Have you ever lived in a studio apartment?

Yes, briefly, and I hated it. But YMMV.

I think it wouldn’t be enough room for my stuff and I’d be tripping over stuff. I would find it frustrating to have to pick things up to get to other things. I think if someone owns a minimal amount of stuff, it would be ok.

I had to google what “ymmv” was, @Caravanfan. I learn something new every day!

I lived in one room for a while with my then fiance but it was in a shared home so the kitchen was elsewhere.

I would have a lot of trouble living in a studio at this point in my life. if you’re renting and don’t mind moves, maybe try the cheaper option for a year and see if it works for you?

I remember when I was looking for my first apartment. I was seriously considering either a one bedroom or a studio. I realized t hen that for not a whole lot more money, you could get a one bedroom, as opposed to a studio. A one bedroom gives you two extra rooms (a kitchen and a liviing room) whereas a studio is one room. At the time, I think a studio was about 700 and a one bedroom was 850 so it was 150 more for three whole additional rooms.

@Caravanfan What did you hate about it? (If you don’t mind sharing).

I think two people in a studio is a bit much. Thankfully it would be just me. My friend and his girlfriend live together in a studio (a brand new one that’s quite expensive) but when I visited it seemed like their place is really cramped. They sit about three feet from the TV because that’s the only way they could make it work.

I may try it and see what I think, though at some places, a one bedroom isn’t much more, that’s true. Some floor plans I really hate (bed right next to the refrigerator) and others don’t seem as bad. Lots to consider!

I have not but I’m currently looking for a one bedroom apartment for my elderly father and we’ve considered looking at studios to save a little money. What I’ve noticed with newer studios is that most have the bed location partitioned off by a single wall to give it some privacy from the living area. Some almost look like small one bedroom apartments.

My dad is leaning towards the one bedroom though to have a little more space and not feel like he’s living in a jail cell. It helps to have another room for change of scenery.

@Jonsblond The kind with the bed partitioned off by a half-wall (the floorplan maps call it a “sleeping nook”) is what my friends have. It’s nice that it’s separate, but that’s part of why they barely have enough room for a TV/couch. I think I’ll just have to see more in person before I decide. I’m also looking at square footage, because not all studios are the same size.

Yes. I slept on the floor and my room mate slept on the couch. It was a basement apartment and we came and left through the window, where our cars were parked. I was only there for 6 months but it was enough. And it wasn’t so bad.

A one bedroom would give your kitty more room, too. Gotta have that cat tree! LOL

I lived in my house for over a year in what was the same thing. I used the master bedroom and bath, the kitchen, and the laundry. I had trouble with my first contractor. I had him completely reno my bedroom/bath right away so I could start staying over here, rather than with a sibling. I liked living in a small space so much that even after the house reno was complete I never turned the living room and dining area into part of my home. That area, while beautiful is sort of just storage. The other bedrooms/baths are nice but I never even go in those rooms. The point of my long answer is that you adapt to the space you have. Small space means easy to keep clean and heat/cool. Good luck.

I have, and I had a room mate. We stuck a bunk bed in there to make it work. It was in college where the single room shitboxes were $300/month just outside campus and you still had more room than a dormatory. Saved a small fortune.

@Locke Is there that big of a price difference in a one bedroom and a studio?

No, but back in leaner times,circa 1990s, we lived in a mobile home. About 550 square feet. It worked well until things got better early 2000s and we bought a house. You generally learn how to make do with the space you have.

Thank you guys for the advice!

@chyna At this one place I’m looking at (it’s a newer place with a lot of amenities), a studio is $1400 a month and a 1-bed is $1700. So it’s not a huge difference, but it’s not nothing.

^^ OMG! A studio for $1400?! Manhattan?? >8^O

@smudges Phoenix/Tempe area :)

I looked at Manhattan just for a fun, a similar studio there would be about $3500 a month!

LOL WOW!

My son has a studio in San Francisco, and has barely enough room to turn around. The only places to sit are his bed and his desk chair. But he is a law student and does not entertain at home. And because of the cramped quarters, he still has furniture at my place.

I’ve seen a price difference of about $300—$400 between the two. To find something for my father where we live in downtown Madison, WI studios run around $1500 and one bedrooms run about $1800—$1900 per month.

Good grief! I’m out of touch with reality. I had no idea renting was so expensive.

I lived in a studio apt during grad school. The bedroom is the living room, so you can’t really have the TV going and still have peace and quiet to sleep in your bed. May be OK if you are living alone. It’s a drag when another person with a different schedule lives with you.

My sister had a studio in NYC about 10 years ago up until about 5 years ago, and she was paying about 3800 per month. Now, I don’t even know what that would rent for – maybe 5k a month. Right now, a bit north (outside of NYC), a one bedroom is about 2k a month and so a studio might be 1500.

Never mind. I just looked at a building that’s new (aka luxury building) north of Manhattan and I see a 1 bedroom is about 3k a month. In a non-luxury building, a 1 bedroom might be 2k a month. The new,luxury buildings have washer and dryer in each unit, and a gym in the building, and fancy lobbies and other amenities.

@jca2 By that definition, then I guess the place I’m looking at is considered “luxury” (it has washer/dryer in unit, gym, and all that). That’s why it’s $1400 a month for a studio. I just meet the income requirements. $1700 would be too much. So if I want to live in this building I’ll have to choose a studio. (Not saying I’ll live in this building for sure though).

@RocketGuy It would just be me. I think if I were living with another person, a studio would be out of the question.

https://livethemitchell.com/floor-plans/#/map

This is the kind of thing I’n referring to as “luxury.”

I lived in a studio close to college for about 3years. It was actually kind of fun for me, as I had roomates or family living with me before.

I did eventually have a roomate but it was a bit too small for two.

Yes. If you don’t need the space, then go minimalistic.

I rent a studio in one of my homes and have renters that stay months on end (Summer Musicians, Visiting Nurses, etc). They have said they have all the space they need in a 700 SqFt space. I get $2500 a month or $200 per day.

It depends on many factors: are you a sensitive sleeper, do you have much stuff, do you spend much time at home? Do you cook a lot (because the smells will be all over)?

I’ve had friends who rented and even bought studio apartments, and they were quite happy. I think you can make it cozy and nice, especially if the studio is not tiny but of normal size.

Yes and it sucks. But it doesn’t suck as much as spending the money it takes to rent a larger place.