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

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

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.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Color-coded map of labor & delivery departments and losses in United States.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace

In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.

June 15 - Maine Morning Star

Street scene in Kathmandu, Nepal with yellow minibuses and other traffic.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs

Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

June 15 - Fast Company

Bike lane in Washington D.C. protected by low concrete barriers.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint

Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.

June 15 - The Washington Post