketches or rough concepts — three-dimensional images that show the room as it will actually look. With the correct proportions, the chosen materials, and the planned lighting. They let you see the result before buying a single piece of furniture.

Moodboard and material palette A visual board bringing together all selected materials: flooring, wall finishes, colours, textiles, and decorative elements. The complete reference for every decision you'll make on site or in a showroom.

Shoppable list with direct links A complete list of furniture, lighting and accessories chosen for the project — with direct product links. Not "a minimalist-style sofa" but the specific model, with dimensions, colour code and a link to purchase it.

Technical drawings (in advanced packages) Furnished floor plan with measurements, lighting layout, ceiling design, and contractor-ready documentation. The actual documents a builder or electrician needs to get to work.

Summary file Everything collected in one tidy document — to share with the contractor, to keep as a reference during the works, and to consult when shopping.

When an Online Interior Design Consultation Is Worth It

An online consultation isn't the right solution for everyone. Here's when it makes sense — and when it doesn't.

It's worth it if:

You're furnishing a new apartment from scratch. You have an empty space, a vague sense of what you want, but no idea where to start. An online consultation with 3D renderings gives you the full picture before making your first purchase — and prevents the mistakes you only discover when the sofa doesn't fit through the door or the colours clash.

You're renovating and already have a contractor. You've hired a building firm and know what structural work needs doing, but you need someone to decide on materials, finishes, and the furniture layout. Online interior design fits exactly into this space. The technical drawings we produce go directly to your contractor.

You're not happy with what you already have. You've furnished the place over the years, one purchase at a time, but the result doesn't feel right. Something's missing. A consultation helps identify what isn't working and how to correct it — often without buying anything new, just rearranging what's already there.

You're geographically far from a studio that matches your vision. You live in a small town, in the countryside, or abroad. The best interior design studios tend to cluster in major cities and often don't travel. Online, geography is no barrier at all.

It might not be enough if:

You need continuous on-site support during the build. An online consultation produces the project — it doesn't manage the physical site. If you need someone to visit every week to oversee the works, you'll need a local professional in person. That said, our projects are designed to be handed directly to the contractor and executed with confidence.

Your project involves complex structural issues. Listed buildings, serious structural problems, or works requiring local technical sign-off may need a locally accredited professional. Even in these cases, however, it's often possible to collaborate — our project provides the design direction, and the local figure handles the technical compliance.

Online vs Traditional Studio: The Real Differences

This is the comparison almost nobody makes honestly.

Time. A traditional studio — from first contact through site visit, project development and final delivery — often takes 3 to 6 months. An online consultation delivers a complete project in 3 to 4 weeks. Often the bottleneck is the team size itself: fewer people means tighter capacity, rightly so.

Cost. A traditional studio typically charges between €4,000 and €10,000 for an 80sqm apartment — often without 3D renderings included, which are billed separately. A Restylit online consultation starts from €299 for a single room, or from €35–40 per sqm for a full project.

Project quality. Here the honest answer is: it depends. A good physical studio does excellent work — but there are mediocre physical studios just as there are mediocre online services. Quality depends on the team, not the format. Working online doesn't reduce the quality of the design thinking. It reduces the studio's operating costs, and that saving is passed on to the client.

Geographic flexibility. An online project works exactly the same way in Milan, Palermo, London or Vienna. No compromises, no limitations.

Physical site visit. This is the most frequently cited difference — and the most overrated. 95% of the information needed to design a space comes from a floor plan, photos, and a well-run video call. A physical site visit adds marginal value in specific edge cases: unusual proportions, hidden structural issues, or materials that are genuinely difficult to assess from photos. For most projects, it simply isn't necessary.

The Most Common Doubts — and Straight Answers

"How can you design without seeing the space in person?" The same way a doctor makes a remote diagnosis: with the right information. A floor plan, high-resolution photos, videos of the space, and a detailed video call give us everything we need to develop a solid, considered project. We do it across hundreds of projects every year. It works.

"What if I don't like the result?" 3D renderings exist precisely for this reason. You see the project before anything is built. If something doesn't convince you, you say so during the video call and it gets revised. The cost of mistakes is paid in digital adjustments — not in wrong furniture bought and impossible to return.

