5 Compact Apartment Models That Are A New-Age Necessity

Smaller living spaces, a concept having its roots in the western culture, is now gaining popularity in Indian metros. The popularity of compact homes is attributed to a growing population in these cities, scarcity of space and rising growing property prices. These factors have led several major developers to focus and target this segment.

Compact apartments, which include studio apartments, one bedroom, and 1.5 bedroom apartments ranging between 500-800 sq ft, are witnessing a growing demand from buyers. Apart from being affordable, these homes also help lower energy and electricity consumption. These small spaces also work well for all ages groups, including youth, single first-time buyers, newly-weds, and even retirees.

PropGuide explains five types of compact-sized apartments in India:

Studio apartment

A studio apartment is a unit combining a living room, a bedroom and a kitchenette into a single room. Such homes, in general, have a single room with a full bathroom and a kitchen, with an alcove (half room) for dining or dressing.

Junior or 1-bedroom apartment

A junior one bedroom apartment, is essentially an apartment with only one room, functioning both as bedroom and living room. Sometimes, such apartments may also feature an additional small room, or even a walk-in closet.

Junior 4 apartment

A one bedroom apartment with a separate dining room or a small bedroom or office, is termed as the JR4 apartment. Here '4' refers to the number of rooms in the apartment: a bedroom, a kitchen, a living room, and a dining area or a small bedroom or office.

Convertible apartment

A convertible apartment is a single-room studio that allows you to wall off or divide a wide-open area for privacy or designate distinct living spaces. Such apartment features a space large enough to be walled-off and use as a bedroom or dining area. These micro apartments are mostly 'L' shaped and a little larger in area than studio apartments.

Live/Work apartment

The older concept of live-work unit has been modernised with time to meet the needs of small businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals. A live-work unit is a space that merges your working area with your living quarters, keeping the affordability factor in mind. Modern live-work units range from being minimalist to luxurious.

A live-work unit cuts down your commute time to seconds. What's more, you can have freshly prepared meal rather than a rushed, expensive affair at a crowded restaurant.