Studio vs Apartment
Those who have lived their lives in independent houses or bungalows may not be aware of the terminology that is being used these days for dwelling units in high rise buildings for accommodation purposes. However, one term that has become very common is apartment. It refers to independent dwelling units contained in large housing complex where people lease or rent single units and share the common facilities and features such as halls, stairs, parking etc. Do not be confused if you see an apartment being listed as a studio when you are looking for accommodation on rent in newspapers and in internet sites. Despite being a type of apartment, the differences between apartment and a studio must be known to a person trying to get a living space on rent.
Apartment
When a large area is developed into a high rise building in such a manner that on each floor there are independent self contained units for living purposes, the housing complex is referred to as apartments. The owners or occupiers of individual units are allowed to share common features and facilities such as stairs, halls, elevators etc in lieu of payment of a fee. The maintenance and upkeep of the common features is the responsibility of an association formed from among the tenants while all contribute to maintain the facilities.
Apartments can be of different sizes, and there are one room, two rooms, and three rooms apartments. Apartments are commonly seen in metros and other big cities where density of the population is high and living space is less. These apartments provide a solution to the problem of shortage of space as dwelling units are made one upon another in a small space.
Studio
Studio is a type of small apartment that makes better use of the available space. Generally, the size of a studio apartment is less than even 500 square feet and the separate walls are provided only for a bathroom while the kitchen and the bedroom are included in the living area. This type of an arrangement is good for the bachelors and for newly married couples as they can make do in a small space in big cities. The kitchen area is usually fitted with a microwave and a stove, and a refrigerator is also provided. Though some people find it offending to have a kitchen in one side of the same living area, there are people who love to live in a studio apartment and refer to their kitchen as kitchenettes.
College students often rent these studio apartments though some young professionals also prefer to live under this sort of an arrangement.
What is the difference between Studio and Apartment?
• Apartment refers to a dwelling unit in a large housing complex that is mostly rented or leased while the common features and facilities are shared by all the tenants
• Studio is a type of a small apartment that is less than 500 square feet in size and is a one room apartment that contains kitchen in the same living area
• Separate four walls are provided only for a bathroom in the case of a studio apartment, and as such, it is good for those who are looking for economical living arrangement
• College students, young professionals, and newly married couples find it easier to live in studio apartments