"Can I buy the suggested furniture elsewhere?" Absolutely. The shopping list specifies the product, but you're free to look for it elsewhere, find a similar alternative, or negotiate the price. We have no commercial ties to any supplier. Our recommendations are independent.

"Does it work for any type of space?" Yes — apartments, houses, boutique hotels, restaurants, shops, offices. The process is the same; what changes is the complexity of the project and the type of deliverables produced.

What Makes Restylit Different from Other Online Platforms

There are several online interior design services out there. The difference with Restylit comes down to one thing: we're a studio, not a marketplace.

Platforms aggregate freelance professionals and assign them to clients. Each project can have a different author, with a different style and approach. Quality is variable by definition.

At Restylit, every project is coordinated by co-founder Mattea and developed by the same internal team. The aesthetic vision is consistent, the process is standardised, and quality is reviewed across every single project. You're not assigned to whoever is available that day — you're followed by the same studio from brief to delivery.

This is why we have over 500 completed projects with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.

The Packages: Which One to Choose

Consultation BASIC — €129 A 45-minute video call with an architect. Personalised advice on furniture, colours, materials and lighting for 1 to 2 rooms. No renderings — ideal for those who need a professional opinion on a specific question or decision. Delivered: a detailed PDF with everything discussed.

Consultation BASIC + 3D — from €249 Our most popular format. Includes the complete process described above: moodboard, photorealistic 3D renderings, shopping list with direct product links, lighting concept, and a 45-minute video call. Price varies based on sqm — selected at checkout. Ideal for those furnishing from scratch or refreshing an existing apartment.

Consultation PLUS — from €499 Everything in Basic+3D, plus one technical drawing of your choice: furnished floor plan with measurements, lighting layout, ceiling design, built-in joinery drawings, and more. For those who need a specific document to hand over to their contractor.

PLAN 2D — from €299 Floor plan only — up to 4 layout alternatives in 2D, without renderings or furniture specification. For those who need to resolve how to redistribute the spaces before making any other decision.

Essential — €33/sqm (min. 100sqm) Full design service for renovations. Includes 3 video calls, 3D renderings with 2 revision rounds, up to 4 executive technical drawings, and a complete shopping list. Delivered in approximately 60 days.

Advanced — €55/sqm (min. 100sqm) Our most comprehensive service. 5 video calls, 3D renderings with 3 revision rounds, up to 8 technical drawings, cost estimate, and 2 hours of remote design supervision. For complete renovations where nothing can be left to chance.

FAQ

Does an online consultation work for major renovations? Yes. The Essential and Advanced packages are designed exactly for this — with executive technical drawings, cost estimates, and design support throughout the build. The difference from a physical studio is that our work stops at the delivery of the technical documents: physical execution is delegated to the client's local contractor.

How long does it take from first contact to project delivery? For Basic and Basic+3D packages: around 3 to 4 weeks from when the materials are received. For Essential and Advanced: 6 to 8 weeks. Available slots each month are limited to maintain quality — there are sometimes short waiting lists.

Can changes be made after the video call? For Basic, Basic+3D and Plus packages, significant post-delivery revisions are billed separately. Essential and Advanced packages include 2 and 3 revision cycles respectively within the process. This is standard across the industry — no project is endlessly revisable without cost.

Does it work for clients abroad? Yes. We work with clients in London, Geneva, Brussels and beyond. The process is identical — floor plan, photos, video call. The only variable is the time zone for the call, which we organise accordingly.

How do I pay? Directly on the website, by credit card, PayPal or Klarna (3 instalments, interest-free).

Ready to Start?

If you'd like to understand which package is right for you before committing, you can book a free 15-minute introductory call with the Restylit team — available for PLUS, Essential and Advanced packages.

For Basic and Basic+3D, you can go ahead and book directly online.

Discover the packages →

Restylit is an Italian interior design company, entirely online. Co-founded by Alberto and Mattea (qualified architect), we design residential and commercial spaces across Italy and Europe. Over 500 completed projects. 4.8/5 average across hundreds of verified reviews.

