When choosing a place to live, apartment size should be one of the key factors you consider. Choose something too big, and you could end up paying for space you don’t use or need. Choose something too small, and you’ll feel cramped and run out of storage. How much space do you need? Here are some tips for figuring out your ideal apartment size.
Who’s living there?
If you live by yourself, you can get away with renting most one-bedroom apartments without any trouble — unless you have a lot of personal belongings and large furniture. So even though it’s just one person living there, you should take stock of what you’ll be moving in — and where you would put it once you’re there. Cramped where you are? Go for something larger.
Apartment sizes can vary wildly, too, so make sure to get a square footage and compare it to what you’re living in now. Make sure to also get an apartment floor plan, because while the square footage may be close, the rooms can vary wildly in size and shapes. So your dining room may easily accommodate your table now but might not fit in your future kitchen-dining room combo. Plan accordingly.
When you see an apartment, look around and visualize where your furniture would go, taking note of where phone and cable outlets are, which can affect furniture placement and thus the space you have left for living.
Living with others?
Unless you plan to share bedrooms, roommates will require their own bedrooms, so plan accordingly. More people means more space requirements. But living with others brings up other space requirements outside of bedrooms, so also look at whether there is enough room in common areas to accommodate each roommate’s furniture and belongings. Also consider whether you’ll need your own space to be alone. It’s harder to do that unless you have an apartment big enough to accommodate your needs.
Need extra room? Want to downsize?
Whether you live alone or with others, you’ll likely need more space than the bedrooms can provide. Want a dedicated office? Get an apartment with an extra bedroom that can be converted. Failing that, are any of the other rooms large enough that you can divide with screens or room dividers to use the space for multiple uses? Consider all your options while looking at apartments. Talk over your space needs with your roommates to rule out potential conflicts over space.
You may not need more space. Consider if you can get by with fewer belongings. If it has been a long time since you have decluttered your apartment, consider getting rid of some items you do not need or have not used in years.
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