Note: This is a guest post from Julia Ubbenga of Rich in What Matters.
Lately I’ve been happily fielding a not-so-surprising question: “Why are you raising your family in a 1,000-square-foot apartment?”
Well, actually, the question usually sounds more like, “Aren’t you looking for a house?”
While we certainly could be house hunting if we wanted, the truth is, we don’t have the desire. We did the live-in-a-house thing for three years before moving to our current apartment. And we aren’t in a hurry to get back to that lifestyle.
Yes, we realize it’s a bit countercultural. In the US, 80% of the population prefer to live in a single family home, while only 70% actually do. Meanwhile, apartment and condo living is preferred by only 8% of the population, yet 17% of Americans do live in an apartment or condo.
In European countries, however, apartment living is more common. In Spain, for example, 65% of the population live in apartments.
Clearly, choosing an apartment over a home is not the “American norm.” So why do we love being in that 8%? What’s the draw to apartment living? I think many people don’t even stop to consider the benefits.
Here are 7 reasons why we love apartment living and you will too:
1. Simplicity
Apartment living is a simpler way of living, which translates to a happier, lower-stress life. A simpler lifestyle provides the space to figure out what matters most and the freedom to focus on these things.
Some people may love fixing up their home, and that’s great. But if that’s not how you feel called to spend your gift of time, then apartment living will free you from those obligations that come with owning a house.
Instead of spending your weekends on home maintenance projects or mowing a yard, you can take your kids to the park and the pool. You can relax more and even nap more (yes!) without thinking about things that need done around the house.
This is not lazy living, just the opposite. It’s intentional living that focuses on what you believe matters.
2. Less stuff
A smaller space simply can’t fit a lot of material things in it. It’s minimalist by design. This reality forces you to edit your life constantly by making decisions about what stays in your home.
If you let clutter pile up, you quickly lose living space. In a smaller space, you’re not tempted to buy more furniture or other “toys” because you just don’t have a spot for them. When new things do come into your home, other things have to leave. You quickly learn the feel of “enough” in your home and become motivated to maintain this balance.
3. Connection
Connections thrive in smaller spaces. These connections could be within your family, your faith, or even to yourself. With less home to care for, family time, prayer, and self-care can become a daily theme, not a side note.
An apartment’s smaller space allows families to be more present for one another. This leads to more connection and more shared experiences.
You will talk more, play more, and do more together because you’re closer together in proximity (although apartments are still big enough to allow breathing room when needed).
4. Community
Apartment complexes come with a built-in community. Many have weekly activities or a clubhouse where people often meet. This can be beneficial, especially for stay-at-home-moms (or those of us who work from home).
A face-to-face, adult conversation is always easy to find, which can be a very welcome thing during a day spent taking care of kiddos and a home.
Feelings of social isolation are hard to come by in apartment complexes. Befriending elderly neighbors can be especially rewarding. The memories they share are almost always about family and experiences—not stuff. Hearing stories from their lives will remind you to slow down and keep a big-picture perspective on life.
5. Financial flexibility
Apartment living helps shape your spending around the lifestyle you feel most called to. If your family values relationships, traveling, health, and generosity, but your finances are going toward home projects and repairs, then you won’t be able to focus as much on those values.
Consider if the trade-offs make sense. Instead of saving up for a new roof, you could travel to see family out of state multiple times a year. Instead of redoing your flooring, you could have frequent nights out with your loved one. Instead of repairing your basement’s foundation, you could invest in your health by eating organic, real foods. Instead of renovating your kitchen, you could donate to a cause you’re passionate about.
6. Contentment
Happiness is found in being true to yourself and your values—not someone else’s. Studies also show time and time again that more possessions don’t ultimately make us happier. Although many people may pursue the “American Dream” (a bigger home, more stuff), they don’t report being any happier for it.
Raising your family in an apartment also instills this in your children. As your children observe your family’s lifestyle, they will realize that you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing or live the way everyone else is living to be happy.
7. A tidy home
Any living space requires upkeep. Apartments, by design, are easy to keep tidy. Less space means less to clean in less time. When cleaning doesn’t seem overwhelming, you’ll be more motivated to do it. And the peace that comes from a clean, uncluttered living space will motivate you to maintain this feel in your home.
Home maintenance systems are also easy to implement. Consider laundry, for example. When your washer and dryer are only steps away, you’re much more likely to stay on top of laundry than if you had to descend two sets of stairs to wash your clothes. Being in close proximity to your daily chores increases the chance you will do them.
We realize that apartment living isn’t for everyone. But for us, a minimalist lifestyle in a 1,000-square-foot apartment leads to more joy, more fulfillment, and more family togetherness.
Our home has never been tidier and our family is thriving in this simple, manageable environment.
If you’re looking for a way to simplify your life and focus on what matters most, why not give apartment living a try?
It’s not the American norm, but it could just be the right lifestyle for you.
