You have a lot to consider in your apartment search—from staying within your allotted budget to finding what you want in your favorite neighborhood (and not falling for rental scams). Your plate is full. However, choosing the right floor plan for you is worth making room for—in your apartment-hunting mind space.
It’s a lesson many of us have to learn the hard way. When we find the place we really want in our budget and desired location, we might not even notice the lack of windows until symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder start to set in. Or the shortage of counter space in the kitchen, until you have to move your coffee maker into the bathroom.
Choosing the wrong floor plan—something that might seem small—can have a big impact on your life. But there are many ways to avoid making this mistake. So let’s focus on what we need to know to make sure we’re choosing the right apartment floor plan for our needs.
Dimensions
Knowing the overall square footage of your new space is valuable in determining the fairness of the rent and comparing your current apartment to your new one. But knowing the dimensions of each room you’ll be furnishing is critical. Will your large sectional couch (that you’re still paying off) fit in your new living room? What about your dining room set and your bed—in your new dining room and bedroom, respectively? If your current furniture won’t fit the dimensions, are you willing to buy new furniture? Buying more stuff isn’t always…bedder.
Layout
Aside from the overall flow of an apartment’s layout, the location of the rooms should definitely be a part of your decision-making process. If you’re renting with a roommate, you might not want to go for a unit that has bedrooms with shared walls (you’re already sharing enough, am I right?). Or if you’re renting a one-bedroom apartment, you might prefer a unit with a separate entrance to the bathroom, so your guests don’t have to cut through your bedroom to use it. If you like to cook while entertaining guests, you might want to look for an apartment with a more open kitchen as opposed to one that’s more closed off from the living and dining rooms.
Windows
When touring an apartment, look out for window placement (that other kind of window shopping). A room filled with natural light isn’t just pleasant or efficient—exposure to sunlight affects your health. You’ll also want to take note of the window fixtures. If none of the windows have blinds, you might have to purchase curtains.
Storage
Without adequate storage options, you could find yourself (exposed) with increased clutter and a pressing need to downsize. Consider the size of the bedroom closets, how many cabinets are in the kitchen, and see if there’s a coat closet when you walk in the front door. If your new unit seems to be light on storage options, is there plenty of space for freestanding storage pieces like carts that double as kitchen islands, bookshelves, and freestanding closets?
Apartments come in a wide variety of floor plan styles. What may be an issue for one renter might not affect another renter. But paying attention to features that could potentially cause problems for you down the line, before you sign the dotted line, will save you many future headaches—and an additional move.
