Let’s face it–living expenses are rising. And many renters are asking the question, “what is a studio apartment?”
If this describes you, read on to learn how these tiny spaces can save you money on rent.
Why Consider a Studio Apartment?
These spaces are becoming more popular in the United States, thanks to increasing demand from young professionals who don’t need much space. According to RentCafe, about 5% of apartment renters lived in studio apartments in 2018.
The average studio apartment rent in the U.S. costs $1,065/month. Studio apartments are laid out a bit differently from other types of apartments, like one, two, and three-bedroom apartments.
Studio apartments also lack some features that other types of units do not. What floor plan features make studio apartments different?
We’ll take a look at the features that studio apartments contain and the general layout that most follow.
We’ll also share a few tips to make the most of your studio apartment space. Let’s take a look at what makes these increasingly popular apartments unique!
What Is a Studio Apartment?
Studio apartments are 500-600 square foot living spaces common in urban and metropolitan areas. They have a few unique features that separate them from other types of apartments. The difference begins with the floor plan and layout of the unit.
Studios are made up of one, all-inclusive main room or living area. The bathroom is separate from this area, but the bedroom, kitchen, and “living room” are all just part of the single room.
One exception is the alcove studio (sometimes called an L-shaped studio) that features a small, offset wing of space similar to a bedroom. You might think of these apartments as small spaces with very little square footage, but some can be quite large.
Whether large or small, studio apartments are known for offering more open space than other kinds of apartments with separate rooms and hallways. While many vary in size and layout, they nearly always include each of the following elements:
Sleeping Area
Dariusz Jarabek/Shutterstock
There are no room divisions in studios, so there’s no separate bedroom. This is the primary reason studio apartments are best for solo renters. Most renters simply designate a specific corner or area of the main living space as the bedroom or sleeping area.
The sleeping area typically has enough room for a bed, a nightstand or small table, shelving, and some type of seating.
For smaller apartments and those with no partial “nook” for the sleeping area, full and queen size beds are usually the best fit. Other studios with recessed alcoves for the sleeping area might comfortably support a king-size bed.
Kitchen Area
Dariusz Jerzabek/Shutterstock
The kitchen or kitchenette is located directly within the main living area of a studio. Typically, one corner or wall will be designated as the kitchen area.
Kitchens in studio apartments can be surprisingly complete. Depending on the number of square feet available in the apartment, the kitchen might contain:
- A small section of base kitchen cabinets with countertops
- A small part of a wall and/or tall cabinets for storage
- An apartment refrigerator
- An apartment stove/oven combo
- A microwave (usually installed above the stove)
- An efficiency dishwasher
- A sink
- A small kitchen table, island, or booth
Stacked and apartment-sized kitchen appliances make it easier to fit the functionality of a separate kitchen into the apartment’s usable space.
Living Area
Dariusz Jarzabek/Shutterstock
The living areas in studios are, like the kitchen and sleeping area, just part of the main room. Usually, much of the open floor area is used as a general living space.
Couches and chairs, TVs, coffee tables, shelving, desks, room dividers, and wall cabinets can all be part of the main living space in a studio.
In a tiny apartment, the living space might overlap or fuse with the sleeping area. Small spaces can also mean that a washing machine and dryer might be located within the living area if there is no other place for them.
Separate Bathroom
Yampi/Shutterstock
Typically, the bathroom in a studio apartment has a relatively large amount of storage space.
There may be one or more closets inside the bathroom, along with base, tall, or wall cabinets, as well as some wall shelving.
You’ll usually find a shower/tub combo, a sink, and a toilet (full baths, not half baths). If the bathroom is large enough, some renters can squeeze stackable or efficient washing machines and/or dryers into the room.
Tip: Check out the standard washing machine dimensions here to see if your machine will fit.
What a Studio Apartment Is Not
Before you rent a studio apartment, you should understand what it is not. For example, it’s not a one-bedroom, efficiency, or tiny apartment. Allow us to explain.
A One-Bedroom Apartment
Apartments with one bedroom are not the same thing as studio apartments because the bedroom area is separate from the living space.
In studios, the entire apartment is one room, except for L-shaped or alcove studios that feature recessed areas that create a more divided effect.
One-bedroom apartments also feature more square footage than studios, with an average of 757 square feet per unit.
An Efficiency Apartment
There is some conflicting information online, but in real estate, efficiency apartments are technically just tiny one-bedroom apartments. They are not studio apartments because they feature small, separate rooms for the bedroom, living room, and kitchen.
The Smallest Apartment Available
While many studio apartments are small and feature an average of 500–600 square feet of living space, they are not the smallest type of apartment unit.
Micro-apartments are usually just 150–344 square feet in size, considerably smaller than most studios.
However, compared to the average size of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments in the United States (941 square feet as of 2018), studio apartments are much smaller.
Making the Most of Your Space
The limited space in a studio apartment can be a challenge for some renters. To make the most of the space, you can try adding room dividers or partitions.
They can visually break up the space and offer a more traditional apartment feel with a bit more separation between areas. Shelving and vertical space are other ways to make the most of a studio unit.
Limited floor space doesn’t matter as much when there is plenty of storage and space on and against the walls. Functional storage can create hidden pockets of storage throughout the apartment and cut down on clutter.
If you decide to rent a studio apartment or purchase one as an investment, these tips can help you maximize the space available and make the unit as comfortable as possible.