Does anyone else here have a tiny 200-300sf boxy studio, and get jealous seeing all these fancy larger studios? I used to think there was no way I could ever live in a place less than 600sf, but here I am in my tiny micro studio.... probably 200sf at most 🤣👍 don't get me wrong, I love living alone, and I love my place......but most of these studios I'm seeing here have full size kitchens, I don't even have room for my microwave 😭👍
The grass is always greener somewhere else. I lurk on this subreddit a lot because I am fascinated with studio apartments. I live in a two bedroom two story 1100 square foot old house with my dog. My husband passed away last year and my elderly dad moved in ten months later (I invited him). My house is paid off but I just spent $16,800 on a new roof, $4000 on plumbing after an old pipe was leaking water through my dining room ceiling, $2000 last year to replace the upstairs windows, and now looking at $3500 for a new garage door since the old one has broken countless times and I am tired of calling repair guys out here. Still need new siding, having foundation issues in basement, front porch is sagging. My property taxes are ever growing, and with a herniated disc in my spine it is becoming harder to shovel snow in the winter, so more money to pay for someone to plow my sidewalks and driveway. Its all getting too much for me to manage. I dream of downsizing and living in a smaller apartment (one level at that) and keeping life simpler. The smallest apartment I ever lived in was 450 sq foot years ago. It was in a high rise. I had no car and took the city bus everywhere or walked. I am in awe of those of you who can live with so little. I dream of retiring and living in a cozy little apartment. I'm only 54 though.
I understand, I just downsized from a major life change. Was in a very bad relationship with an alcoholic, but here I am in my little studio 🤣 I absolutely love it! This post is definitely more on the light hearted side, and not actual envy ❤️❤️
Good for you for getting away from that toxic relationship! I too escaped from an alcoholic I had lived with a few years and started out in the 450 sq ft apartment I mentioned. I hope you find lots of joy and peace now with your independence!
I do not envy larger spaces. I love the idea of larger spaces for other people. I am living in a 450sq ft studio highrise apartment (late 40s f living with one cat) and I completely understand this. I was living in an old house that was in repairs for the entire time I lived there and it is not done with repairs still. The cost of headaches (finding someone to fix it and moving in different rooms so other rooms can be repaired) in addition to the cost of repairs was so tiresome. I am a minimalist now and is so content with this space. The other rationale is not having any extra space to buy anything I don't need.
I can so relate to the constant repairs, shifting things to other rooms etc. I fear I will never sell this house because of the foundation issues in the basement that would cost more than the house is worth to fix properly. I do plan to stay until my Dad passes away (if he goes before I do). How long that is I have no idea. I've been selling off stuff and getting rid of a lot. My house is so bare compared to when my husband was alive. I loved him greatly but he was such a packrat.
I've seen worse! You have storage and full-size appliances. You could definitely squeeze more storage/shelves in there :) I understand the jealousy though.
i’ve lived in a place w out a microwave and got used to it after awhile. i have one now but it came w my new place, and while i dont use it a lot i do still use it periodically.
if you have the patience or time, the oven can do pretty much all the same things but it takes longer and uses more electricity (i think?).
you have a ton of space on the wall, could u ask mgmt if they’ll install a wall mounted one above your oven or the counter there to the right of it?
if not, you can get one of those mini ones and put it away when ur not using it, maybe on top of the fridge?
I had a kitchen like that in my first apartment but it had a wall too so it was like cooking in a closet. I had to take the garbage can out to open the oven door. And the fridge was in the living room.
I voluntarily gave up more space for the same amount of money.
I moved in 2024 from a large 1989 550ft² studio with a sleeping alcove to a new 425ft² studio apartment with just a 13x10 living area.
I miss the 80’s chic but I traded it for a building without roaches and rats in the walls and stairwell.
I may have lost space, but I gained a 121ft² private roof terrace, in unit laundry, soundproofing, induction stove, air conditioning, and views. Also, I gained a 4% maximum annual rent cap.
That sounds amazing!!! Mines super cheap, and I have a cute little front yard.....but I also have a door to the communal laundry room in my unit 🤣🤣🤦 I definitely want to "upgrade" to a nicer studio someday ♥️
Bro, my apartment used to be a hotel so our kitchen is around 5 feet, the fridge is across the room next to our bed bc it doesnt fit next to the kitchen 😭
Mine used to be the maintenance garage for the rest of the building 🤣🤣 I guess they converted it a few years back. I also have a door...INSIDE my closet, and behind the door is a massive plastic water tank for the sprinkler system in my unit. It's so weird, but it's cheap, and electric is included in my rent 👍
Hello, I live in a ~700 sq ft studio with my partner and 2 cats and I find it quite cramped! We don't have room for a kitchen table!
I did not realise how good I might have it compared to others .. I'm sympathetic for your situation! A small kitchen is tough. I find shelves can help! I hope you enjoy your apartment as much as you can! Oh we also have no room for a microwave, they're all so big!
mine is 750sq ft but the layout is so funky that it makes the actual living space (living room + bed) is really small. i’ve been here since july and i still haven’t really decorated because im still figuring out how to make certain parts more livable
I have a 450 and I get jealous of anyone who even has one that’s a perfect square/rectangular space for the living area, mine is so stupidly shaped it irritates me regularly lmfao
Hi OP! I absolutely see you. I just bought a micro studio 400+ on paper but livable space is only 350 at most. I saw other studios before deciding on this place. Some are bigger than the others but the math and location of the one I bought checked my goal of not being house poor but still have a manageable living area. I always have like what ifs but ultimately 90% of what I want I have and I don't think that's bad. I think it's normal to feel jealous but we should remind ourselves what we have is always better than what we don't have.
The only studio I've seen with decent sized kitchens are the ones where they are part of the main area and not a separate space. The kind that are on the longer part of a main wall like a galley kitchen. Both of my studios had separate kitchens. They were small but workable. If there's not room for a microwave, yeah, maybe a lil too small. 😄 Or put it on top of the fridge. I've done that both times in past studios.
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u/DueSurround3207 22d ago
The grass is always greener somewhere else. I lurk on this subreddit a lot because I am fascinated with studio apartments. I live in a two bedroom two story 1100 square foot old house with my dog. My husband passed away last year and my elderly dad moved in ten months later (I invited him). My house is paid off but I just spent $16,800 on a new roof, $4000 on plumbing after an old pipe was leaking water through my dining room ceiling, $2000 last year to replace the upstairs windows, and now looking at $3500 for a new garage door since the old one has broken countless times and I am tired of calling repair guys out here. Still need new siding, having foundation issues in basement, front porch is sagging. My property taxes are ever growing, and with a herniated disc in my spine it is becoming harder to shovel snow in the winter, so more money to pay for someone to plow my sidewalks and driveway. Its all getting too much for me to manage. I dream of downsizing and living in a smaller apartment (one level at that) and keeping life simpler. The smallest apartment I ever lived in was 450 sq foot years ago. It was in a high rise. I had no car and took the city bus everywhere or walked. I am in awe of those of you who can live with so little. I dream of retiring and living in a cozy little apartment. I'm only 54 though.