These 14 Homes Highlight Just How Big 200 Square Feet Can Actually Be
When you hear a home described as being 200 square feet, visions of large closets or tiny homes might appear in your mind. Even though the number is technically smaller than 500 or 1,000 square feet, it doesn’t necessarily mean it has to feel tiny — in fact, some homes of this size might even feel airy and spacious with clever layouts.
So, if you’re moving into a 200-square-foot home and want a little inspiration or are just curious about how people maximize small spaces, you’re in luck. Here’s a list of our favorite 200-square-foot spaces (which was no easy feat as they’re all incredible!). You’ll see how renters and homeowners made their limited square footage feel spacious and stunning.
1. It’s Truly Amazing How Much Fits in This 200-Square-Foot New York Studio
When Jessica Sirls moved into her 200-square-foot apartment in the Nolita neighborhood of Manhattan, she had a few non-negotiables. She needed space for certain items, like an 88-key keyboard and a dining table that fit six people. Because of her savvy design work, she fit it all — and then some.
To see how Sirls made the most of her 200 square feet, visit the full home tour.
2. This Is the Loveliest, Most Organized 200-Square-Foot Studio We’ve Ever Seen
Skylar Pittmon is no stranger to small-space living. In fact, before moving into her minimal, modern 200-square-foot apartment in Greenwich Village, she was living on a sailboat. She reached out to her family, who knows about woodworking, to create custom furniture pieces to maximize every square inch.
Explore the full home tour to see how Pittmon’s custom furniture benefitted the space.
3. A 230-Square-Foot NYC Studio Doesn’t Feel Too Small at All
Using furniture like bookshelves or tables can help section off a studio apartment and make the space feel bigger, and that’s precisely what Kristy Marhin did in her minimal, Scandinavian-inspired apartment in New York City. This home was Marhin’s first time living alone, so she included a disco ball, fun candles, and a funky rug to represent her vibrant personality.
Visit the full home tour to see all of the fun touches that Marhin incorporated into her space.
4. Before and After: A 200-Square-Foot 1977 Airstream Was Completely Gutted and Gorgeously Rebuilt
Sheena and Jason (plus their senior dog, Riley!) travel the U.S. year-round in their renovated, bohemian 1977 airstream. The pair work full-time from the van and wanted the space to be comfortable, so they spent a lot of time planning before moving in. “I designed the entire space in 3D and spent hours virtually navigating the space. I didn’t want to leave any space underutilized, but at the same time, a clean, open space was also important,” Sheena shared at the time of the home tour.
See how this family comfortably lives life on the open road in the full home tour.
5. This Cozy 200-Square-Foot NYC Apartment Is Inspired by English Country Decor
Cottagecore was a hot design trend in 2023, and it’s easy to see why. Just look at Bailey Heldmar’s 200-square-foot apartment in the Upper West Side neighborhood of Manhattan. Dreaming of the English countryside, Heldmar leaned into coziness in her space. “My unit is on a low floor and doesn’t get a lot of light, so I sometimes call it my ‘cave.’ I leaned into it and made a cozy, warm retreat from the hustle of NYC,” she shared at the time.
Find inspiration in Heldmar’s cozy, cottage decor in the full home tour.
6. This 250-Square-Foot NYC Studio Is Exactly What Apartment Therapy Is All About
Melissa Chang felt incredibly lucky when she found her 250-square-foot studio apartment in 2021. Not only does it have amenities that would make working from home easier, but it also has natural light and is located on a gorgeous street. “My studio is on a street of old, pre-war walk-up buildings, and on sunny mornings, I just love sitting on my couch with a cup of coffee and looking out on the buildings across from me, seeing all their beautiful details and stonework,” she shared.
Visit the full home tour to see how the huge windows make Chang’s space feel so much bigger.
7. A 235-Square-Foot Brooklyn Studio Hides a GREAT Wall-Mounted Work-From-Home Desk
Emily Forgione had always wanted to live alone but understood that New York City apartments are expensive. However, when this sun-drenched 235-square-foot studio apartment seemingly “fell into her lap,” she had to jump on it. Even though the space is smaller, she’s found ways to maximize it, like installing a fold-up desk.
To see how Forgione made the most of her small square footage, visit the full home tour.
8. Coastal Grandmother Meets Eclectic Farmhouse in This 200-Square-Foot Apartment
Stepping into Ashley Watson’s cottage-like apartment in New York City’s Greenwich Village neighborhood feels like being transported to your safe place — wherever that may be. It could be the soft light that spills in through the window or the pastel hues that evoke peace throughout her home, but it seems like a quiet (and spacious!) environment to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Enjoy the reprieve that Watson’s home seems to offer by visiting the full home tour.
9. A 240-Square-Foot Fort Greene Studio Is an Impressively Cozy and Comfortable Home
Anthropologist and sociologist Rini has rented this gorgeous 240-square-foot studio for over two decades, which means she’s a pro at living in small spaces. “Living in a tiny space poses many challenges, such as the obvious limited space and storage options, so it’s taught me to enjoy living with less and by default also consuming less,” she wrote at the time of the home tour.
See how Rini’s lives big in a small space in the full home tour.
10. A Fiber Artist and a Ceramicist Share This 200-Square-Foot Airstream and Standalone Studio
Erica Williams and Kristen Richard are both artists who share this bohemian, organic modern airstream and standalone studio, which they purchased for only $500. Since acquiring the home, they’ve transformed it into a workspace, movie theater, and perfect home for their plants.
Visit the full home tour to see how this artist couple finds inspiration in their interior spaces.
11. This Family of 5 Lives Stylishly in a 200-Square-Foot Airstream
Living solo in a small home is an exciting challenge, but living with a family of five in 200 square feet is an incredible feat. Melanie and David Raver (along with their three daughters) do this stylishly in their bohemian, Scandinavian-style airstream. The couple didn’t know much about airstream living before purchasing the home but have since picked up several hacks to make the space comfortable for their family.
Find out the family’s storage secrets in the full home tour.
12. A Debt-Free Young Couple’s Cozy 200-Square-Foot Tiny House Is an Inspiration to Everyone
Kothney-Issa and Marek Bush’s decision to move into a 200-square-foot tiny home in Dallas, Texas, was rooted in future financial stability. It turns out that moving into the smaller home allowed them to pay off $125,000 in debt in two years. Living tiny doesn’t mean being cramped, either. Their home has a full kitchen, a big bed, and a spacious living room.
Learn more about this debt-free couple’s tiny house in the full home tour.
13. A 249-Square-Foot New York City Studio Embraces ‘Queer Abundance’ With Collage Walls
Maya “Marty” Martin-Udry wanted to create a feeling of happiness in her maximalist, colorful 249-square-foot apartment. And when her home is described as “maximalist,” it’s true — every inch of wall space is covered in happy memorabilia. “My home is joyful,” Marty said at the time of the home tour. “It is my heart on my sleeve. My great delight is to share it with others — so much of me is reflected in the space so sharing it feels vulnerable and connecting in the best way.”
Explore the full home tour to see how happiness exudes from this 249-square-foot home.
14. This 250-Square-Foot Home Has the Coolest Art Deco Floors
Antonin Deschamps lives in a stunning 250-square-foot studio apartment in Aubervilliers, France — and almost everything in the home has received his genius touch. One of his favorite projects was painting the Art Deco-inspired black and white tile floor in the living room, which was an inexpensive solution to replacing the unsightly original floors.
See more of this gorgeous, light-filled space in the full home tour.
