Anyone here ever live in a studio apartment?

[Ryan]

My parents are more than likely going to get orders to another military base this summer, so I'll be staying here by myself. I've been looking around at apartments, and I can generally afford up to $450 (now, I know that sounds really small, but in this town it'll get you something decent ). I've ruled out living with a roommate, I'm too much of a clean freak and all of my friends are slobs. I'm constantly keeping my eye out for apartments in the paper - hopefully I'll find a deal when I enter the market. If not, I know for certain that I could get a studio apartment.

Now, for the next two years I'm going to be college student living by myself. I've found some decent studio apartments nearby for $330 and $360. Now, I'd rather not live in a studio due to space, but if I have to, I could manage it. I don't have much stuff, but I do have a bed, my computer desk, and a couch - all three of which will fit perfectly into the studios that I'm looking at.

The only thing I'm really worried about is the claustrophobic feeling of living in a single room :disgust: Any of you ever lived in a small studio apartment and what was your experience?

 

[cyclistca]

Have I no. Would I no. My friend lives in one and it just feels so small. But then again I'm in the position where I have the finaces not to.

 

[Spoooon]

My dad did when he was stationed at Lackland AFB. My brother and I would spend the summers down there. It wasn't bad, since he used a foldout, so it made it seem like there was more space then there actually was.

 

[loup garou]

Yes. I lived in a studio apartment in Astoria, Queens the size of a dorm room with my gf for 5 months while looking for a place in Manhattan. It sucked. A lot. Anything we did would make the place a mess. Everytime we cooked, everything we owned smelled like whatever we just cooked.

Now, that place had a kitchenette, so it made things worse. It probably would've been better if it had an enclosed kitchen and was a bit larger. Several of my friends have some nice studios with enclosed kitchens and that are bigger than 300sq ft that I really like.

Basically, you've got to look at the place...every one will be different.

 

[LSUfan]

Yes I did. I named different parts of the room different names. Like where the little stovetop refridgerator combo was, was the kitchen. It was pretty cool at the time.

 

[Descartes]

In my experience studio apartments are a lot more than normal apartments. The only time I had a roommate is when I had a studio apartment, and although the apartment was great, having a roommate sucks. It was on the top floor of the building with a spiral staircase on the outside, and we had access to the entire roof. We had a grill, a picnic table, etc. on the roof.

If the apartment is small, I don't think I could deal with it. If it's at least >= 700sf then you should be ok.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Descartes
If the apartment is small, I don't think I could deal with it. If it's at least >= 700sf then you should be ok.

LMAO. People kill each other for 1BR's that are >700 sq ft in Manhattan. Hell, our 1BR is just barely 700sq ft and people always tell us it's huge!

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: Descartes
If the apartment is small, I don't think I could deal with it. If it's at least >= 700sf then you should be ok.

LMAO. People kill each other for 1BR's that are >700 sq ft in Manhattan. Hell, our 1BR is just barely 700sq ft and people always tell us it's huge!

Yea, I started laughing at that remark I'd love to have 700sq feet, but I don't think it's going to happen

 

[mpitts]

My first apartment was really no more than an 16x16 room. It had a kitchenette, standup shower and toilet, and living area. In that living area, I had a space heater, my computer, my 32" Sony TV and all of my video games.

That was almost 10 years ago and it ruled.

 

[shopbruin]

700 sq ft studio?!?! where?!?!

<-- lives in a dinky 400ish sq ft studio in west LA, near UCLA. and my half of the rent is more than your entire rent...

i also SHARE this thing with the bf. beat that. i affectionately call this place a shoe box. i hope one day to have a real living room...

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: freesia39
700 sq ft studio?!?! where?!?!

<-- lives in a dinky 400ish sq ft studio in west LA, near UCLA. and my half of the rent is more than your entire rent...

i also SHARE this thing with the bf. beat that. i affectionately call this place a shoe box. i hope one day to have a real living room...

My studio in Astoria was definitely smaller than that, and I lived with my gf!

 

[darkshadow1]

i lived in a 400sq ft studio in chicago, and it was just fine. more important than pure sq footage though is how the room is set up...the separate kitchen thing is pretty important.