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How Much Does an Interior Designer Cost to Renovate a Home in 2025: Real Prices and What Changes with Restylit How much does an interior designer cost to renovate a home? In Italy prices range from €50 to €150 per hour for an hourly consultation, from €3,500 to €8,000 for a complete project with a physical studio on a 70-80sqm apartment, and from €33 to €55 per sqm for an online executive project with Restylit. The price difference between online and offline does not depend on the quality of the project (or at least it shouldn't) — it depends almost always on the studio's operating costs, which in the online model simply don't exist and are not passed on to the client. In short: an online interior design project costs on average 60-70% less than a traditional physical studio, with half the timeline and no significant differences in quality for the vast majority of residential renovations. What you'll find in this guide. Real market prices line by line, an honest comparison between available formats (hourly consultation, physical studio, online), when it makes sense to spend more and when it doesn't, the difference between an interior design project and site supervision, and the questions to ask before signing any quote. If you're renovating and don't know where to start on the design side, this is the right place. Why Prices Vary So Much The first thing you notice when searching "interior designer prices" is the enormous variation. From €200 to €25,000 per project — quite a range. How is that possible, you might wonder. Because you're comparing very different things. The factors that determine the final price are essentially these. The type of intervention. A colour consultation is different from a layout project. A project with 3D renderings is different from an executive project with technical drawings for the contractor. Each level of depth has a different cost. Online vs physical studio. A physical studio has high fixed costs: rent, staff, site visits, travel. These costs are passed on in the fee. An online service has much lower operating costs. That difference goes to the client. Project complexity. A 35sqm studio with a simple layout is not as complex as a 120sqm apartment with a full renovation and relocated plumbing. Geographic location. An interior designer in Milan costs 20-30% more than the national average. In Rome about 15-20% more. In Southern Italy you can find prices 15-20% below the national average. The brand. Yes, there are great architects who have thoroughly earned their reputation and the possibility of charging substantial fees for their projects. Available Formats and Market Prices in 2025 Hourly consultation — physical studio The most traditional format. The interior designer comes to your home, carries out a site visit, and gives advice on materials, layout and furniture. Average rate: €50-150 per hour Project minimums: €500-1,000 even for small interventions What it includes: site visit, in-person consultation, verbal or written guidance When it makes sense: for specific questions about an existing space, not for a full renovation Complete project — physical studio Site visit, complete project with drawings and renderings, often with site supervision. Average rate: €80-200 per sqm for standard apartments For an 80sqm apartment: €3,500-8,000 for the project alone, works not included Timeline: 2-6 months from first meeting to delivery When it makes sense: complex renovations, those who want continuous physical presence, those with no budget or time constraints Online consultation — per-room packages The intermediate format, which has grown significantly in recent years. Everything happens remotely via video calls and renderings — guaranteeing, once you find the right partner, an extremely satisfying result. Average market rate: €200-600 per room Typically includes: moodboard, 3D renderings, shopping list, video call When it makes sense: furnishing one or two rooms from scratch, restyling without renovation Online executive project — Restylit Essential and Advanced The format for those who are renovating and need the complete project: from layout to technical drawings to hand over to the contractor. Essential — €33/sqm (minimum 100sqm) Complete design for renovations. Includes 3 video calls, 3D renderings with 2 revision rounds, up to 4 executive technical drawings, complete shopping list. Delivered in approximately 60 days. Advanced — €55/sqm (minimum 100sqm) The most comprehensive service. 