You’ve probably heard the term studio apartment tossed around, especially when discussing big city living or minimalist lifestyles. It sounds artistic, right?.
And sometimes, it sounds like the only affordable option in expensive cities.
But what does it mean? What makes a studio apartment different from a one-bedroom flat or a loft?
And most importantly, is it right for you?
First of all, let’s know the meaning of a studio apartment
What is a Studio Apartment?
A studio apartment is a compact, self-contained living space that combines several essential areas into a single room.
Typically, it features an open layout where the living area, bedroom, and kitchen share the same space without separating walls.
The only clearly divided part of a studio apartment is usually the bathroom, which is enclosed for privacy.
This type of apartment is designed to maximize function within a limited square footage, making it an ideal option for single occupants, students, or anyone looking to live efficiently in developed environments.
The idea of a studio apartment is simple…
This means less space, more efficiency.
It’s designed for people who don’t need or don’t want tons of square footage. Maybe you’re a young professional starting in a big city like Lagos, New York, or London.
Or you’re just tired of cleaning up an entire two-bedroom apartment that you barely use. Whatever the case, studio living is about streamlining your lifestyle, cutting down the clutter, and focusing on what actually matters to you.
But before you go thinking studio apartments are just tiny boxes with barely enough room to stretch your legs, let’s be clear: many are surprisingly functional, stylish, and even luxurious.
It all depends on how the space is designed. Some studios use clever design tricks to create zones within the space.
Like a raised platform for the bed, a breakfast bar that doubles as a dining table, and a work desk.
Strategically placed rugs to define a living area, and mirrors that make the space feel bigger. Every inch counts, and in a studio apartment, good design becomes a lifestyle necessity, not just a fantasy.
For the size? Studio apartments can range from around 200 to 600 square feet, though that number can vary depending on where you are in the world.
In some parts of Lagos or Manhattan, 300 square feet might feel like a luxury.
In other places, it might be considered cramped, but it’s not really about the number.
It’s about how the space is used. A well-designed 300-square-foot studio can feel more livable than a poorly laid-out 500-square-foot one.
What is the difference between a self-contained(studio flat) and a 1-bedroom?
When you’re hunting for a place to live, especially in a busy city or on a tight budget, every square foot matters. But beyond the price and location, you’ve got to pay attention to the type of space you’re getting.
Two terms often thrown around interchangeably are studio apartment and one-room apartment. At first glance, they sound like the same thing. Just one room, right? Not quite.
Let’s start with the studio apartment. This is the darling of minimalist living, the go-to choice for urban dwellers who want function over frills.
When you step into a studio, you’re stepping into a single, open-concept space where everything happens. Your bed, your couch, your desk, and your kitchen all exist in the same shared area.
No walls are separating the bedroom from the living room or the living room from the kitchen. It’s a one-man stage where every scene of your life plays out.
But don’t mistake open space for chaos. A well-designed studio can feel open, stylish, and perfectly sufficient. It just means you have to get creative.
Your sofa might double as your bed, your kitchen counter might also serve as your dining table.
Storage becomes an art form, under the bed, above the cabinets, and behind the doors. It’s all about maximizing utility without sacrificing comfort.
Now, the one-room apartment, especially in places like Nigeria or parts of Europe and Asia, tells a different story.
The name might sound similar, but the setup is usually distinct.
A one-room apartment often refers to a single enclosed room used primarily for sleeping and lounging. The kitchen and bathroom might be shared with other tenants or placed in separate sections of a compound.
In many cases, the one room doesn’t include any kind of kitchen at all, just space for a bed, a fan, maybe a TV, and a few personal belongings.
It’s more like renting a bedroom than an independent apartment. Sure, it offers privacy from other tenants, but it doesn’t always offer full autonomy.
You might still be walking down the corridor to use the bathroom or queuing up to cook in a shared kitchen space.
That’s a major difference from a studio apartment, where everything you need, except maybe laundry, is inside your unit.
Another key distinction lies in who typically goes for each option. Studio apartments tend to attract professionals, students. They’re usually built with solo living in mind.
If you’re working remotely or need a home office setup, a studio can give you that flexibility. You can wake up, brew coffee a few steps from your bed, and slide into your workspace without ever leaving your unit.
On the flip side, one-room apartments are often more affordable and may be chosen by those prioritizing low rent over privacy.
In certain areas, they’re the go-to for fresh graduates, apprentices, or people just starting in the city.
