{"id":171,"date":"2015-01-09T23:16:39","date_gmt":"2015-01-09T23:16:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ssdcmoving.local\/?p=171"},"modified":"2025-12-11T21:40:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T21:40:03","slug":"living-in-a-micro-apartment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/blog\/living-in-a-micro-apartment\/","title":{"rendered":"A Micro-Guide to Micro-Apartments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When Louise moved from an 800-square-foot apartment in East Hollywood, CA, to a 226-square-foot apartment in Echo Park, one of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/self-storage\/california\/los-angeles\/\">Los Angeles\u2019<\/a> hippest neighborhoods. Her rent dropped from $1,200 to $650 a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s cozy and simple,\u201d Louise said of her apartment, which is about the size of an average hotel room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/blog\/small-apartment-storage-hacks\/\">makes her small space work<\/a> by using a small table that doubles as a desk and a futon that converts into her bed. She also uses a large mirror on one wall to give the illusion of more space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking to save money on rent in a popular city, and you don\u2019t mind limited space, you may want to follow Louise\u2019s example and look into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/blog\/studio-vs-one-bedroom-apartment\/\">some of the smallest apartments available.<\/a> As you\u2019ll see in this article, there are plenty of advantages to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/blog\/should-you-downsize-from-a-house-to-an-apartment\/\">downsizing to a micro-apartment<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/blog\/vertical-closet-storage-organization-space-saving-hacks\/\">plenty more ways to make a tiny space feel much larger<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-is-a-micro-apartment-and-why-are-they-so-popular\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-micro-apartment-and-why-are-they-so-popular\">What is a micro-apartment and why are they so popular?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A micro-apartment is a 200-to-450-square-foot apartment that allows renters to trade limited space for much lower rent costs than a full-size apartment. These smaller spaces tend to pop up in larger, more popular cities where housing tends to be expensive and competitive, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/self-storage\/california\/los-angeles\/\">Los Angeles<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/self-storage\/massachusetts\/boston\/\">Boston<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/self-storage\/new-york\/new-york\/\">New York City<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/self-storage\/washington\/seattle\/\">Seattle<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/self-storage\/colorado\/denver\/\">Denver<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/self-storage\/california\/san-francisco\/\">San Francisco<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/self-storage\/district-of-columbia\/washington\/\">Washington, D.C<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Terra Andersen of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nmsproperties.com\/\">NMS Properties<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.storage.com\/self-storage\/california\/\">California<\/a>, demand for micro-apartments at NMS buildings in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/self-storage\/california\/santa-monica\/\">Santa Monica<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/self-storage\/california\/los-angeles\/\">Los Angeles<\/a> is \u201cincreasingly stronger than the current supply\u201d ever since they built their first micro-apartments in Santa Monica in 2009. This demand is attributed to 25- to 35-year-old professionals looking to save money while making their living in expensive places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to a recent survey by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.softwareadvice.com\/\">Software Advice<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>31 percent of consumers would consider renting micro-apartments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>55 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds were either \u201cmoderately\u201d or \u201cextremely\u201d likely to consider a micro-apartment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>24 percent of those in the 45-to-54 age group were \u201cextremely likely\u201d and 33 percent were \u201cmoderately likely\u201d to rent a micro-apartment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>65 percent of those surveyed said they\u2019d be motivated to choose a micro-apartment to save money on rent.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In a changing economy where living costs seem to rise by the day, a renter can easily be tempted to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/blog\/how-to-downsize-your-home-2\/\">downsize their life<\/a> and cut down on rent if the opportunity is there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Micro-apartments fill this need and offer some unique benefits for those looking to build community as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-can-living-in-a-micro-apartment-help-build-community\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-can-living-in-a-micro-apartment-help-build-community\">How can living in a micro-apartment help build community?