See If Your 2 Bedroom Meets the Average Size Standard
Are you wondering if the two-bedroom apartment or house you are renting or hoping to rent measures up size-wise? With more people working from home and wanting dedicated office space, along with the trend toward more open concept designs, apartment and home sizes have become a hot topic.
Defining the Average 2 Bedroom Apartment Size
Across the United States, the typical two-bedroom apartment averages around 800 square feet. However, since popular big cities tend to have less available space, average sizes there trend smaller. For example, two-bedrooms in New York City, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. often clock in between 700 to 750 square feet only.
On the more spacious end, two-bedrooms of 900 square feet or larger could be considered generous in space, depending on where you live.
Bedroom Dimension Averages
Delving deeper into the bedroom spaces themselves:
- The master bedroom often spans 10 x 12 feet or 120 to 144 square feet
- The second bedroom may measure around 8 x 10 feet or 80 to 100 square feet
However, as you'll soon read, many elements including apartment type, layout and more also determine room dimensions.
Factors Impacting the Size of 2 Bedroom Apartments
Why do averages fluctuate so widely? As you search for your perfect new rental, be aware of these key size influencers:
Geographic Location and City Settings
Two-bedroom dimensions frequently shift across different regions of the country. Rentals situated in the Northeast and West Coast states trend smaller, as prime real estate comes at a premium.
Within congested metropolitan cities, less land availability means apartment buildings climb upward, not outward. So natural light and square footage get sacrificed in crowded cities like Manhattan.
Apartment Building Types
Beyond geography, apartment types also sway size stats. High and mid-rise building units are typically more constrained, while two-bedrooms spanning garden apartment complexes or detached buildings may offer enhanced spaciousness.
Rental Rates and Affordability
Ask yourself - are you comfortable allocating 30 - 50% of your take home income toward housing payments? Rental fees and apartment dimensions share an interconnected relationship.
Priced per square foot, bigger living spaces accompany higher rents. So choosing affordability over size remains a likely tradeoff.
Layouts and Floorplans
Spatial functionality hinges largely on floorplan flow. Do rooms seamlessly connect or do narrow hallways or odd interior angles muddle the layout? Such facets lead some apartments to feel more cramped than their measurements may indicate.
Measuring Up Your Own 2 Bedroom
Wondering if your current or prospective apartment meets typical two-bedroom size metrics? here is how to find out.
Precisely Calculating Total and Room Square Footage
Start by securing a tape measurer and notepad. Methodically quantify the dimensions of each room, nook and closet. Measure length and width, multiply together, then add up all areas for the entire apartment total.
Don't forget to incorporate awkward spaces like foyers, hallways, kitchen peninsulas too. Every inch matters!
Size Benchmarking with Regional Averages
Next, turn to resources like the Census Bureau, Zillow Rent Index, or Apartment List to source reliable localized size data. Contrast your tallied measurements versus published metro or neighborhood specifics.
Evaluating Room Usability
Crunch a few layout logistics too. Do standard furniture pieces fit logically given measurement constraints? Are there ample pathways for moving about? Any particularly narrow spots?
This spatial litmus test indicates if dimensions functionally align with daily usage needs, regardless of on-paper stats.
Living Well in 2 Bedrooms of All Sizes
Fretting over a few tight square feet? Or reveling in your newfound expanse? Either way, a few quick tips help customize two-bedroom rentals of every scale.
Getting Creative in Cozy 2 Bedrooms
- Employ multi-functional furniture like storage ottomans or fold-out desk/wall beds to save space.
- Install shelf risers, floating ledges and vertical racks to open up floors and counters.
- Mirrors, glass furnishings and neutral colors provide an airy, open look.
Enjoying an Oversized 2 Bedroom Layout
- Carve out designated zones like a reading corner, home office, or play area for kids.
- Use empty wall segments as gallery display spaces for art, photos or collections.
- Host game nights or dinner parties since you have ample seating and moving room.
When touring prospective apartments, forego guesswork and instead precisely quantify dimensions. Contrast your figures with credible regional averages to gauge spaciousness.
Most vital - evaluate practicality by envisioning daily usages. Outlining your lifestyle priorities first brings size guidelines into clearer focus.
And remember, once settled in, creative furnishings and layout modifications personalize apartments of all shapes to feel like home.