If your goal is to spend as little as possible and you’re okay with shared amenities, then a one-room apartment might work.
But if you value having your kitchen, your bathroom, and not bumping into housemates every time you want to fry an egg, then a studio is a smarter bet.
For independence? This is where the studio wins hands down.
Living in a studio means you don’t rely on anyone else for your day-to-day living, you’re not checking the schedule to know when the shared bathroom is free.
You’re not cleaning up after a neighbor who left the communal sink a mess. You’re in charge of your environment, your mess, and your quiet.
That kind of autonomy can be a game changer, especially if you’re the kind of person who values peace and personal space.
Of course, price plays a role in the decision. One-room apartments are often the cheapest option available.
But sometimes, cheap comes at the cost of comfort. The rent may be low, but what about convenience? What about safety? What about access to water, electricity, or a decent bathroom?
With a studio, you’re paying a bit more, but you’re also getting more. It’s a matter of weighing what you can afford versus what you can live with.
How about Maintenance? In a one-room setup with shared amenities, cleanliness can be out of your hands. You’re relying on others to respect shared spaces.
With a studio, it’s all on you. If you’re the kind of person who keeps your space tidy, you’ll love the control. If cleaning up isn’t your strong suit, the open layout might make clutter feel overwhelming fast.
Do Studio Apartments Have Bathrooms?
Yes, studio apartments have bathrooms. That’s non-negotiable.
Just because it’s a smaller space doesn’t mean you’ll be brushing your teeth in the kitchen sink or taking showers at the gym down the street.
A studio apartment is still a livable space, and that means it must include certain basic amenities, one of which is a private bathroom.
Now, here’s where things get interesting.
While the bathroom is part of the package, the way it’s integrated into the apartment can vary depending on location, design, and building standards.
In most modern cities like Lagos, New York, London, you name it, the bathroom in a studio is separate.
That means it has a door, it has four walls, and it gives you privacy. Just like in a traditional apartment, you’ll find a toilet, a sink, and a shower or bathtub, sometimes a compact combination of the two, depending on the space.
But if you’re exploring older buildings, converted spaces, or ultra-budget rentals, you might run into some less conventional setups.
Some older or retrofitted studios might have unusually small bathrooms or layouts that make you raise an eyebrow.
You could find a wet room style where the toilet and shower share the same space.
Or a setup where the sink is located just outside the bathroom door. It’s rare, but it exists, and it’s a reminder to always check the details before signing that lease.
Still, even in those worse situations, the bathroom is there. You won’t be left high and dry with no toilet in sight. That would be illegal in most countries.
In fact, housing laws require that any unit considered livable must include a sanitary, private bathroom.
If a listing doesn’t include that, you’re not looking at a studio apartment, you’re looking at something else entirely. And you should run.
How Much Is a Studio Apartment?
There’s a moment in every renter’s life when the question comes up: How much does a studio apartment cost? And it sounds simple, almost too simple.
Studio apartments follow the same logic. They’re not one-size-fits-all.
Their price depends on the city, the neighborhood, the building, the amenities, the square footage, and even the time of year.
So if you’re expecting a flat number, you’re missing the bigger picture.
What you want to know is this: What determines the cost of a studio apartment, and how can you tell if you’re getting a good deal?
Let’s start with location, because nothing impacts the price more. A studio apartment in busy cities like Lagos, New York, or London is going to cost more than one in the outskirts or rural towns. That’s about demand.
People want to be close to where the action is. Work, nightlife, transit, schools, and everything else that makes city life exciting and fast-paced, that’s where people flock, right?. And where demand rises, so does the rent.
For example, in Lagos, you might find a studio in Yaba or Surulere for a reasonable monthly rent, but the moment you step into places like Ikeja, Victoria Island, or Lekki Phase 1, the numbers start climbing fast.
The reason is simple.
You’re not just paying for the room, you’re paying for the location, the lifestyle, the proximity to business hubs, and the convenience that comes with it.
The same logic applies in places like Manhattan, where even a tiny studio with exposed pipes and a view of a brick wall might still demand top dollar just because of the zip code.
But it’s not only about the city, it’s also about what’s inside the apartment. Studios come in all shapes and styles.
Some are barebones: One room, a kitchenette, a bathroom, and four walls.
Others come packed with modern features like granite countertops, smart lighting, security systems, and access to a gym or rooftop lounge.
