A Full Life in a Tiny Apartment

Many find advantages in buying studio apartments, and developers have taken notice.

1 minute read

October 12, 2016, 8:00 AM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Micro Apartment

making storage work in a 130-square-foot micro apartment in Paris. | homestilo / Flickr

Even as American homes are getting larger and larger, some find advantages in living small. According to a story by Alina Dizik in the Wall Street Journal there is a persistent market for efficiency apartments, "Developers are responding to demand by adding more studios to their buildings.​"

For many who prioritize location over size, smaller is better. "Studio apartments allow them to live in desirable neighborhoods and splurge on small units with interiors that resemble sleek hotel suites," Dizik reports. For some, the design constraints of a small size is made up for by the ability to spend more per square foot when designing a home on a smaller scale. Buying small also means saving on assessments, because these fees are generally apportioned according to the size of the unit.

In increasingly expensive, unequal cities studio apartments can provide a way to get access to a neighborhood that many could not otherwise afford. 

Thursday, October 6, 2016 in The Wall Street Jounal

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Close-up on woman in white and blue striped knee-length dress standing next to mint green cruiser bike resting against low wrought iron fence in front of green lawn.

Paris Voters Approve More Car-Free Streets

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo says the city will develop a plan to close 500 streets to car traffic and add new bike and pedestrian infrastructure after a referendum on the proposal passed with 66 percent of the vote.

1 hour ago - domus

Close-up of man in manually operated wheelchair waiting at urban crosswalk.

Making Mobility More Inclusive

A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.

2 hours ago - Greater Good Magazine

US and Texas flags flying in front of Texas state capitol dome in Austin, Texas.

Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness

A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.

3 hours ago - The Texas Tribune