Features to Look for in a Studio Apartment

Studio apartments have the reputation of being small, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. If you value affordable and efficient living, then a studio apartment might be a great choice for you. Here are some features to look for as you tour various studio apartments and hopefully discover the one that's best for you.

Vertical space you can use for storage

Studio apartments don't tend to have a lot of storage space, but you can get creative and store things vertically if you choose an apartment that allows for this. For example, a studio apartment with one big wall without windows allows you to put a tall shelving unit against that wall, and you can store lots of things on those shelves. Some studios may already have built-in shelving or cubbies on one wall; these are another good storage option.

Full-size appliances

Some studio apartments come with mini-fridges and all-in-one cooking units. This might work if you were only staying for a month or two, but if you're planning on being in the apartment for longer than that, you should look for one that has full-size kitchen appliances. You may pay a little more to rent a space with large appliances, but it will probably encourage you to cook more so you'll spend less on takeout and dining out. Plus, you won't have to go grocery shopping every two days because your mini-fridge only holds three yogurts and a bag of apples!

A private bathroom

You're probably going to want to have friends over to visit. You may even have overnight guests from time to time. This will be a lot more comfortable in a studio apartment where the bathroom is an entirely separate room, separated from the living space by a door. An apartment where the bathroom is just behind a wall or hidden in an alcove with a curtain is less appealing.

A layout that lends itself to zoning

A studio apartment is a lot easier to live in when you can create zones within the space. You can make one area your bedroom area and another the living room area, for instance. So, look for a studio where the layout lends itself to zoning. For example, an L-shaped apartment makes it easy to use the bottom of the "L" as your bed area and the rest of the apartment as your living space.

Studio apartment living can take some getting used to, but if you choose a studio apartment with the features above, you'll be off to a running start.


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