5 video calls, renderings with 3 revision rounds, up to 8 technical drawings, cost estimate, remote artistic direction. For complete renovations where nothing can be left to chance. Concrete example: 100sqm apartment with Restylit Essential → €3,300 for the complete project with renderings, technical drawings and shopping list. The same project with a physical studio in Milan: €8,000-20,000. Summary Table: Prices 2025 Format Indicative price Average timeline Best for Hourly consultation (physical) €50-150/hour Variable Questions about existing space Complete project (physical) €80-200/sqm 2-6 months Those who want physical presence Per-room package (online) €200-600/room 2-4 weeks Furnishing a single room Essential Restylit €33/sqm ~60 days Full renovation Advanced Restylit €55/sqm ~60-70 days Renovation where nothing can go wrong In summary on prices: an online interior design project costs on average 60-70% less than a traditional physical studio. On a 100sqm apartment the difference is concrete: €3,300 with Restylit Essential versus €8,000-20,000 with a Milan studio. With half the timeline. And no significant differences in project quality for the vast majority of residential renovations. What Happens If You Don't Hire an Interior Designer This is the question nobody asks explicitly enough. So I'll ask it. Those who renovate without an interior design project almost always find themselves in the same situation: the building work finishes, it's time to choose materials and furniture, and that's where the problems begin. The floor that looked perfect in the sample but mounted across 80sqm feels cold. The kitchen that doesn't align with the plumbing connections. The sofa that doesn't scale with the space. The bathroom tiles ordered short, the site at a standstill waiting for a reorder that might not match the original batch. These aren't stupid mistakes. They're structural errors that come from the absence of an overall vision before any work begins. The average cost of recoverable mistakes in a renovation without a project ranges between €1,500 and €4,000. Often more, when it comes to choices like flooring or wall finishes that stay for twenty years even when they stop feeling right or start to tire quickly. A Restylit Essential project on 100sqm costs €3,300. The Difference That Matters: Online vs Physical at Equal Quality This is the point many traditional studios focus their communication on: "online can't be the same as physical presence." Nothing could be further from the truth. That said, in some very specific cases it's true. Sites with complex structural issues, historic buildings with particular constraints, those who need someone in the site every week to supervise. In these cases a local physical professional is the right choice. For the vast majority of residential projects, the real difference is almost eliminated by the quality of digital tools available today. 95% of the information needed to design a space well comes from a floor plan, photos and a video call conducted properly. What changes significantly is the price. A 100sqm apartment with a physical studio in Milan: €8,000-20,000 for the project alone. The same apartment with Restylit Advanced: €5,500. Same quality of design. Less time. No geographic limitations. When It Makes Sense to Spend More That said, there are situations where investing more in the project makes sense. Very complex renovations. If you're merging two apartments, relocating many services, working on load-bearing structures — the technical complexity requires more design work and more technical drawings. The cost increases justifiably. High-value properties with special materials. If the project involves rare marbles, bespoke design furniture, finishes requiring specialist craftspeople — the professional needs specific relationships and expertise in that segment. The higher cost is justified. Those who want weekly physical site supervision. Going on site, checking the execution, resolving problems in real time. It's a specific service that online packages don't include — and one that has a justified cost when genuinely needed. Site Supervision: A Choice, Not a Limitation This is the part where I want to be completely transparent, because it's a question we receive often and it deserves an honest answer. Site supervision is the service through which a professional physically oversees the execution of the building work, verifying that works are carried out according to the agreed project and intervening when something goes wrong. Restylit does not carry out physical site supervision. Not because we're not capable — but because we've chosen not to, and that choice has a precise logic. Effective site supervision requires physical presence, local knowledge, direct relationships with local contractors, and the ability to intervene quickly when something goes wrong. A remote professional cannot do these things as effectively as someone who is physically on site. What we do instead — and what many people underestimate — is deliver to the contractor a project so detailed that it drastically reduces the need for continuous supervision. Photorealistic renderings, executive technical drawings, a shopping list with precise specifications for every material, a cost estimate. A competent contractor who receives this material knows exactly what to do and how to do it. The margin for error drops significantly. We always recommend entrusting site supervision to someone who does it professionally and is on the ground: the site manager of the contractor itself, a local surveyor or trusted technician. This is the person who knows that specific firm, its workers, its habits. They know how to communicate with them, they know where to step in. What we offer in addition is an initial brief for the contractor: a document that explains the project, the priorities, the design choices and the materials, so that whoever supervises the work has a clear reference to follow. It doesn't replace site supervision — it supports it. If you're looking for someone to manage every aspect of the site physically, Restylit is not the answer for that part — and we tell you so clearly. But if you're looking for a serious, complete and well-documented interior design project that puts that person in the best possible position to do their job well, that's where we come in. How to Evaluate a Quote Before Accepting It Three questions to always ask before signing. 