Choosing between a studio and a one bedroom apartment is one of the most common dilemmas faced by renters, especially those moving out on their own for the first time.
While both options offer compact living solutions, they cater to different lifestyles, budgets, and personality.
It’s good to understand what distinguishes a studio apartment from a one bedroom apartment.
A studio apartment is an open-concept living space where the bedroom, living room, and kitchen occupy a single room, with only the bathroom separated by walls.
The average studio apartment ranges from 300 to 600 square feet, though sizes vary considerably depending on location and building type.
In contrast, a one bedroom apartment features a separate bedroom with walls and a door, creating a distinct division between sleeping and living spaces.
The living room, kitchen, and dining area typically occupy a shared open space, while the bedroom provides privacy and separation.
One bedroom apartments generally range from 500 to 900 square feet, offering more total space and better-defined areas for different activities.
The separation of spaces in a one bedroom apartment represents the fundamental difference between these two housing options, affecting everything from privacy and lifestyle to cost and maintenance.
Cost Considerations of one bedroom and studio apartment
One of the most significant factors influencing the studio versus one bedroom decision is cost.
Studio apartments are almost universally less expensive than one bedroom units in the same building or neighborhood.
The price difference typically ranges from 15% to 40%, depending on the city and specific location.
For instance, while a studio might rent for 180,000 Naira, a comparable one bedroom in the same building could cost 250,000 or more.
Utility bills for studios are generally lower due to the smaller space requiring less heating, cooling, and electricity.
However, the difference might be less dramatic than expected since both apartment types typically contain the same appliances and fixtures.
Furnishing costs also differ significantly.
A studio requires less furniture overall, with creative multipurpose pieces often serving double duty.
A futon or sleeper sofa might function as both seating and bed, while a fold-down desk can disappear when not in use.
One bedroom apartments demand more furniture to fill the additional space properly.
You’ll need bedroom furniture separate from living room pieces, potentially including a bed frame, nightstands, dresser, sofa, coffee table, and entertainment center.
This initial investment can add up quickly, especially for first-time renters starting from scratch.
The security deposit and moving costs should also factor into your budget calculations.
Since one bedroom apartments command higher rents, they typically require larger security deposits, often equivalent to one or two months’ rent.
Moving costs may also increase slightly with a one bedroom due to having more furniture and belongings to transport.
Space and Layout
The spatial differences between studios and one bedrooms extend beyond square footage numbers.
The way space is organized and utilized dramatically impacts daily living and overall satisfaction with your home.
Studio apartments demand creative space planning and organization.
Without walls to define distinct areas, residents must establish zones through furniture arrangement, area rugs, room dividers, or creative storage solutions.
Many studio dwellers use bookcases, curtains, or folding screens to create visual separation between sleeping and living areas.
While this open concept appeals to some people who appreciate the airy, loft-like feel, others find the lack of separation challenging, particularly when trying to maintain boundaries between work, relaxation, and sleep.
The compact nature of studios requires ruthless decluttering and strategic storage.
Vertical storage solutions become essential, with wall-mounted shelves, over-door organizers, and under-bed storage containers serving as crucial tools for keeping belongings organized and spaces uncluttered.
Every item must earn its place, and impulse purchases require careful consideration since space is at a premium.
One bedroom apartments offer the luxury of separation, with distinct rooms for different activities.
This physical division provides psychological benefits, allowing your brain to associate different spaces with different functions.
Your bedroom becomes a sanctuary dedicated to rest and relaxation, while the living area serves social and recreational purposes.
This separation often leads to better sleep hygiene and improved work-life balance, especially important for those working from home.
The additional space in a one bedroom also provides flexibility for lifestyle changes.
A spare corner in the bedroom might accommodate a small home office, while the living room can host dinner parties or movie nights without requiring furniture rearrangement.
This adaptability becomes increasingly valuable over time as your needs and circumstances evolve.
Privacy and Lifestyle Compatibility
This significantly influence the studio versus one bedroom decision, particularly for couples, roommates, or frequent entertainers.
Studios offer virtually no privacy, with every activity visible and audible throughout the space.
Phone conversations, video calls, watching television, cooking, and sleeping all occur in essentially the same room.
For single individuals living alone, this lack of privacy may not pose problems.
However, couples sharing a studio must navigate the challenges of having no personal space or retreat areas when conflicts arise or when one person needs quiet time.
Having guests overnight in a studio presents unique challenges.
Whether hosting visiting family members or having a partner stay over, the lack of separate sleeping areas can feel awkward and uncomfortable.
Some studio residents invest in room dividers or privacy screens to create temporary separation, but these solutions remain imperfect compared to the genuine privacy provided by a closed bedroom door.
One bedroom apartments excel in providing privacy and accommodating various lifestyle scenarios.
Couples sharing a one bedroom enjoy the ability to use different spaces simultaneously. One person can watch television in the living room while the other reads or works in the bedroom.
When hosting overnight guests, the bedroom door closes, maintaining dignity and privacy for everyone involved.
The separate bedroom also proves invaluable for those working from home or pursuing hobbies requiring concentration.
A bedroom desk or crafting station can remain set up permanently without cluttering living spaces or requiring daily setup and breakdown.
Video conference calls can occur behind a closed door without worrying about background distractions or roommates wandering through the frame.
Entertaining guests feels more natural in a one bedroom apartment.
The living area functions as a proper entertaining space without beds or sleeping areas visible to visitors.
You can host dinner parties, game nights, or casual gatherings without guests feeling like they’re invading your most personal space.
Lifestyle factors
Your daily routines, habits, and lifestyle preferences should heavily influence your decision between a studio and one bedroom apartment.
Different living situations favor different apartment types, and honestly assessing your lifestyle increases the likelihood of choosing housing that enhances rather than hinders your quality of life.