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While lower rent costs are one of the main reasons behind micro-apartments\u2019 popularity, you\u2019ll find several complexes charge a similar amount for tiny spaces as they do for full-size apartments. This is often due to buildings offering pricey amenities to help entice renters, such as rooftop grills and neighborhood pools and dog parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, less expensive micro-apartments with fewer amenities give you a built-in reason to get out and meet people near you. For example, if you\u2019re a sports fan without space for a TV, you now have a reason to go down to your local sports bar and catch a game with fellow fans. If you\u2019re a musician who wants to avoid bothering your neighbors, head out to a park or rehearsal space for a jam session with new friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having a dedicated private space to come back to can also help balance you during times when your social battery runs low. Micro-apartments are usually intended for one person, so you\u2019ll be able to have plenty of time to yourself alongside an excuse to go out and make local friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-do-i-maximize-space-in-a-micro-apartment\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-i-maximize-space-in-a-micro-apartment\">How do I maximize space in a micro-apartment?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most obvious drawbacks to living in a small space is\u2026not having enough space. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.collectorcare.com\/\">Rachel Seavey,<\/a> a professional organizer in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/self-storage\/california\/san-francisco\/\">San Francisco<\/a>, cites storage concerns and furniture clutter as some of the most common complaints about micro-apartments in her area. (In San Francisco, some micro-apartments measure only 220 square feet.) To combat this, here are a few tips from Seavey on making the most of a tiny apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Planning:<\/strong> Use a free room-planning app like <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/room-planner-by-chief-architect\/id520677642?mt=8\">Room Planner Home Design<\/a> by Chief Architect to determine the furniture layout before you move in.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bedding:<\/strong> Invest in a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wallbedsbywilding.com\/murphy-beds.php?gclid=CNfNoMjEzcICFec7MgodqjQAAQ\">Murphy bed<\/a>, which folds up into a closet when not in use, or a convertible futon that can serve as a couch and a bed depending on your needs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Clothing and laundry:<\/strong> Seal your off-season clothing items in storage bags and hang them using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/blog\/vertical-closet-storage-organization-space-saving-hacks\/\">vertical hanger systems<\/a> to save horizontal space. You can also hang linens, scarves, and belts on unused towel rods. When doing laundry, use a collapsible laundry bag and wash loads frequently to keep them from piling up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technology and media: <\/strong>The fewer cords and cables you need, the more space you\u2019ll have. Invest in a wireless charger if you can, and consider getting an e-reader to save space on books.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kitchen:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/blog\/pantry-organization-ideas\/\">Save cabinet space<\/a> by investing in a stainless steel or cast iron pan that serves multiple uses. Get a rolling cupboard that you can use as both a tabletop and cabinet, and put S-hooks on drawer handles so you can hang pots and pans on them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you find you have a lot of stuff you don\u2019t need right now but might in the future, you may want to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/blog\/cheapest-storage-unit-prices\/\">rent a downtown storage unit<\/a> to keep it. These units are located in the heart of their home cities and offer a convenient, easily accessible, and secure place to keep belongings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-do-i-find-the-right-storage-unit-to-help-me-save-micro-apartment-space\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-i-find-the-right-storage-unit-to-help-me-save-micro-apartment-space\">How do I find the right storage unit to help me save micro-apartment space?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As you\u2019ve seen, there are plenty of advantages to living in a small apartment, from lower rent to community-building opportunities. You can save space easily by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/blog\/where-to-donate-items-2\/\">organizing and decluttering your apartment on a regular basis<\/a>, but for even bigger jobs, consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/storage-units-near-me\">renting a storage unit<\/a> to keep extra items in.<br>Wondering how much a storage unit will cost? Looking for specific features? You\u2019re in the right place! <a href=\"http:\/\/selfstorage.com\">SelfStorage.com<\/a>\u2019s built-in search tool can help you find storage facilities near you, filter by the features you need, and compare prices against each other to get the best deal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Louise moved from an 800-square-foot apartment in East Hollywood, CA, to a 226-square-foot apartment in Echo Park, one of Los Angeles\u2019 hippest neighborhoods.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":173,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-moving"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.9 (Yoast SEO v26.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Micro-Guide to Micro-Apartments<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/blog\/living-in-a-micro-apartment\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Micro-Guide to Micro-Apartments\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When Louise moved from an 800-square-foot apartment in East Hollywood, CA, to a 226-square-foot apartment in Echo Park, one of Los Angeles\u2019 hippest neighborhoods.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.selfstorage.com\/blog\/living-in-a-micro-apartment\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SelfStorage.com Moving Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-01-09T23:16:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" 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