1. What does it include exactly? 3D renderings yes or no? Technical drawings for the contractor yes or no? How many revisions? How many video calls? Purchasing support? The difference between a €1,500 project without renderings and a complete €4,000 one isn't just price — it's service. 2. Who actually works on my project? In a large studio the client pays for the principal's name but the project is done by a junior. At Restylit every project goes through the internal team coordinated by Mattea. Always ask who signs off and who does the work. 3. Can I see the result before the works start? The photorealistic 3D rendering is the answer. If the service doesn't include renderings — or only includes generic conceptual sketches — you're buying advice, not vision. The difference is enormous when it comes to making purchases. If you're planning a renovation and want to understand which package is right for your project, book a free 15-minute call with the Restylit team. No commitment — just a conversation to understand where to start and what makes sense. Discover the Essential and Advanced packages → FAQ How much does an interior designer cost for a 100sqm apartment? With a traditional physical studio: between €5,000 and €15,000 for the project alone, depending on city and complexity. With Restylit Essential: €3,300. With Restylit Advanced: €5,500. In both cases the project includes 3D renderings, executive technical drawings and a shopping list. Is the interior designer included in the renovation cost? No, almost never. The cost of the interior design project is separate from the building work. It needs to be planned as a standalone line item in the budget — and done before the works, not during or after. Can I deduct the cost of an interior designer? The interior designer's fee is not directly deductible as a professional expense. However, if the professional is registered with the architects' board and signs the planning applications, their fee may fall within the 50% Renovation Bonus expenses. Always check with your accountant. How long does it take to have the project ready? With Restylit Essential and Advanced: approximately 60 days from when materials are received. With a traditional physical studio: 2-6 months. The difference depends mainly on the timelines for site visits, revisions and coordination, which in the online model are much more streamlined. Is it worth paying more for a studio with a famous name? Depends on what you're looking for. A famous name brings a precise aesthetic positioning and a network of relationships in the luxury furniture world. If you're looking for a project that reflects that positioning and you have the budget, yes. If you're looking for a quality project that works for your daily life in your specific apartment, a famous name doesn't necessarily add value compared to a competent and methodical team. What's the difference between an interior designer and an architect for a renovation? A registered architect can sign planning applications, carry out structural calculations and take on the technical and legal responsibility of the project. An interior designer handles the interior design: layout, materials, furniture, lighting, the aesthetic of the spaces. For a renovation involving structural modifications or planning applications you need an architect or engineer. For the interior design project that defines how the space will be lived in, you need an interior designer. The two figures often collaborate: the architect manages the technical and regulatory side, the interior designer the design and furnishing side. What is an interior design executive project and what does it include? An interior design executive project is the complete document that translates the design vision into concrete instructions for the contractor. It includes: furnished floor plans with precise measurements, photorealistic 3D renderings of every space, executive technical drawings (lighting layout, services layout, construction details), a shopping list with exact specifications for all chosen materials and products, and a cost estimate. It's the document a competent contractor can pick up and follow without ambiguity. Without an executive project, every choice is made on site — often badly and in a hurry. Restylit is an Italian interior design company, entirely online. We design residential spaces with photorealistic 3D renderings, shoppable lists and technical drawings for the contractor — across Italy and Europe. Discover the Essential and Advanced packages →