***
Julia Ubbenga is a freelance journalist whose teachings on minimalism, simplicity, and intentional living have reached thousands of people worldwide through her blog, Rich in What Matters. Julia practices what she preaches in her Kansas City apartment home with her husband and two extremely lively young daughters.
steven c. says
well, the psycho neighbour who refused often to take her meds, could be heard all the way down the hall swearing at the top of her lungs, at her little kid. a complete nutjob who i had to get the super to knock on the door numerous times. i’ll pass on an apartment. the old man at the end of our floor hallway fell asleep with his bbq on, setting fire to his place, causing smoke damage all the way down the hall to our end,leaving our apartment smelling like smoke for months. i’ll pass on apartment living.
Kristine says
So far no one has mentioned bad apartment managers. This can be as bad as noisy horrible neighbors. I’ve lived in apartments that included a maintenance clause stating leaky faucets, running toilets along with other listed maintenance is the responsibility of the renter otherwise they will be charged if complex is called for said items. I moved out bought another house. I’ll gladly pay upkeep.
Helen says
While I can see the pros of apartment dwelling for some people, everyone is different — thank God! As a very private person and a classic introvert, I find living next to / on top of / below other people to be very suffocating and stressful. I don’t like hearing the neighbor having sex, blaring their TV or flushing the toilet. I’ve lived in apartments/condos in L.A., S.F., Paris, Asia, East Coast, etc. Then, 4 years ago, we finally purchased a standalone home with a backyard. Ahhhh, paradise. This by far the happiest living space I’ve ever had. We dine al fresco in the backyard and enjoy the fruits of our gardening. When we lived in our last apartment, the upstairs neighbor’s toilet had a giant leak that seeped down into our unit, ruining our clothes, furniture, carpet. That cost more time, energy, and money in one week than our current house has cost in one year. So stressful! I pray I will never have to go back to apartment/condo living unless I’m traveling somewhere temporarily (for instance, I’d love to live in an apartment in Rome for a year!). I am a Christian, but the way I’m wired, this statement from Sartre rings so true: “Hell is other people.” And I’m grateful I can get the hell away to the haven of my home (especially during a pandemic).
Kate S says
Thank you for this article, it was very timely as I live in an apartment with my family in Switzerland but I have recently been having envious thoughts about buying a bigger home. We don’t really need to have more space although we have a teenage boy and a near teen boy. It was good to have a reminder on all the positive aspects of apartment living.
Linda Sand says
We have found so many positives from our move to our current apartment including having to move my desk into the living room which makes for more communication between my spouse and I. True, we are blessed in our complex in that it is well built so the only neighbor noise is conversation in the hallway we hear because our front door is not air tight. As a plus our huge windows overlook a nature preserve so the outdoors comes in all day every day so my black thumb is no longer a problem.
David Nurse says
AWESOME article!!! Super love how you break each point down and make it very digestible and actionable for the reader! Keep it up!!! Want to hear more from you!!! Joshua, keep having Julia in the blog!!
Paul says
Agreed!
Julia Kovac says
May I reply in full agreement with David. If not for our horses, checking into a local apartment community sounds like a real option. I love community living with the option of retreating to my own private, tidy respite.
Eve says
Everyone has their own idea of how they want to live. I love the rural lifestyle even though I don’t do much gardening now. I feel shut up in a town setting. I like a small home and not a big house.
My own outside yard is so important. I sit on one of my porches and listen to the birds and look into the woods behind my house. It’s freedom and peace. We are just a few miles out so everything is still close but easy to get to should we need anything.
Apartment living would be like prison to me. Isn’t it wonderful that most of us can pick how we want to live. I understand how city living appeals to younger people with kids. It’s a good thing that we are all different.
Ola says
I am torn on number 5. Sure, you do have more financial flexibility, since your money isn’t tied into a home… But everywhere I’ve lived (small to midsized towns, east coast) buying is so much cheaper. I know that it’s a result of the system of preferences you mention, but it does make it harder to choose an apartment.
Also, I agree with the comments, you’re describing a rather nice apartment building. The last place I rented my neighbor physically abused his wife and child, and the police couldn’t do anything about it, because it would stop by the time they got there. It was obvious that I was the one calling them, so that was really uncomfortable. I hated being there, and felt hopeless. Plus, the place was not great and cost 400$ more than a mortgage would.
Now I live in a tiny house in the middle of a field, and I love it.
Cait says
I’d love to hear more about your move to an open space and a small house. Did you purchase the land and have a tiny house built on the land? Having a large outdoor space is important to me, however, not in need of a large home at all.
Diane says
I was raised in military housing and apartments. I always liked it. When I grew up I still liked apartment living. I still do. It’s easy living. I love to decorate and I really think my home (apartment ) is very nice.
You made many good points. I agree with you.
Cassie says
So many people’s “reasons against” are the same issues you run into with neighbors when you own a house –noise, garbage, choice, etc. What makes anyone think you get to choose your neighbors when you buy a house?! We’ve lived in our home on 5 acres for 20 years. The worth of the house has not increased that much, and we’ve put SO MUCH money into upkeep over the years –if we’d lived in an apartment we could have invested that money for our retirement. There are obviously pros and cons for both types of living, and many of them depend on your individual circumstances. We’ll be trying an apartment next, as we downsize with one of us retiring. When we both retire, I hope the experience will help us decide which path will be best for that season of our lives.