Micro Apartments

[pom]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/micro-apartments-anti-mcmansions-102100265.html

Here in Paris, micro-apartments are common lodging for students. They are usually servant quarters that have been converted to tiny apartments, many of them are around 100 sqf, basically you have a shower, toilet, a tiny kitchen and a bed. The smallest ones sometimes share a toilet between 2-3 apartments.


-edited to change sqm to sqf

[GuitarStv]

I think that when you get to a ridiculously small size it can actually encourage you to spend more.  You do less at home simply because of the lack of space, so you're more likely to spend money eating out (kitchen is annoyingly small, probably don't have a full size fridge/stove so it's harder to shop once per week for all your groceries), have other people fix your stuff (no space for tools), hit bars/clubs/concerts/etc (since you don't have much space to relax in at home you look for other outlets).  It can be very frugal, but there's definitely going to be more of a pull to spend money than your typical sized dwelling.

[pom]

have other people fix your stuff

Actually there is nothing to fix since there is nothing to break.

I agree with you though that it encourages going out to eat and drink. On the flip side, forget about frequent clothes shopping!

For me 400 sqf has been the minimum that I was comfy with.

[prodarwin]

I like the concept.  I do agree a little with the urge to spend more as a result.  Its one of the fears I have with the concept of a Tiny Home.  I'd really like to get one, but I think I would have to modify it so it was just big enough to help me resist those urges - bigger fridge (more efficient anyway), some sort of storage/garage space, washer/dryer space, etc.

I did find this comment funny:

Lowering your standard of living is now all the rage? Get with what is now claimed to be popular in the Press. Lower your standard of living. IMO this trend is only done by the minority not the majority. As soon as lowering your standard if living is not popular, it will be gone. Improving your standard of living will never be gone, ever!

I can't wait until a lower standard of living is all the rage, then my beater cars will be worth something!

This one was good too:

Familiar example of how the American dream is deteriorating. Smaller, and poorer is the new normal,and the sheeple just go along with it.

[Donovan]

I think that when you get to a ridiculously small size it can actually encourage you to spend more.  You do less at home simply because of the lack of space, so you're more likely to spend money eating out (kitchen is annoyingly small, probably don't have a full size fridge/stove so it's harder to shop once per week for all your groceries), have other people fix your stuff (no space for tools), hit bars/clubs/concerts/etc (since you don't have much space to relax in at home you look for other outlets).  It can be very frugal, but there's definitely going to be more of a pull to spend money than your typical sized dwelling.

I'm actually living in a situation like this right now on an internship and I haven't found any of this to be true.  I have about 200 sqft, but I have managed to cook my food in the little kitchen, workout in my room (handstand and planche training on indoor days), keep my bike inside the room with me (no car here), and do all of my own bike repairs (tools are in a tool box in the bottom of my closet).  I actually love the small space.

I can't speak for clubs because I don't care about those anyway, but I don't feel like living space size influences this as much as personality.  I personally prefer books anyway and reading doesn't take up much space.

However, I will say that this only works because I live alone.  My fiance came to visit for 3 days a few weeks ago and the space got very close very quickly during that time.  Having visitors over is also not a real option, as I only have 1 chair (doubles as desk chair and kitchen chair...although really my desk is just my dresser with a monitor and keyboard on top of it ;P) an my couch doubles more as a multipurpose shelf than as a seating option.

[grantmeaname]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/micro-apartments-anti-mcmansions-102100265.html

Here in Paris, micro-apartments are common lodging for students. They are usually servant quarters that have been converted to tiny apartments, many of them are around 100 sqm, basically you have a shower, toilet, a tiny kitchen and a bed. The smallest ones sometimes share a toilet between 2-3 apartments.

Isn't 100 sq m like 1,076 sq ft? That's only a little less space than I share with three and a half roommates!

[Christof]

I guess OP wanted to convert them to sqf. Those tiny student apartments are single rooms around 10 sqm.

[pom]

Yes, I meant 100 sqf ... or 10sqm

[Albert]

Apartments in good areas of central Paris are very expensive...  People in Europe are used to smaller living spaces than Americans, but not that small. It's only ok for students who are there for just few years.

My apartment is 56 sqm (ca 600 sqf) and it feels very large to me when no one is visiting.

[Gerard]

Most of the indoor things that I like to do need a space the size of a bed, armchair, or desk, so I could happily live in a couple of hundred square feet. I do like the idea of a separate space (even just a sleeping loft) for one member of a couple to retreat to every now and then, and a communal kitchen for bigger events seems like a great idea.

(Just calculated -- the smallest space I ever lived in with other people was about 275 sq ft plus 12 sq ft balcony, two adults and a toddler, in Montreal. Probably my favourite living space ever.)