Studio Apartment with a 4/5 year old?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any tips on living in a studio with a preschooler and not losing your mind?

It looks like I'm going to have to downsize this summer from our 2 bedroom apartment and there's a good chance we'll end up in a studio/efficiency. It's just the two of us. I'm hoping to find a one bedroom, but that will be tight as well.

I'm pretty good at keeping things organized since we went from a 1800 sq ft house to a 750 sq ft apartment (so I've already pared down and figured out creative storage), but I'm dreading having to share a room with my kid. Especially as he gets older. I'm willing to give up more stuff, but not sure I can handle giving up what little privacy I have now. I'm a sole parent, so the only time and space I have to myself is after DC goes to bed.

Does anyone else share a tiny place with their kids? How did you figure out sleeping patterns and being able to say, stay up to watch a movie without keeping your kid awake? Or have someone over for dinner?

[Anonymous]

My child is a bit older and I would encourage you to find a 1 BR at least or a 1 BR w/den even if you have to move out of your current neighborhood. A studio would be pretty tough for both of you and as your child gets older. It's not impossible of course but what will you do when your child has a friend over to play or you want to have a friend over. There is no way to separate and give each other physical space.

If the studio is the only option, you could try getting a couple large Expidit bookcases from Ikea. They won't reach the ceiling but might get close. Then you could cover the backs with particle board and that could provide a divider of sorts with the added bonus of storage space.

[Anonymous]

I rented a studio with my then 7yo DD and we stayed for a year. I separated the LR/BR as much as a could with a divider. We slept in the same bed and I would imagine you and your son could do the same. I also had a futon for the LR so if she had a friend stay the night, they could sleep on that. It was only for a year and we made it work.

[Anonymous]

Some apaftments will not allow cbildren in an efficiency apt.

[Anonymous]

As one pp said earlier, try to divide the place as much as you can with bookshelves and room dividers. Get some headphones so you can watch TV while he is sleeping. It will be rough to get anything done after he goes to bed, but it's managable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some apaftments will not allow cbildren in an efficiency apt.

Uhm, yes they will. Not in MoCo but in DC they certainly do.

[Anonymous]

Hopefully this would only be for a year (although I hate to move every year). And I'm hoping to get a 1 bedroom, but it might not be possible.

Being broke sucks.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I put my DD in one of the closets. She has a twin mattress on the floor, a mesh thing with 4 different "shelves" that hangs from the ceiling with toys/stuffed animals, secret stuff.

There's a second closet where all my clothing is, plus my dresser and all our coats. Her dresser is against the wall outside the closet. She has a curtain over the opening of the closet so she can sleep even if I have the lights on.

I wish she had more (stuff and space) but it works fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully this would only be for a year (although I hate to move every year). And I'm hoping to get a 1 bedroom, but it might not be possible.

Being broke sucks.

I had a one bedroom once that had a dining room type area in a little alcove- which would be perfect to make into an extra "bedroom" for your kid. I think if you shop around for a good layout, you'll find something that will work fine for at least a year or two. Ideally when your kid is older you will be able to afford a one or two bedroom apartment. Check out IKEA for ideas on room dividers- They have tracks that can go on the ceiling to put up curtains.

[Anonymous]

Could you get a fold-out couch and put DS in the bedroom, with you sleeping on the couch? That is what I would do, OP.

[Anonymous]

Any basement apartments available? Some are really nice with walkouts, and much cheaper.

I would probably buy a loft twin bed and put one of the Ikea bed tents on it if your kid would go for that. That would help keep light out, but not noise. You can watch movies with headphones. Not ideal, but it would cut the noise.

I would also turn a big walkin closet into a kid room if there were no chance if a fire hazard (still two escape routes). A little paint and some cool lights. Would be awesome. I probably wouldn't shut the door. I might remove closet doors and put up curtains instead with a tension rod if you dontcwantvto install anything permanent. Would depend on the layout. Removing doors makes it all look bigger anyway.

Don't forget apartment therapy for some ideas.

Good luck. You are giving your kid a safe space with his mom. The rest is window dressing.

[Anonymous]

12:49, thank you for your last sentence.

I found out last month that I was not getting a raise like I had been told and then got the email with the rent increase last night. I've been stressing about making it all work, plus the stress of the OOB/charter lotteries. I don't do well with lots of uncertainty and the double whammy of waitlists (we did get in to one school and have a single digit number for another) plus having to find another place to live in 6 weeks has about put me over the edge. Oh, and work has recently gotten really dysfunctional and I've started looking for a new job because I can't deal with it much longer (esp for the crappy pay).

Anyway. Thank you. That sentence was exactly what I needed to hear.

[Anonymous]

We live in a tiny Studio.

My son is 5.

He has a kura bed from ikea.

Expedient shelves from ikea make Good room dividers and storage.

He will learn to sleep through your movinb about and the tv.

Go tall. I used to go for small shelves and things that let my son be self suffcient. Thats great for independance but not great for space.

Purge like crazy.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest dual duty furniture--loft bed or captains bed (the one's with drawers). Ikea's a good choice for inexpensive but decent furniture. You can also use curtains to block off space, e.g. for his bed at night. White noise machine for him and ear phones for you.

Also Apartment Therapy is a great site:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/5-smart-studio-apartment-layou-92329

[Anonymous]

The efficiency I used to live in had a huge closet, so I took the doors off and put my bed inside. It fit EXACTLY. Made a big difference.

Build UP the walls, instead of around the room. Organizers that reach high up, shelves installed in the walls, things like that.

Purge like mad, and make everything you own do double-duty.

I used these Ikea shoe-boxes as organizers for my kitchen - ran them straight up the wall. Google the Trones ones. I put sippy cups in one, plastic bags/aluminum foil in one, etc. I had a whole wall of them - 5 by 5. You can use them in whatever pattern you want.

Tidy every night after your son goes to bed. He will learn to sleep through it. You can download podcasts and ebooks (free ones) and listen on headphones at night. Or buy those headphones through which you can hear the TV and use those when he sleeps.

Divide the room up somehow, google or look around on pinterest for using bookshelves to do it. There are a million good ideas.

You and your son have each other, and though things are rocky now, you are going to do great. If downsizing means your stress level is reduced, do it and embrace it as a challenge. Sending you all my best.