Naturally, the more amenities included, the higher the rent. A studio in a luxury high-rise with a concierge and private pool is a completely different financial story than a self-contained unit in an older walk-up building.
Plus, square footage also matters.
Most studios range from 200 to 600 square feet, but the way those feet are laid out can change everything.
An efficient 350-square-foot unit that feels open and well-designed might rent for more than a cluttered 500-square-foot unit with awkward angles.
In other words, it’s not just the size, it’s how the space makes you feel. People are willing to pay more for a studio that feels functional, fresh, and livable.
For instance, in major Nigerian cities like Lagos and Abuja, studio apartments can start as low as ₦200,000 per year in less competitive neighborhoods.
But in more central or high-demand areas, the price can shoot up to ₦800,000 to ₦1.5 million annually or even more if the property is brand new or sitting in a premium estate with gated access, constant power, and backup generators.
And don’t forget, some landlords expect one or two years’ upfront. So the sticker price might not scare you, but the lump sum payment can.
Across the world, prices follow a similar trend.
In New York City, the average studio apartment can cost between $2,000 and $3,000 per month, depending on the borough and building.
In Los Angeles, you might pay around $1,800.
In London, studios can go for £1,200 to £1,800 monthly, depending on proximity to the city center.
And in less expensive cities like Houston, Nairobi, or Accra, prices drop significantly, but even then, you’ll see variation depending on location and building age.
But rent is just the starting point. To understand the cost of a studio apartment, you’ve got to factor in everything else. Utilities can make a big dent.
Some landlords include them in the rent, but many don’t. Electricity, water, internet, and service charges can add a few extra thousand to your monthly or annual expenses.
If your apartment has prepaid meters, you’ll also need to recharge regularly, especially if you’re running air conditioning, a fridge, or other power-hungry appliances.
Then there’s the cost of furnishing. Studios are smaller, sure, but that doesn’t mean you can skip out on basics.
Bed, table, chairs, curtains, kitchen utensils, it adds up. You might think, Well, it’s just one room, how bad can it be?
But the truth is, setting up even a small space can easily run into hundreds of thousands of naira or thousands of dollars, depending on your taste.
And the smaller the space, the more thoughtful your furniture has to be. Multi-use items, compact designs, and storage solutions often cost more than their regular-sized counterparts.
Let’s not forget service charges, especially in gated communities or high-rise buildings.
These fees cover everything from security to waste disposal to generator fuel.
Sometimes they’re transparent, sometimes they’re hidden in the fine print. Either way, you need to know about them.
A ₦700,000-per-year studio might look like a deal until you’re hit with an extra ₦200,000 in annual service charges.
Is a Studio Apartment Cheaper?
When you hear the words studio apartment, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
For most people, it’s affordability.
On the surface, the logic is simple. Fewer square meters, lower cost. And in many cases, that holds.
If you’re comparing a studio apartment to a one-bedroom or two-bedroom unit in the same building, same neighborhood, and with the same amenities, yes, the studio will almost always have the lower price tag.
The main reason people assume studio apartments are cheaper is because of the rent. Monthly rent for a studio is usually lower than for any other type of unit.
And that’s true in cities around the world, from Lagos to New York to London.
A studio in Surulere might cost ₦400,000 a year, while a one-bedroom right down the road might go for ₦700,000.
But the question isn’t just about the base rent. It’s about value.
What are you getting for that cheaper price?
Let’s say you rent that studio for ₦400,000 a year. Great deal, right? But then you realize it doesn’t have a steady water supply.
Or you have to buy a smaller, more expensive fridge because of the limited space. Or you end up eating out more often because the kitchenette isn’t functional for daily cooking.
One problem leads to another, and before you know it, that cheap rent is costing you more in lifestyle adjustments.
Utilities are another area where things can get tricky. You’d expect lower utility bills in a studio because, well, there’s less space to light, cool, or heat. That’s generally true.
A smaller apartment consumes less electricity, especially if you’re not running multiple air conditioners or high-voltage appliances. But again, the savings can vary wildly depending on how well the space is designed.
Poor insulation, bad ventilation, or outdated appliances can eat up your power just as fast as a larger unit would.
And if you’re living in a high-demand location where electricity is unreliable, you’ll probably be relying on a generator or inverter, another expense that adds up.
Also, don’t forget that a smaller apartment can require more frequent upkeep. Things get messy faster.
You might find yourself cleaning more often, replacing air filters sooner, or needing air fresheners to keep the space breathable.
