Do you think you could live in this 78 square foot apartment?
Meet Luke Clark Tyler. He’s an architect who’s been living in extremely small spaces for a few years.
Two years ago he was in a 96 square foot apartment. In his last move, he chose to downsize even more.
The place is so small that you can barely fit a regular bed in it. So he designed and built his own.
He made it so that it has plenty of extra storage underneath to store winter clothes and tools.
His bed looks a lot more comfortable than your ordinary pull out couch or futon.
Notice on the screen shot below how the mattress is tucked away against the wall on the right.

Here is the bed all set up…

What else could you cram into a 78 square foot space? Well, Luke puts his…
- clothes
- plates
- microwave
- books
- spices
- cleaning products
- and personal hygiene products
…inside of a built in storage unit.

He also has a mini refrigerator underneath his desk.
The most surprising part is that he works from home as an architect. And I’m adamant about giving up the extra bedroom that I use as an office!
He gets to live in the heart of New York City for $750 per month and has to share his bathroom with three other residents who have similar apartments.
His home is similar to what an extremely small hotel room would be like.
My most interesting take away how cool it is that with today’s technology somebody can live and work in such a small space.
So… Could you live in a space this small? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Alex
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Hmm.. I’m not sure if I could live there myself!! But for $750 in the heart of New York, I’m sure he’s not complaining. 😉
Kayla
Thanks for coming by Kayla!
Hi would you share the plans for your bed/couch? I would love to know what hinges you used? Murphy bed parts run over $300 and my hubby and I are on soc sec. We live in a small cabin and would LOVE to build a bed like yours. Thanks [email protected]
Sorry, MsDawn- I don’t have the plans for his bed/couch.
Alex, does he have a website or blog maybe? thanks MsDawn
Check out these two links:
http://faircompanies.com/videos/view/manhattan-shoebox-apartment-a-78-square-foot-live-in-closet/
http://community.apartmenttherapy.com/contests/smallcool/2011/entries/2733
But no, I haven’t been able to find his own personal website/blog.
The apartment is almost the size of a camper, but much higher. So I would try to put the bed high enough that you could still pass underneath. The sofa could be then against the wall and you could put a fold down table on the opposite wall. This way you could sleep on the sofa or the bed, eat or work sitting on the couch / sofa.
Having the bed high also makes the mess you might leave up there invisible during the day 😉
Only if I will live there by myself. Intimacy isn’t really my thing.
Could I live & work in 78 sq ft? At first thought, no … and when I looked at the pictures … a definite NO … seemed sooo claustrophobic … Then I got to the end …. if this is Manhattan for $750 a month … I would srsly make do sharing a bath w/ 3 strangers and not have running water in my space … New Yorkers do take-out, don’t they? And I’d do as Martin says, go vertical and put the bed up high, with my computer/desk/comfy chair underneath … no sofa
How much rent on a place like this?
You have to be out of your mind to rent a room for 750.00 a month. I don’t care where it is. Then on top of that share a bathroom! I can live in a small space as long as I have my own bathroom. Where I live you can rent a two bedroom apartment for that price.
Why? Why would anyone WANT to live in NYC? I could understand it if you have trees around you, but pay $750/m to be surrounded by filth, noise, concrete and people is ludicrous.