When it comes to living in a New York City apartment, every person has different preferences for what type of apartment or building they prefer. Some may choose to live in bigger apartments, while some might choose to live in smaller ones, like a studio apartment. While plenty of people live in a studio apartment alone, a number of people also choose to live in a studio apartment with another person for one reason or another. However, is this a viable option? That might depend on who you are sharing it with.
Ways to Share a Studio Apartment
Most of the time, people find that sharing a studio apartment with a significant other will be significantly easier than sharing one with a friend. Living with a significant other means you need one less bed in the apartment, and you are likely more comfortable being closer and more intimate with your SO than with a friend. Of course, living in a studio with friends can also be done as long as you are comfortable around each other, especially in a relatively small space. One thing you should look to avoid, however, is living in a studio apartment with a stranger as many people would be uncomfortable sharing a single room with a someone they don’t know very well.
Here are a few extra tips for sharing a studio apartment with another person and general tips on how to live in a tight space, to make life a little bit easier for both of you.
1. Set Ground Rules
When you are sharing such a small place with someone, you guys need to come up with some house rules, and what is allowed vs. what isn’t allowed. These range from things like a cleaning and chores schedule, to how often/late visitors can come and stay. These rules can be pretty much for anything but are set to ensure that the relationship between you and your roommate doesn’t turn sour. Ensure that various responsibilities are evenly distributed and make sure that both of you are comfortable with the ground rules and boundaries you have come up with.
2. Tips for Privacy
One of the biggest concerns and issues with sharing a studio apartment is the huge lack of privacy. Instead of just having you both live in one giant room, you should try and use clever visual barriers to create the “feel” of more space. This can be anything from hanging beads to create separation or even using a flag, bed sheet, or a piece of fabric to give each person their own little “room”. If your studio space is slightly larger, consider using a bookshelf or dresser as a separator as well. While this isn’t perfect, it is infinitely better than nothing.
3. Keep the Basics
If you’re like most people, you have a bit of a problem getting rid of things. However, when it comes to sharing a studio apartment, it is almost a given that you’ll need to minimize your belongings. Neither of you will be able to keep too much outside of the things you need. There is a good chance you won’t be able to fit everything you own, especially if you’re coming from a more roomy living situation. Consider cleaning out your inventory frequently or utilizing storage units to store your items.
4. Use Space Wisely
When you have as little space as a studio apartment provides, you’ll need to get creative with how you use the space. This is even more true when you have two people living in a space that small. You need to use every single inch of space you have in an intelligent manner, or you can run out of space very easily. This includes everything from using shelves to hidden storage, to various design tricks, to bookcases and everything in between. There are dozens and dozens of tips out there on the Internet about how to use small space more effectively, so be sure to do some research!
5. Your Roommate Matters
Some people just are not compatible, and in order to live in a relatively small one-room apartment with one another, you should like your roommate. When each roomie has their own room/space, it is okay if roomies don’t always agree or like each other. However, in a studio apartment, you will constantly be in the presence of the other person, so you should get along with them. Before moving in with just anyone, you should really think hard about what you want in a roommate, and do your best to find that.
Editor’s Note: We updated this article to enhance readability.