 

[bradruth]

A studio apartment is like a dorm room with a kitchen & a bathroom. A serious upgrade for me, and hopefully I'll be able to get one for sub-$400 this year.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: Descartes
If the apartment is small, I don't think I could deal with it. If it's at least >= 700sf then you should be ok.

LMAO. People kill each other for 1BR's that are >700 sq ft in Manhattan. Hell, our 1BR is just barely 700sq ft and people always tell us it's huge!

Yea, I started laughing at that remark I'd love to have 700sq feet, but I don't think it's going to happen

Heh. In general, I consider anything less than 1000sq ft. to be small. Gotta love housing costs in the midwest.

 

[Jzero]

Mine is maybe 350 Sq Feet, but it's all mine. I don't mind it so much, but I do get pissed off sometimes when I trip over my fiancee or don't have any storage for anything....

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

I spent the last year in one by mysef (510sf). It wasn't too bad, but it does take a while to get used to.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Originally posted by: freesia39
700 sq ft studio?!?! where?!?!

<-- lives in a dinky 400ish sq ft studio in west LA, near UCLA. and my half of the rent is more than your entire rent...

i also SHARE this thing with the bf. beat that. i affectionately call this place a shoe box. i hope one day to have a real living room...

I'm afraid to ask...but what is the average rent for a shoe box near UCLA?

 

[nageov3t]

I sorta live in a studio. Sure, it's in my parent's basement, but before we bought the house, the old owners rented it out as a studio. Have my own entrance, kitchen, and bathroom... it sucks, but it's free.

I'd never voluntarily live in a studio apartment, though. If it's big, that would be ok I guess, but having 1 room to live in is too much like living in a dorm.

plus, after years of having to share a bedroom with my computer, my dream bedroom is one of absolute quiet. I want a nice thick door, heavy curtains, and the only electronic component I plan on having in the bedroom is an alarm clock. and maybe a lamp, but I'm not 100% on the lamp. I've always been a big fan of candle light. hehe.

 

[rudeguy]

My first apartment was a studio! It was in an old (1800's) house that they had converted over to apartments. I miss that place so much. I had a kitchen, a bathroom, and then the big area. I had different names for different areas. There was a spot where the wall dipped back about six inches, so I put my bed there and that was the bedroom. I had my living room, the shelves were my linnen closet, and the area beside the kitchen (it was an open kitchen) was the bar. I lived right next door to the college. I would wake up and watch all the hotties walking to class. Then at night all the weirdos came out. Some nights I would open the window and listen to the crazies yelling and running around.

Man...to be 18 with no strings again would be awesome.

 

[badmouse]

I lived in my car for a while (musician on the road) and compared to that, a studio apt was luxury .

Studios vary widely, some are roomier or better laid out than others. Look around, you may find something you like.

Studo apt. was great when I was single, out working or partying all the time, and I only used it to sleep, eat, shower, and basically chill.

 

[apoppin]

I have lived in a few apartments including studios . . . Not all studios are equal. Some are very 'livable' while others are cramped. The biggest disadvantages are 1) staying organized and 2)entertaining guests.

Make SURE the kitchen and bathroon as well as CLOSET space is ADEQUATE.

I think it's OK and has definite advantages over sharing an apt. Just doN'T sign a LONG lease . . . and try looking for a "bargain" 1 bedroom.

 

[propellerhead]

Are you a senior in high school? Or will be next year? There's a new thing coming out that will let military members defer a PCS if they have a senior in high school.

 

[thirdlegstump]

$700 for a 1BR studio in Manhattan? That's BS nowadays. You're looking at $1300 or more at the least unless it's in some really nasty neighborhood. I just moved and got a hell of a bargain for a nice townhouse 2BR 1000sq for $2800 a month. Usually goes for $4000 or more.

 

[daveymark]

I lived in a 650 sq foot studio, but it was nice. It had a hallway leading from the door to the room, and one walk-in closet was the size of a small room, so I actually used that for the computer room. The kitchen was cut off from the rest of the room with a bar, so it was pretty swanky. Then again, it did cost $700 a month....

 

[Eli]

My brother and his girlfriend do, and have for the last few years. Cheap rent.

For a college student, it isn't that bad.. Especially if you don't have a lot of stuff.

I imagine it depends on the layout. You should be able to make it nice and comfy though.