{"id":75883,"date":"2022-04-29T05:11:53","date_gmt":"2022-04-29T12:11:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=75883"},"modified":"2022-08-08T07:06:46","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T14:06:46","slug":"efficiency-apartment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/efficiency-apartment\/","title":{"rendered":"What is an Efficiency Apartment? Scaled Down Living Defined"},"content":{"rendered":"

Efficiency apartments, sometimes called bachelor apartments, are small apartments designed similar to a hotel suite. They\u2019re commonly found in the heart of dense cities like <\/span>New York, NY<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>Los Angeles, CA<\/span><\/a>, and have become popular more widely as short-term rental options or as a <\/span>mother-in-law suite<\/span><\/a>. But are they a good fit for you? This article will help you understand whether an efficiency apartment fits you and your lifestyle. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

What is an efficiency apartment?<\/span><\/h2>\n

An efficiency apartment<\/a> consists of one room that lacks designated areas. In most efficiency apartments, the living room also functions as the bedroom through a pull-out couch, Murphy bed, or lofted sleeping area. It offers a three-quarter bathroom, usually consisting of a shower stall, toilet, and small vanity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The kitchen space in an efficiency apartment is almost always constructed as a kitchenette<\/a> \u2014 similar to a kitchen in a hotel room. The kitchenette usually features a mini-fridge, small sink, a two-burner cooktop, and either a microwave or toaster oven. Counter space is limited and there is typically no room for a workbench or island.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But don\u2019t let their size fool you. Efficiency apartments come in a full range of quality and prices. You can find them as reconfigurations of larger apartments in older buildings or newly built luxury apartment buildings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s a typical efficiency apartment floor plan?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Though the actual floor plan will vary, the main thing to understand about an efficiency apartment is that it is made up of a single, smaller room. For the most part, you\u2019re cooking where you eat and eating where you sleep. If you\u2019ve spent time in a dorm room or a hotel suite, you have a pretty good idea of what to expect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The bathroom is the only room with a door in an efficiency apartment. It has a small shower stall, a toilet, and a small sink. There may also be a small vanity or medicine cabinet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Often, the kitchenette is placed on one wall of the room \u2014 or in the entry hallway if you have one \u2014 without any separation from the main living space. Depending on the apartment size, your needs, and furniture choices, there are two strategies for laying out your efficiency:<\/span><\/p>\n