Last Updated on September 24, 2022 by
A studio apartment is a house where all the rooms you live in, in your traditional home are all in one room. Your kitchen, living room, and bedroom are all in the same area with no partitions or walls separating them, except the bathroom.
Contrary to popular opinion, size is not used to identify studio apartments. In the United States, the average studio apartment is 600 square feet, and other countries might offer different sizes. The studio apartments are generally suitable for one occupant due to their small dimensions. However, larger studios and other studio apartments may house a couple comfortably.
Singles prefer studio apartments as the rent is significantly lower than one-bedroom apartments. Their size has much to do with this. Larger and more sophisticated studios might be a little more expensive. And apart from affordability, studio apartments come with other benefits over other types of rentals.
Below, we will discuss the characteristics and benefits of the studio and answer some of your questions regarding the same.
What are some characteristics of a studio apartment?
The kind of house you opt to rent may depend on the cost, design, and lifestyle, among other factors. Some of the features of a studio apartment include:
- The open floor plan. When walls separate the different rooms, that house is no longer a studio apartment. However, housing laws dictate that bathrooms should be separated with a wall and have a door; this is the only separate room in a studio apartment.
- Affordable rent. An apartment can be expensive, depending on where it is. The differentiating part about the cost between the studio apartment and a traditional apartment is that the rent will always be lower. However, landlords and architects have made better and more sophisticated designs of studio apartments that are not costlier to rent.
- Smaller. This is not a defining characteristic of studio apartments; however, you will often find that they are not spacious.
What are some types of studio apartments?
Though all studio apartments feature open floor plans, they come in different looks and layouts. Some of the types include:
- Alcove studio. Such an apartment follows the same concept as the typical studio apartment, except that it has an L-shaped partition. A clove or nook for the bedroom is created to increase privacy in certain parts of the house.
- Convertible studio. In such an apartment, you have one big room that you can choose to build a wall in the middle and create two rooms, converting it into a two-room apartment. Building the wall will be from your pocket and not the landlords. Some apartment managers do not allow this.
- Micro apartments. Such an apartment has a living room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette in less than 350 square feet. They are common in highly populated areas.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of a studio apartment?
Like other types of apartments, there are some benefits and drawbacks of living in a studio apartment.
Benefits of studio apartments
- Convenience. An open floor plan means you can be in your living room as you grab a jacket in your bedroom. There are no partitions or doors you have to open and distance to walk to get something in the next room. With everything within arm’s reach, the possibilities of what you can achieve without moving are endless.
- It helps to save energy and resources. Many people are concerned with the environment and the depletion of the natural resources at our disposal. Studio apartments offer an optimal solution to reducing energy consumption.
- They have impressive designs and interior décor. Studio apartments offer a different feel from that of the traditional apartment. With the small space with no partitions, it becomes easy to make the design and decor flow the same way all around.
- Relatively affordable. When living alone, it is far cheaper to live in a studio apartment and reduce the expense of renting out big rentals. The utilities needed for survival in this apartment are lower, which reduces the overall cost of living.
- Cleaning is easier. The apartment is one room; you can clean every corner in less than an hour. Also, since you can see almost every part of the room, you will be compelled to keep it tidy.
Disadvantages of studio apartments
- Reduced privacy. The apartment is open from corner to corner. When you have guests, everything you own will be on display. There is no room to hide your dirty laundry or other personal items you wouldn’t want people to see.
- No storage space. Most studio apartments do not offer cabinets or a place to store various household items. Your belongings will be in the open unless you come up with clever ways to keep them.
- It cannot accommodate a lot of furniture. Even with the different designs available, studio apartments cannot accommodate a lot of furniture due to their size and layout.
What to consider before renting or purchasing a studio apartment
It would help if you thought of the following factors before deciding to rent or buy a studio apartment:
Your budget
How much are you willing to spend on monthly rent or purchase a residence? The cost of a studio apartment may vary depending on where it is, the amenities, and other infrastructures offered. If you have already set a certain amount for it, look for one you can afford, keeping other factors such as your preferred place in mind.
The livable space available
It is important to access the apartment and see it for yourself before renting or buying. Apartment websites and listings can withhold or exaggerate the size of the apartment.
Amenities and features offered
Before you agree and sign any document to lease or buy the apartment, you should scout it. Some apartments will offer more space, appliances, and furniture than others. Take advantage of the ones providing more for a lower cost.
Can you use dividers in a studio apartment?
You can always use dividers if you want the privacy of different rooms.
Some of the dividers you can use include;
- Curtains
Room divider curtains are a great solution to separating the different sections in a studio apartment. They are available in different colors and themes so you can match the walls and décor of the room.
- Sliding doors
Unlike regular doors, sliding doors do not take up as much space. However, they achieve the same results in separating two sections.
- Ceiling to floor shelves
You can erect shelves in your room to cleverly separate different parts of the house and also act as storage units.
- Screens
Screens are available in either glass or wood and make great dividers since they allow light and are easy to install.
Final Thoughts!
Studio apartments combine all the living areas in one room. Some designs might have dividers separating one room from the other but still feature an open floor plan. They are readily available in urban areas and can house one or two people. You can opt to rent or buy studio apartments depending on your budget and your preferred features and amenities.
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