Who Needs Space? Tiny Apartments

My first apartment was an efficiency apartment with lovely 11 foot ceilings but a total of about 500 square feet.  I thought it was tiny.  The kitchen was part of the bedroom, and ran along one wall with a refrigerator, sink, stove and two cabinets.  I couldn’t cook without making my sheets smell like whatever I was cooking.

After doing a little research, I’ve discovered that plenty of people – especially people in large cities – live in much smaller spaces.

Take, for instance, the couple covered in a recent New York Post article.  They bought a tiny studio apartment that is only 175 square feet.  They love their tiny apartment, and will have it completely paid for within two years.  They travel a lot, eat out frequently, and don’t entertain guests very often.

Lots of people learn to economize space, like the photo below (not a picture of the aforementioned couple’s apartment, by the way).

photo by ClatieK

Another guy was covered in a follow-up blog to the New York Post feature.  He’s a guy that lives in a 55-square foot apartment.  The Hell’s Kitchen apartment is only marginally bigger than a jail cell in New York City.  He likes it a lot, too, though he can’t even turn around in his shower.

Tons of square footage is not necessary for happiness.  Just ask people who live in small quarters in Sweden, Japan, and other places around the world.  As Americans continue to NOT do more with less, the New York couple in their 175 square foot apartment are an example of people living large in a small space.

Could you live in such cramped quarters?  Comment below!

More pictures of tiny apartments: