Studio apartments offer compact, relatively affordable housing for students and other adults living in urban or high-priced areas. One-room studio apartments offer a number of benefits to residents, as well as the challenges of living in a small space. In some areas, studio apartments are only used by people who cannot afford larger living arrangements, but for others, studio apartments are the latest in designer chic. Does this Spark an idea?
Features
Studio apartments have a single main room that serves as a bedroom, living room and dining room. Many apartments also include a compact kitchen, or kitchenette, in the same room. In some cases, the kitchen can be hidden behind closet-style doors. Most studio apartments have their own bathroom, although some types of efficiency and low-cost studio apartments may only offer shared bathroom facilities on each floor. Some studios include a small changing room next to the bathroom, and others may even include compact washers and dryers. Some studio apartments feature an alcove, or L-shaped main room, for the resident to use as a semi-separate bedroom, dining room or office area.
Benefits
Because of the compact size, studio apartments typically rent or sell for less than other types of housing. In many areas, rates for studio apartments are even lower than for one bedroom apartments with similar square footage. This allows many people, such as students, to rent apartments when they couldn't otherwise afford housing in a particular area. Although some people find the lack of a separate bedroom to be a drawback, others prefer the convenience of having only one main room to organize and maintain, and enjoy the challenge of living in a small space.
Size
Most studio apartments range in size from 300 to 600 square feet. This includes the main room, as well as the kitchen and bathroom, if included. In order to live and, in some cases, study or work in this amount of square footage, most studio apartment dwellers must maximize the space by using compact furniture and efficient storage systems. Some studio apartment residents choose to divide the space into several smaller-sized areas for each "room" or function, either through physical room dividers or through the arrangement of furniture.
Type
Studio apartments, sometimes known as studio flats, or bachelor or efficiency apartments, are often located in urban areas, where rents are high and space is limited. Some apartment buildings offer only studio apartments, while others have a mix of apartment sizes and styles. Serviced apartments are a type of studio apartment often used for long-term hotel stays, as well as in some senior care facilities. Loft apartments, such as those in converted warehouses, may be studio apartments in that they only have one main room, but they may be larger than other types of studio apartments.
Significance
Studio apartments generally house a single person, although some rental or ownership agreements allow a couple, roommates, or and adult and child to live there. Studio apartments are typically associated with students and young adults, although they may also be popular with artists or urban professionals. Some studio apartment complexes concentrate on offering affordable housing, while others cater to design-conscious customers looking for a compact space in a luxurious area.
Tags: studio apartments, main room, studio apartment, Some studio, Studio apartments, studio apartments
