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When you’re first looking at apartments and trying to figure out which ones fit your budget or have the amenities you absolutely need, you’ll notice there are many different types of apartments to choose from. From the standard 1-bedrooms or 2-bedrooms to studios, lofts and penthouses, each one has different features that could benefit you! For example, lofts are known for their high ceilings and exposed brick and support beams, perfect for those with a more industrial taste. Then there are the luxurious penthouses that have deluxe features like rooftop gardens and separate elevators. You might have also seen a couple of “efficiency apartments” that look a lot like studios with a different name, so what are they and what’s the difference?
An “efficiency apartment” is usually a single, multifunctional room that doesn’t feature a full kitchen. They feature a kitchenette that has a mini-fridge, microwave, and two-burner stovetop but not a full oven or refrigerator. They also reach a maximum of around 600 sq. ft. making them the perfect option for minimalists who don’t need a ton of space. You might be wondering, what is the difference between these apartments and studios? For starters, studios have a full kitchen with a full-sized refrigerator, an oven and a stove. Studios also have a way larger maximum with some being around 1000 sq. ft. making studios an ideal choice but not the absolute most budget-friendly depending on the square footage.
Now that you know what an efficiency apartment is and what the difference is between them and studio apartments, why would anyone want to go with an “efficiency apartment” and lose a full kitchen and have less space? Here’s a pros and cons list to show the benefits and the set-backs:
Pros:
- Budget-Friendly: Efficiency apartments are often more inexpensive than studios since they feature less space and a kitchenette rather than a full-sized kitchen.
- Less Utility Costs: Less space means more efficient lighting, heating and cooling, allowing your bills to be lower.
- Low Maintenance: Another positive for having less space is having to do less cleaning and maintenance, keeping clutter to a minimum.
Cons:
- Fewer Amenities: It will be incredibly hard to find an efficiency apartment with plenty of in-unit amenities such as washer and dryer or a dishwasher.
- Small Kitchenette: With the kitchen only being a small kitchenette, there will be hardly any storage or counter space.
- Smaller Overall Space: As we’ve mentioned before, there is very limited space in an efficiency apartment meaning not a ton of room for entertaining guests or furniture.
If you still need some help deciding on whether or not you need an efficiency apartment or a studio apartment, there are a couple of questions that you can ask yourself that should help.
- What is your budget when searching for an apartment?
- If you don’t have a high budget, both of these apartments are excellent options but depending on just how much of a budget you have, the efficiency apartment is better if your budget is more thin.
- How much space do you need in your home?
- For those who are working from home, you’ll want the studio since it provides more space and comfort for you to be productive, however, if you are frequently out and about the lack of space in the efficiency apartment might not bother you as much.
- What kind of lifestyle do you live?
- A more minimalist person who also doesn’t enjoy cooking large meals or hosting guests should opt for the efficiency apartment, but if you are someone who enjoys a bit more of a maximalist life, cooking and hosting, you should consider a studio.
(A Design Inspired by Efficiency / Studio Apartments, Pictured: Kraeburn Queen Size Bed, Nightstand, Dresser, Dining Table, Dining Chairs, Steuben Table Lamp, Faux Succulent Plant, Faux Aloe Vera Plant, Engelworth Wall Art and Chris Loves Julia x Loloi Henry 5' x 7'6" Rug)
With everything that you learned here today, you have more knowledge about the differences between a studio and an efficiency apartment and what an efficiency apartment even is. With this newfound knowledge at your disposal, you can better determine what type of an apartment you should live in. Once you find your dream apartment, you can get help furnishing it by either going in store and getting the advice of our sales folks at 4200 W Kellogg Dr, or if you don’t need the extra help, you can shop online and browse our large selection!
