Whether you’re a student looking for housing near school or a young professional just entering the workforce, you want to thoroughly research all of your available living options. If money is a consideration, and it almost always is, efficiency apartments may be for you. Efficiencies, or studio apartments, are usually the smallest and cheapest type of apartment available in most places.

Efficiency apartments are usually one living space, which is your bedroom and living room combined. The kitchenette is separate, but connected, and there’s a separate bathroom. You may find efficiency apartments that place the kitchenette in your large living area and not as a separate room. Other efficiency apartments have no kitchenette at all. Once in a while, you'll find efficiency apartments that require you to share bathroom facilities with other tenants on the same floor or within the same building.

Students and other busy singles

If you're a student or single person who works long hours, you might discover that efficiency apartments offer just the right amount of living space at a great price. Efficiency apartments often come furnished, which can save you money because those getting their first apartment don’t usually have a lot of furniture with which to start. You also don’t usually have the money to go out and buy furniture.
If your efficiency apartment doesn’t come already furnished and because your sleeping area is the same as your area for entertaining friends, you will want furniture that is easily convertible depending on your needs. For example, you might want to think about futons because such items work well as sofas and beds. Some efficiency apartments still come with Murphy beds. These are beds that fold up into the wall during the day. They are not as common in more modern apartment buildings.  

Find a good landlord

Efficiency apartments are easy to find in rental listings. They are listed as efficiencies and also as studio apartments. Many websites and newspapers use these terms interchangeably.

Once you’ve found a listing that sounds right, be sure to visit in person. If possible, it’s best to visit and check it out yourself before you sign the lease. You should see the space and determine that you are comfortable in a smaller apartment. Advertising can be misleading and the reality of the measurements can be easily confused. Try to get there and take a look in person.

Although most are tiny, some studio apartments can be described as spacious. The common element is that their primary living space is one room. The bathroom is separate and the number of closets depends on the building. The largest efficiencies sometimes provide a larger division between the kitchen and living room, but it’s still just one room.

Benefits

Efficiencies are not only cheaper in rent, but the utilities are less expensive. This is because there is only one room to heat, cool, and light. Studios are easier to clean with only one room to dust and vacuum. There is a certain amount of pride that comes with living efficiency and simply.

Most studios don't have room for coffee tables, china cabinets, entertainment centers and other furniture that collects dust. Cleaning is remarkably easier. You won’t have to spend money on a lot of furniture either. If you buy versatile furniture like day beds and decorative chests as well as some functional items like a computer desk, small dining table, or television stand – that should be plenty and cheap.

Keep in mind

The flip side of living in efficiency apartments is that small spaces get cluttered quickly. If you’re messy and don’t feel the need to straighten up or make your bed, a studio apartment can look awful. You can't just close your bedroom door or direct guests out of the kitchen.

When decorating a smaller space, you want to keep clutter to a minimum. Clean up dirty dishes, vacuum often and dust frequently. Efficiency apartments are not the places to display knickknacks and there is no room for large furniture. These things take up valuable space and look out of place.

You don’t want your furniture and decorations to restrict movement around the studio. Measure whatever furniture you have and make a floor plan before you move in. The worst thing to do is rent without seeing the studio and hope to just fit everything in once you get there.

Organizing efficiency apartments is the key to stress-free living. Always write out a grocery list before going to the store. You will have limited storage room and often there isn’t space for jumbo packs of toilet paper. Clutter will only make your small space appear smaller. To make the most out of what you have, store things under your bed or in the cabinet over the fridge.

Try dividing the space into mini-rooms. Place furniture that naturally separates, like a small telephone stand or shelves that can double as an entertainment area.