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Come Arredare un Monolocale di 30mq: Quello che Nessuno Ti Dice Prima di Comprare il Primo Mobile

How to Furnish a Studio Apartment of 30sqm: What Nobody Tells You Before You Buy the First Piece of Furniture

How to Furnish a Studio Apartment of 30sqm: What Nobody Tells You Before You Buy the First Piece of Furniture By Alberto, co-founder — Restylit How do you furnish a studio apartment of 30sqm? You start with the layout, not the furniture. First you decide where to sleep, where to work, where to eat. Then you choose what to buy — not the other way around. A studio furnished without a layout rarely works: the individual pieces seem fine on their own but don't work together, the space always feels too small, and after six months you want to change everything. I've seen it happen too many times. And almost always for the same reason. The Problem Nobody Names When furnishing a studio, the temptation is to start buying. You go on IKEA or some furniture website, you search for "studio apartment ideas," you find beautiful rooms in the photos and try to replicate them. The thing is, those rooms were designed. Every piece of furniture was chosen in relation to the others, in relation to the light, in relation to how the person living there moves through the space. It's not luck. It's method. Without that method, you buy the sofa before realising it takes up 60% of the room's width. You order the bed before noticing that with the wardrobe open you can't get past. You choose the dining table and then don't know where to put it because there's no space left. Let's start from the beginning. Step One: Define the Zones Before Buying Anything A studio works when it has recognisable zones. Not walls, not doors: zones. The brain needs to understand where one function ends and another begins. Without that distinction, everything blurs and the space always feels chaotic even when it's tidy. The typical zones of a studio are four: sleeping, working, eating and living. Not all four are necessarily needed. It depends on how the space is used. But each of those that exist must have a clear boundary. The boundary doesn't have to be physical. It can be a rug that defines the living zone. It can be the arrangement of furniture that creates a visual barrier. It can be a change in lighting. It can be tall shelving positioned to separate the sleeping area from the rest. The first thing to do, before opening any furniture website, is to sketch on paper where those zones go. Even by hand, even without being good at drawing. The point is to understand the logic of the space. The Bed: The Most Important Decision In a studio the bed is the piece of furniture that determines everything else. It takes up the largest surface area, conditions the circulation, and defines the sleeping zone that then influences the rest of the layout. The main options are three. Fixed bed in the sleeping zone The simplest solution and often the best one. You dedicate part of the studio to the bed permanently, create a visual boundary with the rest (shelving, panels, a difference in lighting), and live with that division. It's not a waste of space: it's clarity. And clarity in a studio is worth a lot. The bed doesn't have to be in the darkest corner. The sleeping zone can be near the window if the light is manageable with the right curtains. What matters is that it makes sense in the overall floor plan. Mezzanine bed Works well if the ceiling height allows it, meaning at least 2.70 metres to have a liveable daytime zone underneath. Under the mezzanine you create the work zone, the living zone, or both. The advantage is real: you gain usable surface. The downside is that sleeping on a mezzanine is not the same as sleeping in a normal bed, and going up and down at night gets tiring after a while. Murphy bed (wall bed) The most radical solution. During the day the bed disappears into the wall and the space becomes fully liveable. In the evening it comes down and becomes a bedroom. Higher cost than a normal bed, installation requires some work, but the space gain is concrete. The detail that matters: quality murphy beds have smooth mechanisms and mattresses that hold up well over time. Cheap ones don't. If you go with this solution, it's not the place to save money. The Sofa: Almost Always Too Big The sofa is the second most common mistake in studios, after getting the layout wrong. People choose the sofa they'd want in a normal apartment. A nice three-seater, maybe with a chaise longue. And then it doesn't fit through the door, or it fits but takes up the whole room, or it fits and it's there but there's no space for anything else. In a thirty square metre studio the sofa can't be the protagonist. It needs to be functional, compact and visually light. A two-seater sofa with legs, leaving the floor visible underneath, takes up much less visual space than a three-seater that sits on the floor. The difference is felt. The alternatives to a traditional sofa that work well in small spaces are the sofa bed (which also solves the problem of guests), the small sofa with integrated storage (useful in studios where storage is always an issue), and modular seating that can be rearranged. The Work Zone: You Can't Ignore It If you work from home, even just a few days a week, the work zone is not optional. Working on the sofa or the bed is comfortable for a few hours, but after a while it becomes a physical and mental problem. The body can no longer distinguish between "I'm in work mode" and "I'm in rest mode." And that, over time, is draining. In a studio the work zone can be small. A desk sixty centimetres deep and ninety wide is enough for a laptop and a little more. What can't be missing is the visual separation from the rest: a shelf behind you, a position that faces away from the bed, dedicated lighting. Fold-down wall desks are an interesting solution if you use the work space rarely. They open when needed, close when not, and the wall goes back to being free. They're not