The real estate listings are very confusing, with different terminology that the ordinary person cannot easily understand. For example, in the real estate vocabulary, ‘cozy’ means small, ‘transitional neighborhood’ is a relatively newer development, and ‘adjacent to’ means within one-two miles. Similarly, two terms are often used interchangeably, and many people confuse the two. We are talking about Studio apartments and efficiency apartments. So what does an efficiency apartment look like? – A lot of agents and landlords use these terms interchangeably. However, there is a significant difference between the two. So, what is an efficiency apartment, and how does it differentiate from a studio apartment?
Let’s find out!
What Is an Efficiency Apartment?
An efficiency apartment is a small apartment unit that combines the functionality of multiple rooms into one. It has a living room, bedroom, and kitchen all in one room with a separate bathroom. Now you must be wondering, isn’t that what a studio apartment is? Well, the main difference between the two is that efficiency apartments are even smaller and more efficient than Studio apartments. Instead of a full kitchen, efficiency apartments usually have a small kitchenette. Efficiency Apartments are also known as bachelor apartments.
The Pros and Cons of Living in An Efficiency Apartment
An efficient apartment might be the best solution for you if you want comfortable and affordable housing in a nice neighborhood where a regular house will be too expensive. An efficiency apartment is ideal for single people who want to lead a simple and minimalistic lifestyle.
Pros Of Efficiency Apartment
- Affordable
- Low Maintenance
- Low utility bills and expenses
- Easy to clean
- Access to multifamily apartment amenities (pool, gym, etc.)
Cons of Efficiency Apartment
- Minimal space
- No privacy for guests
- Quickly gets cramped and cluttered
- The kitchen smells in sleeping/living areas
What Does an Efficiency Apartment Look Like?
Well, basically, an efficiency Apartment looks much like a studio apartment, but it is much smaller in size. In comparison to a studio apartment, efficiency apartments do not have a full kitchen. The size of an efficiency department is usually around 400 to 600 square feet. This is roughly the size of a high school classroom or a standard hotel room.
These houses are so tiny that just by standing in the middle of the house, you can have a tour of the whole place without even moving a step. Moreover, efficiency apartments are built much like average homes and do not have any special features like high ceilings, alcoves, or loft. In simple terms, efficiency apartment looks and feels cozy and not very spacious.
Floor Plan of Efficiency Apartment
Let’s discuss the basic floor plan of an efficiency apartment.
Kitchen
Efficiency Apartments do not have full-size kitchens. The kitchen is in the living room, which is more like a tiny kitchenette with small and efficient appliances.
Location
Efficiency Apartments are located at premium locations, if your goal is to live in a highly desirable part of the city, you can go for efficiency apartments as they will be much more affordable than other housing in the same neighborhood. As these houses are mainly close to the city center, you can enjoy city life and have a shorter commute to work.
Layout
Efficiency Apartments have a simple layout. It is like a room with a kitchenette and an attached full bathroom. It does not have any high ceilings or other unique features that make it stand out.
What Makes an Efficiency Apartment Different from A Studio Apartment?
Since the beginning of this article, we have discussed the differences between a studio apartment and an efficiency apartment. Now it’s time to tell you in detail how an efficiency apartment differs from a studio apartment.
Kitchen Size
Studio apartments come with a full kitchen with full-sized appliances like a Refrigerator, Range, Microwave, and sink. It is usually a one-wall kitchen with cabinets and proper counter space. On the other hand, efficiency apartments have a kitchenette. It is a smaller version of a kitchen with small appliances and the smallest sink. This kitchenette is usually in a separate area such as a tiny alcove. Moreover, it has almost no cabinet and counter space.
Bedroom Size
send the overall square footage of an efficiency Apartment is smaller than that of a studio apartment, the bedroom size in efficiency apartment is also smaller.
Bathroom Size
Efficiency apartments have a full bathroom, but the bathroom’s size is smaller than that of a studio apartment. These apartments usually do not have a bathtub.
Location
Studio Apartments are located in different parts of the city but efficiency apartments are usually in the heart of the city and the most desired locations with dense population. For example, there are many efficiency apartments in Downtown New York City and Los Angeles but you won’t find many in the suburbs.
Why Should You Live in an Efficiency Apartment?
There are many reasons why people want to live in efficiency apartments nowadays. Don’t let small space scare you off because such Apartments have numerous benefits such as:
Location
Mostly all real estate clients have a specific location in mind. So, if location plays a significant role in your apartment hunt, consider moving into an efficiency apartment. You will live in the center of the city, the most puzzling part of the town, for a much lower price. Of course, you can find a bigger one-bedroom apartment 20 minutes away from Downtown. But if you want to live in the heart of the city, then an efficiency apartment is the solution. You can easily walk Downtown without worrying about the commute and traffic. Now it isn’t that amazing!
Saving Money
Living in an efficiency apartment allows you to save a lot of money that would otherwise be spent on bills, extra rent, etc. Now you can live in your desired neighborhood even if you have a tight budget because these types of apartments are very affordable. Rent is always low for such floor plans. Of course, an efficiency apartment will be less expensive than a one-bedroom apartment. Apart from that, you can also save on utility bills and other maintenance costs.
Decluttering
The square footage of efficiency apartments is minimal, and you do not have ample storage space. This is why you will have to declutter and only keep the things you need. Otherwise, your apartment will become cramped and messy. So, get rid of all the useless things!
Here’s an extensive example on how to declutter your apartment with 7 things you don’t need in a small apartment.
Less to Clean
Efficiency Apartments are low maintenance and very easy to clean. Of course, bigger space means lots more cleaning, but you do not have to worry about cleaning an efficiency apartment as you will have less space to manage.
Final thoughts on efficiency apartment
Population growth and low income have made developers rethink housing Development. As more and more people want simple and affordable accommodations, the demand for efficiency apartments is constantly rising. If you want to enjoy city life without worrying about heavy rental and high utility bills, efficiency apartments should be on your house-hunting list.