Studios work exceptionally well for minimalists who embrace simplified living and prioritize experiences over possessions.
If you maintain a sparse wardrobe, own minimal furniture, and spend most of your time outside the apartment exploring your city, working, or socializing, a studio’s compact footprint might suit your needs perfectly.
The reduced space naturally limits accumulation, helping maintain the uncluttered lifestyle many minimalists seek.
Young professionals working long hours often find studios adequate since they primarily use their apartments for sleeping and occasional meals.
When your apartment serves as little more than a place to rest between work shifts and social activities, paying premium prices for extra space makes little financial sense.
The money saved on rent can fund travel, dining out, entertainment, or retirement savings instead.
Remote workers and students, however, typically benefit from one bedroom apartments. When your home doubles as your workspace or study area, having a dedicated room for work-related activities improves focus and productivity.
The ability to physically separate work from relaxation helps maintain boundaries increasingly important in our always-connected world.
A bedroom door closing at the end of the workday provides psychological closure that studio dwellers must create through less tangible means.
Night shift workers or anyone with irregular sleep schedules particularly appreciate one bedroom apartments.
When your sleep schedule differs from typical patterns, having a dark, quiet bedroom separated from living areas allows for better rest regardless of what time you need to sleep.
Studios make it challenging to create the dark, quiet environment necessary for quality daytime sleep when your body demands rest but the world remains active.
Pet owners should also consider the extra space provided by one bedroom apartments.
While studios can certainly accommodate pets, particularly cats or small dogs, the additional square footage in a one bedroom gives animals more room to move, play, and establish their own spaces.
This becomes especially important for larger dogs or multiple pets sharing your home.
The Noise Factor
Noise management presents distinct challenges in studios versus one bedroom apartments, affecting both your ability to create noise and your exposure to sounds from neighbors.
In a studio apartment, every sound reverberates throughout the entire space.
The refrigerator hum, street noise, television, and all conversations occur in the same acoustic environment.
Noise-sensitive individuals may struggle with studios, finding it difficult to escape sounds or create quiet zones for reading, meditation, or sleep.
The lack of interior walls also means reduced sound absorption, potentially amplifying noises from neighboring apartments.
Shared walls, floors, and ceilings transmit sounds from adjacent units, and without interior walls to provide additional buffering, studio residents may experience more noise disruption than one bedroom dwellers.
One bedroom apartments offer superior noise management through the presence of interior walls and doors.
The bedroom provides a retreat from living area sounds, allowing better control over your acoustic environment.
If your partner wants to watch television late at night while you need sleep, a closed bedroom door muffles the sound considerably.
Similarly, street noise from living room windows becomes less intrusive when you can retreat to a bedroom facing a quieter side of the building.
The additional walls in one bedroom apartments also provide modest buffering against neighbor noise, though shared walls with adjacent units remain a primary noise source in any apartment building.
Closing the bedroom door creates an additional sound barrier between you and noisy neighbors in adjacent living rooms, potentially improving sleep quality.
Long-Term Considerations and Life Changes
When evaluating studio versus one bedroom apartments, consider not only your current situation but potential changes on the horizon.
Your housing should accommodate reasonably foreseeable life transitions without forcing immediate relocation.
Studios work best as transitional housing for specific life phases.
They’re ideal for recent college graduates establishing themselves in new cities, professionals on temporary work assignments, or individuals recovering from major life changes like divorce or relocation.
The lower cost allows accelerated savings toward future housing, travel, or other financial goals.
However, most people eventually outgrow studios as their circumstances evolve, possessions accumulate, or relationship status changes.
One bedroom apartments offer greater longevity and adaptability to life changes.
They comfortably accommodate single individuals for extended periods without feeling cramped or limiting.
They serve couples well, providing enough space for two people to coexist harmoniously without constantly navigating around each other.
While one bedrooms typically cannot accommodate children long-term, they can suffice for expecting couples or new parents during the early infant months before a larger space becomes necessary.
The flexibility of one bedroom apartments often justifies the higher cost when viewed through a long-term lens.
Moving costs money, time, and energy.
If a one bedroom allows you to remain in place for three to five years while a studio would necessitate moving after just one or two years, the stability and avoided moving costs may offset the higher monthly rent.
Consider your career trajectory and income expectations.
If you anticipate significant salary increases in the coming years, committing to a slightly stretching one bedroom budget now might prove manageable as your income grows.
Conversely, if your financial situation feels precarious or uncertain, the lower commitment of a studio provides greater flexibility and financial breathing room.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Ask yourself these questions to clarify which option better suits your needs:
How much time do you actually spend at home?
If you’re rarely home except to sleep, a studio’s limitations matter less than if you spend most evenings and weekends in your apartment.
Do you work from home regularly?
Remote work and studying significantly benefit from the separation and dedicated workspace a one bedroom provides.
How important is privacy to you?
If you value having spaces to retreat to or frequently have overnight guests, a one bedroom’s separate bedroom becomes essential rather than merely nice to have.
What does your budget realistically allow?
Be honest about what you can comfortably afford while maintaining emergency savings and pursuing other financial goals.
A studio you can easily afford creates less stress than a one bedroom that stretches your budget dangerously thin.
How long do you plan to live in this apartment?
Shorter-term stays favor studios due to lower move-in costs and less furniture investment, while longer-term residency often justifies paying more for a one bedroom’s comfort and flexibility.
Do you own many possessions or plan to acquire more?
Minimalists manage well in studios, but those with extensive wardrobes, hobbies requiring equipment, or book collections need the extra storage a one bedroom provides.
What’s your relationship status and how might it change?
Single individuals have more flexibility to choose studios, while couples and those expecting relationship changes benefit from one bedroom space.