Trends
Surprising 2019 Trends in American Apartment Size
America is one of the largest and most economically successful countries on the planet. As a result, it is no surprise that Americans have some of the largest homes in the world. Many Americans love large homes or apartments and having enough space for all of their belongings.
Frequently a large home is a sign of success to some, which is why many people have the dream of owning a “big house”. In addition to this applying to homes, this also goes for apartments. Any way you slice it, Americans love their space, whether they are just renting or buying.
However, we are beginning to see this ideology change, as more and more people are looking to downsize to a smaller home or apartment. Some might do it to save money, while others simply don’t need that much space and others are more environmentally friendly and only want as much space as they need. Many people realize they are likely paying for more than they need, so downsizing makes a lot of sense.
Also, the sizes of apartments being offered is also shrinking, so that is likely playing a role in this trend, too. For example, compared to a decade ago, the average size of an apartment that is newly built is around 5% smaller. This goes for all different types of apartments, but especially for studios. Studio apartments have shrunk by around 10% in the last decade, with no signs of slowing down.
Of course, many cities have older apartment offerings that are larger. Throughout the 70s, 80s and recent decades, the trend was for apartments to get larger and larger, so there is a lot of stock out there for those who need or want more space. So whether you are looking for a cute two-bedroom in Atlanta or somewhere else, you are likely to be able to find a size that fits both your budget and lifestyle.
However, as more and more new apartments are being built smaller and older large ones begin to show signs of wear and tear, we will soon begin to see more and more people in smaller apartments. If you do have an apartment that is smaller than you’d like, don’t worry, there are some things you can do to make it feel bigger. These include:
- Use mirrors, as they can make a room seem not only bigger but also brighter.
- Have small furniture. Large furniture simply takes up too much space.
- Get creative with your storage. Storage can be difficult when in a small apartment but doesn’t need to be impossible. Storage furniture, quality cabinets, and using your vertical space can all be great ways to get more storage.
- Utilize large pieces of art on the wall.
Also, it is important to remember that where you live in the country can also have an impact on the sizes of apartments available to you. In New York, San Francisco and other hugely popular (and expensive) markets, more and more people are renting tiny or micro-apartments to save money or because they are all that’s available. While there are larger units here, they are either perpetually rented or are simply out of the price range for most people. Builders are seeing this trend and will continue to create smaller and smaller apartments, as those are what many are renting.
But if you head to less established or less popular cities in many southern, southeastern or midwestern states, you are still likely to find a lot of larger apartments that are available to rent. While the trend is undoubtedly to build and rent smaller apartments, many places around the country still have many different options for buyers. A simple internet search should help you identify what the stock is in the city that you’re interested in.
In conclusion, we hope this article has helped you to learn about or understand some of the biggest trends for American apartment sizes in 2019.