Studio Living
Posted on May 13, 2007
Filed Under Apartment Living | 18 Comments
Some people choose to downsize, destress and declutter their lives by moving into a small home, condo or studio apartment. While it may not be your choice to live in a tiny studio apartment, you can embrace the motivation behind the movement and get your small space organized.
The first step is probably the hardest. You have to let go of some of your belongings. When you are in a small space, you need to envision what it would look like if it only had what you needed. Imagine what our ancestors had. They didn’t spoil themselves with lavish items, gigantic beds and homes that would force them to have to work for their entire lives to pay for them. They had what they needed and they probably didn’t stress about organization like we do.
Embrace the simple living attitude. This doesn’t mean that you have to get rid of everything. In fact, most people dealing with small spaces keep two categories of items. One, the things that they need to survive, relax and cook. Two, the things that define their personality; such as art, photos and things with special meaning.
Install shelves for displaying things that are meaningful to you. If they don’t necessarily go with your décor, consider displaying them in your bedroom or near your loft bed. Your art and other décor that go together can be displayed in the living areas that will be seen by guests.
Many people have way too many pots, pans and storage containers. For a tiny kitchen area, think nesting. You will need one good set of nesting bowls for mixing and serving. You will need a large skillet and a small skillet, a large pot and a small pot. You can even learn to use cast iron skillets if you want them to double as casserole dishes for your oven. Measuring cups, measuring spoons, a spatula and a good knife are about all that you really need in the drawer with your silverware.
Inevitably, you will need storage. Think about this when you purchase your furniture. An oak chest or toy box makes for a great coffee table or end table and also offers a lot of storage. You can keep a lot of shoes in one at the foot of your bed. You can put one near the door for people to sit and remove wet shoes, hang coats on hooks and get their belongings organized.
If closet space is limited, you’ll just have to get creative. Once you’ve gotten rid of extra clothes, pair up bottoms and tops that go together. You can use nice velvet hangers with clips to put pants with the shirt that they go with. This makes dressing easier, but it also frees up about half of the space in your closet. Be creative and you can make your studio space work for you!
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how does living in a studio apartment work?furnishing is it easier? are bills lower? does rent usually run cheaper? suggestions…
About Author
About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for slimlinehangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.
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18 Responses to “Studio Living”
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nice———we have a frog fo the kit.
400sq ft is pretty good for a single person its bigger than most r.v.s. amd doen’t roll. you can do alot with the space if you know how,
That looks amazin. im trying to get a studio here in Sydney but there really pricey and tiny, how much do you per week there in the states?
Rent in most big cities can be really expensive. If you're single, then a studio is the cheapest way to live.
Yes, it's uncomfortable, but that's the price to pay for the luxury of living in the city.
I live in Toronto, and rents are sky-high in the downtown area. I live in a small one-bedroom. It's really small (not a studio though), but I wouldn't give up the size if it meant giving up my location. I love my neighborhood, and if I had to choose a studio to be able to live here I would.
Ikea.
There is no standard percentage. Some floor plans are much more efficient than others- lack hallways and such. Besides there are a lot of people that want a huge part of the square footage in the kitchen and bath.
I'm not sure what you're asking, but if your main worry is about the kitchen, these things will help : a crockpot, an indoor grill, and a toaster oven. You should be set! Of course, get some sort of sleeper sofa for the living room, and you're good to go!
Yo! UR crib is nIcE!
That is a GREAT deal, in Sydney a $240 studio gets you an old run down studio with a shitty 1940’s kitchen and old floorboards. One like yours here would be round $300, and that would be in a hald decent area
nice man. u livin that GOOOOD life. lol
were i live you can get one for $160-$205 i don’t pay for heat either since i have a space heater. so utilities is just water and electricity. so about an extra $60 a month
wow, very nice!!
Depends how much time you spend in it really. I lived in a studio for a while, I found it fine, nice and cosy. Convenient even, having everything you need in one place. And there was storage space under the bed, which was handy.
If you spend 24 hours a day there it'll probably drive you mad, but I'd feel that way if it was a mansion.
You'll be fine. And remember, you don't HAVE to stay there if you don't want, there's always a way out, even if it means forfeiting your deposit.
if they are paying the water, electricity, etc. then they are allowed to raise prices depending on how many people you have living with you since obviously the more people there are, the more those bills will be.
Thanks! I’ll message you.
If your only fear is the dark, you can keep nightlights going, and you'd be fine. But if your fear is really more about being alone, then I'd strongly suggest you get an apartment share.
Why torture yourself? You can get your own room in an apartment shared with other people, have a bit of privacy, but still have the security of the others being around you.
Not much really. The only problem if whether you can afford to rent there or not as the Eastern Suburbs is one of the most affluent areas of Sydney. It is a safe area with great beaches and shopping centres nearby. I would be worried about taking the elevators, especially if you live on the upper floors because in the event of a fire (forbid it will happen), it may be harder to evacuate. You shouldn't let that be a main concern though. Take the stairs whenever you can.
EDIT: In regards to crime areas, you do not necessarily have to spend big bucks to get a place in the north or east to avoid crime. Some places in the Inner West such as Burwood and places in the south such as Hurstville or even the Shire are safe.
Your monthly bill will depend on the rates that your power company charges and how much electricity you use. It would be hard to determine either of these things for you without knowing more about the apartment, and about your habits. Wiring and appliances can play a roll in your power usage as well.
Here are some things you can do:
1) Call the power company you will be using and ask them about the usage of the previous tenant(s), or even over the last few years. Then you can average it yourself to see what makes the most sense for you.
2) Electric water heaters can cost a lot, see how efficient the one for your unit is, if you will be paying for electric hot water. Then plan your water usage accordingly, sometimes making small lifestyle changes (like limiting your showers to less time or only taking one a day; for example) can make huge differences in your utility bills.
3) A/C and other equipment that uses a lot of power should be used with limitations or within reason, to lower your bills. In a small apartment, if you don't live in an excessively hot area, window fans or large floor fans may be more energy efficient and cost effective. They may also work just as well, for the space you have. You'll have to decide this for yourself though. Another thing you can do to keep your apartment cool is to keep all of the windows closed during the day when it is hot, and open them at night when its cool out, and keep your curtains closed during the day to keep out extra heat.
4) Mini fluorescent bulbs may cost more at the store, but if you can use them in your unit, they really do make a difference on your bill. Most are warrantied for around 5 years, and they limit wattage usage. For example, a normal 60 wt output (which is all most people need in an area) can be recieved with 13 wts from a GE Energy Smart bulb (almost 1/5 the wattage of a standard bulb). I used to rent a 3-story, 5 bedroom house with very old (horsehair) wiring, and the first thing I did was change all of the light bulbs in the house to the GE mini fluorescent bulbs, knowing that between me and my roommate and all of our kids we'd have a lot of lights on all of the time and the bill would be really high. We never had a summer bill over $45, and that included running a washer and dryer for 10 people.
5) You can also talk with the power company and see if they offer budget plans/payment plans. Where your bill is the same every month, and then at the end of the year, if you've used more … you pay the difference and if you've used less they credit you and adjust the cycle. However, again this is based off previous tenant usage, as you haven't been living there so is they used a lot and you don't, your bill can be too high, and if they saved energy more then you do, then you could owe a lot at the end of the year. 2 ways around this, is to keep track of the bills when they come in, and pay a little extra, if you see that it isn't balancing out. (Keep in mind though that rates change and are higher in the winter, so if you have a credit, leave it alone … but if what you are paying isn't covering the bills every month, tip in more.) and keep track of your usage.