Whether you love them or hate them (being able to touch two walls on opposite sides of your dwelling remarkably doesn’t appeal to everyone), small apartments and tiny houses have gained a lot of traction in recent years. These small abodes present potential solutions to the kind of explosive urban growth that results in an increased demand for housing and rising rental rates in some of the world’s largest cities. Small spaces also have an eco-friendly appeal, offering efficient land use and decreased energy consumption.
However new the trend may appear, small apartments date back to ancient Roman times, when most of the Roman city dwellers lived in insulae—multi-story apartment buildings that typically had shops on the ground floor and apartments on the floors above. When in Rome, right?
In the 19th century, tenement housing was built to accommodate growing populations in big American cities like New York and Chicago. Tenements stretched five to seven stories high on lots that were 25 feet long and 100 feet wide.
The insulae and tenement housing served more or less the same purpose of our small apartments today—to provide affordable housing options near the city center, where space is limited. Small apartments are especially popular in places like New York City, San Francisco, Boston, and Seattle. But they go by a variety of names now—studios, efficiencies, and micros—some of which are used interchangeably.
So what’s the difference between studio apartments, efficiency apartments, and micro apartments?
Studio Apartments
A studio apartment is an open living space, containing the bedroom, kitchen, dining room, and living room in one area. The bathroom is the only room that’s separate from the rest of the apartment. The kitchen in a studio apartment boasts full-size appliances, just what you’d expect to find in any larger apartment. Studios average about 500 to 600 square feet (think just bigger than a two-car garage, which is about 400 square feet).
Efficiency Apartments
Efficiency apartments are laid out the same way as studio apartments. However, efficiency apartments tend to be smaller than studios and have minimalist kitchens, also known as kitchenettes. A kitchenette offers a combination of the culinary basics. For example, a fridge, four-burner stove, microwave, and a small sink may comprise a kitchenette. There are no hard-and-fast rules about what comes with a kitchenette—just that it’s built for pure efficiency.
Micro Apartments
Micro apartments are the smallest of small apartments. They are living spaces that provide open areas for sleeping and sitting along with built-in storage, a kitchenette, and a separate bathroom. Micro apartments average anywhere between 50 and 350 square feet (for comparison: a one-car garage is about 200 square feet).
Is living in a small home for you?
Living in a small home has plenty of pros and cons. But it depends on who you ask—what I consider a con may be a pro for you. Here are some general traits that suggest living in a small apartment could be ideal for you:
- You want to live alone. Some couples don’t mind sharing a spacious studio, but you may not feel like sharing your few hundred square feet with your significant other, far less a pet, when you’re looking for efficiency and micro apartments.
- You embrace a minimalist lifestyle. If you’re looking to downsize, a small apartment will definitely be conducive to that end. A major draw of living small for many is that it forces you to be selective about your belongings (and keeps you from being a hoarder).
- You just need a place to sleep (you’re not home much). When you’re out more often than you’re in, a small apartment suits your needs for the essentials—a place to sleep, shower, eat, and store your stuff. You’ll also pay less in utilities when you rent a small apartment, since there will be less space to heat and cool, fewer outlets, and minimal appliances.
- Your location is what’s most important. If living in the center of a vibrant city is your heart’s truest desire, you’ll most likely want to explore all that the city has to offer. You probably won’t want to stay cooped up in your tiny home when you know what’s right outside. Small apartments are also abundant in major cities, so you’ll have no trouble finding one.
If the above points ring true for you, congratulations! Living in a small apartment could be your dream situation! While you’re searching, be sure to look out for small apartments with built-in storage solutions (the less you’ll have to come up with on your own), a refrigerator door that opens comfortably, enough counter space for your coffee maker, and tall ceilings are nice to have (they make the space feel bigger). Happy apartment hunting!