comfortable for working eight hours a day, but for a few hours a week they work. Kitchen and Dining Zone: The Compromise Almost Everyone Makes In a thirty square metre studio the kitchen is almost always small and the dining zone even more so. The solution that I see working best in most cases is the extendable table. A table that in its minimum configuration measures eighty by eighty centimetres (enough for two people) and extends to one hundred and twenty-four or one hundred and forty to seat four or six. In the closed configuration it doesn't weigh on the space. When needed, it transforms. A round table works better than a rectangular one in studios because it has no corners that visually "cut" the room and integrates better into irregular space configurations. Stackable chairs or Tolix chairs (light, slim, stackable) are the logical choice when space is limited. Storage: The Real Problem in Studios In thirty square metres there isn't room for everything. That's the reality. But there's almost always room for more than you'd think, if you think vertically instead of horizontally. Walls are the most underused resource in any studio. Tall shelving up to the ceiling, kitchen wall units up to the ceiling, storage under the bed (if the bed allows it), ottomans with storage, benches with drawers at the entrance. Every piece of furniture can have a double function, and in a studio it almost should. The principle I always use: before buying new furniture, ask whether what you already have can do something else too. Often the answer is yes. Colours: The Thing Most People Get Wrong The advice you always hear is "use light colours to make the space feel bigger." It's partially correct but incomplete. Light colours reflect light and visually widen the space. But it doesn't mean a studio has to be all white. It means the palette needs to be coherent and not fragmented. Three colours maximum, used consistently throughout the space, make a studio feel larger than five different colours in every corner. Visual fragmentation shrinks, continuity widens. A choice that works very well in studios is using a slightly darker colour in the sleeping zone, to create the visual separation mentioned earlier, and lighter colours in the rest. It doesn't need to be dramatic: even just one wall in a warmer or deeper tone creates the distinction that's needed. Lighting: The Element That Transforms Everything In a studio lighting is the most important design choice after the layout. Because lighting defines the zones, creates atmosphere, and physically influences how the space is perceived. The basic rule: each zone needs its own light source. Not just the central ceiling light that illuminates everything uniformly. Soft light for the living zone, functional light for the work zone, low and warm light for the sleeping zone. All at 2700K. This isn't an aesthetic preference: it's the colour temperature that more than any other creates a comfortable domestic atmosphere in the evening. The Checklist Before Buying Anything These are the questions I always go through before starting a project on a studio. Layout Have I defined where the four zones are (sleeping, working, eating, living)? Does each zone have a clear visual boundary? Are the circulation flows free? Can I move through the space without manoeuvring between furniture? Furniture Is the bed in the right position relative to the window and the door? Does the sofa leave at least 90 centimetres of clearance on at least one side? Does every piece of furniture have the right dimensions for the space? Did I measure before ordering? Storage Have I used the vertical space? Do the shelves reach close to the ceiling? Do at least two or three pieces of furniture have a double function (storage plus seating, bed plus storage)? Lighting and colours Does each zone have a dedicated light source? Is the palette coherent? No more than three main colours? Are all the bulbs at 2700K? If you're furnishing a studio and want to start with the right layout instead of a wrong purchase, at Restylit that's exactly where we begin. Floor plan, photos, a call. And we show you how it'll look before you move a single piece of furniture. Book a free 15-minute call → FAQ Is it worth buying custom furniture for a studio? In some cases yes. The areas where custom is worth the investment are storage (fitted wardrobes that use every available centimetre) and bed or murphy bed systems. For standard furnishing pieces, custom adds cost without necessarily adding value. How do you separate the sleeping zone from the rest without walls? The most effective solutions are tall shelving used as dividers, decorative panels, ceiling-mounted curtains (affordable and removable), and a difference in lighting between the zones. Even just lowering the colour temperature in the sleeping zone relative to the rest creates a perceived separation. What's the best bed for a studio? It depends on how much space you have and how you want to use it. A fixed bed is the most comfortable solution for everyday living. A murphy bed is the right choice if you need to maximise daytime space. A mezzanine works if the ceiling is high enough. There's no universal answer: it depends on the specific floor plan. How do you manage the entrance in a studio? It's almost always ignored. It's actually one of the most important spaces because it creates the first impression and is often where everything that comes through the door ends up. A bench with storage, a wall-mounted coat rack, a mirror. Not much is needed. But it needs to be thought about. A thirty square metre studio isn't a space that "has no potential." It's a space that requires more design than a large apartment, not less. Because every centimetre matters and every wrong choice shows. See how we work → Restylit is an Italian interior design company, entirely online. We design residential and commercial spaces with photorealistic 3D renderings, shopping lists and technical drawings, across Italy and Europe.

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