These are small things, sure, but they accumulate over time. And sometimes, those tiny costs are the ones that sneak up on you.
But cheaper rent doesn’t always mean better value.
The smartest approach is to think beyond the price tag.
Ask yourself: How does the space fit your daily routine? Are you someone who works from home and needs separation between work and rest? A studio might be challenging.
Are you someone who rarely cooks and just needs a bed and Wi-Fi? Then a studio might be perfect. It’s all about lifestyle alignment.
Studio Apartment Plan
A studio apartment plan is typically designed as one open space that merges the bedroom, living room, and kitchen into a single room, while the bathroom is separated for privacy.
But while that might sound straightforward, the layout decisions are anything but simple. The plan has to balance comfort with utility.
There’s no luxury of separate rooms, so every inch must serve a purpose.
And here’s the first thing you should know: Not all studio plans are created equal.
Some studio layouts follow the classic rectangular or square open-floor model, which is ideal for easy furniture placement and zoning.
Others are more irregular, especially in cities where buildings were repurposed or space was cut from larger units.
Some studios come with loft-style ceilings or oddly shaped corners that can either be a blessing or a burden, depending on how well the design was executed.
In a functional studio apartment plan, the first thing you’ll notice is the flow.
The flow of the apartment, how you move from one section to the next, can make the space feel bigger than it is.
In a well-planned studio, you’ll typically enter through a small foyer or entryway that subtly divides the living area from the outside world.
From there, a logical path should take you past a kitchenette or full kitchen setup and lead into the main living zone, where you eat, sleep, and relax.
The bathroom is usually placed near the entrance, partly for plumbing convenience and partly for privacy.
After all, no one wants to entertain friends in their tiny living area with the bathroom door directly beside the couch.
A smart layout makes use of walls or dividers to keep the sleeping area semi-private while maintaining an open feel.
That balance between openness and division is one of the hardest things to master in studio apartment design. People crave openness because it makes the space feel less claustrophobic, but at the same time, no one wants to feel like their bed is in the middle of the kitchen.
Designers solve this in different ways. Some use furniture like shelves or wardrobes as pseudo-walls. Others introduce glass partitions, curtains, or sliding panels that can be opened or closed depending on the time of day.
It’s not about building walls, it’s about defining zones.
And that’s what separates a good studio apartment plan from a bad one. It’s not about size, it’s about zoning.
- Where do you eat?
- Where do you work?
- Where do you relax?
- Where do you sleep?
These aren’t just interior design questions, they’re layout questions.
A plan that forces your bed next to the stove is a plan that’s going to make you miserable. A plan that creates flow, one that gives each function of your life its own designated spot, that’s where studio living becomes enjoyable, even beautiful.
For example, take kitchens. In some studio layouts, the kitchen is a full L-shape, complete with cabinets, countertops, and space for a small fridge and microwave. In others, it’s just a single wall with a sink and two burners.
And in newer micro-units, it’s not uncommon to see hideaway kitchens that fold up behind sliding panels when not in use.
These are all decisions baked into the original plan, and each one drastically changes how you’ll experience the space.
The sleeping area also varies. Some plans allow for a full queen-size bed to fit comfortably, tucked into a corner or behind a partition.
Others are designed specifically for a Murphy bed or a convertible sofa, which you fold out each night.
Again, that’s not just a furniture decision, it’s a planning decision. If the studio is less than 300 square feet, every piece has to be multi-functional, and the layout must support that level of flexibility.
And let’s not forget storage, because if a studio apartment lacks storage, it’s going to feel cluttered fast.
A smart studio apartment plan incorporates built-in storage wherever possible. That could mean overhead cabinets, under-bed drawers, or wall-mounted shelving.
Some even have storage integrated into the entryway or behind mirrors in the bathroom. When a space is small, planning for storage is the difference between clean and chaotic.
Now, let’s say you’re not just renting a studio, you’re building one. Maybe you’re a developer or a landlord hoping to build affordable units.
The plan becomes even more important. This is where you make decisions that will affect every tenant’s daily comfort.
- Do you place windows on opposite walls to allow for cross-ventilation and light?
- Do you elevate the ceiling to give the illusion of space?
- Do you angle walls to create natural room divisions?
These are not design touches, they’re architectural strategies.
A good studio apartment plan also considers light; natural light transforms a small space.
If the plan doesn’t account for at least one large window, or better yet, multiple smaller ones, then you’re going to end up with a dark box that feels more like a storage unit than a home.