What Everyone Needs to Know About 1000 Square Feet
Hunting for the right place to live and park your belongings can be both exciting and stressful at the same time.
Homes of up to 1000 square feet are still an option in today’s housing market. But you want to understand if this is enough space for you or if you should make a decision to go into a larger home.
How big is 1000 square feet?
A house or an apartment measuring 1000 square feet is about the same size as two and a half two-car garages. It will have at least two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, and a main living room or den area. Additionally, a family of four can live comfortably in a 1000 square foot home.
In this article, I’ll be teaching you…
- What is 1000 square feet and how to visualize it
- How to measure 1000 square feet
- What some of the features are for a 1000 square foot house
- What some of the features are for a 1000 square foot apartment
- How many people can comfortably fit in a 1000 square foot home
- What some tips are for making the most of 1000 square feet
Let’s get started!
What Is 1000 Square Feet? (How Do I Visualize It?)
The best way to describe a 1000 square-foot home is to look at it in terms of a car garage.
Typically, a one-car garage is about 200 square feet. And a two-car garage measures close to 400 square feet. Therefore, a two-car garage is equivalent to two one-car garages because you are doubling the space to allow for two cars.
With that knowledge, if you multiply 200 square feet by five, you’ll get 1000 square feet. 1000 square feet can allow for five cars. So, now we know that we can fit at least five cars in a 1000 square foot space, which is essentially a five-car garage or two and a half two-car garages.
Now, imagine each of the 200 square foot spaces as a room. And now you have two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, and a main living area.
Remember, every 1000 square-foot house is different so the rooms may be arranged in different configurations. For example, some homes will have a third bedroom, office, or laundry room as a separate room. Or in some houses, the laundry area will be located in the kitchen, while the dining room and the living room might be together in the same room.
How Do I Measure 1000 Square Feet?
Not all real estate listings will include or advertise the exact floor area for a house or an apartment.
So, it’s good to know how to measure square footage for yourself. You’ll save yourself time in determining if the place is the right space for you.
It’s a fairly simple and easy process. Just make sure you have a tape measure, pencil, and notepad before you begin.
To determine the square footage of the room, use the following steps:
- Take your pencil and notepad and draw a rough, rectangular outline of the walls of the room.
- Using your tape measure, find the length and width of the room by taking measurements from two adjoining walls. Write them on your drawing next to the corresponding walls.
- Now, multiply the length and width to get the total square footage, and add it to your drawing.
So, remember that the basic formula for determining the square footage of a room is to multiply the length of the space by the width of the space.
For example, you started with your main room and determined that the length and width were 11 feet by 13 feet when you measured it. So, your total square area for this room is 143 square feet.
However, not every room is a perfectly rectangular space. Or you may want to get a more accurate measurement.
Take a look at this informative YouTube video that explains step-by-step how to find the square footage for a non-rectangular room.
To take it even further, you may want to determine the total square footage of a home. Simply go through each room of the house or apartment and determine its own square footage. Then, add the square footage together to get the overall total square footage of your apartment or home.
Is A 1000 Square Foot House Big?
According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data for 2021, it is a small house when compared to the median size of new homes built in the United States which was 2273 square feet. And a house with a design plan under 1000 sq. ft. can be considered a “tiny home” or a tiny house.
While you might have less space such as fewer bedrooms or bathrooms, that does not mean you can’t still enjoy the benefits which come with having less square footage.
However, do a walkthrough of the house to determine whether it is enough to fit the size requirement you’re searching for. You’ll discover that not all smaller houses are built the same.
For example, homes will have different structures or plans. So, rooms are larger or smaller, and also arranged in different places. Some homes could include amenities such as a fireplace or an open floor plan, while others may not have these at all.
In addition, the overall land on which a house sits will be different. You may see some houses that have a backyard with a shed and even space for a garden. Other homes may have even fewer options or none at all.
Having features like these would add to the home, and make it seem larger than it is.
So, each home varies. Once you have walked in and have viewed the home, then you will have a better feeling if the house is right for you.
Is A 1000 Square Foot Apartment Small?
Just like a house, a 1000 square foot apartment is also the same size as a five-car garage (or two and a half two-car garages).
Take careful consideration of what size and type of furniture you have, how much closet space or storage the apartment has, and how many people that will live in the home. It will be a shared living space so the more items you have and the more occupants living in the home, the more crowded the apartment might feel to you.
Three to four people should be able to live in the space comfortably, sharing the bathroom, kitchen, and living room.
The dining area and living room will most likely be the same room. And you should have enough room to host about three to four guests at a time.
How Many People Comfortably Fit In 1000 Square Feet?
Although this home offers plenty of room for a single person, it is ideal for a couple or two young professionals just starting out after graduation from school or university. Most houses or apartments allow for two occupants per bedroom.
Even empty nesters wanting to move out of a large house and downsize to a smaller home could decide to live in a 1000 square foot house or apartment.
Also, families of up to four people may live in a 1000 square-foot apartment without crowding each other. The following are some of the examples of a small family that are ideal for living in 1000 square feet:
- A newlywed pair or a couple with an infant
- A couple with two children under the age of 8
- A couple with two teenage children
Tips For Living In 1000 Square Feet
Organization
In order to organize, start with one room, think about the use of the room, and then what will be functional for that room. You can now try organizing that room in the best way you see fit.
Storage Space
Storage options such as closets or cabinets could be limited in the home. Consider using drawers in the kitchen instead of pull-out cabinet doors which open and restrict space. Also, in the kitchen look for or install a lazy susan, which is a turntable that opens up like a rotating tray. Not only can it allow for easier access to items such as pots and pans, but it can fit more into a small space.
Multipurpose Furniture
While a murphy bed can increase the amount of space, you’ll get more bang for your buck by choosing multipurpose furniture in each room. Some options to consider are:
- Bunk bed for kids or adults
- Futon couch or a couch with a retractable bed
- Ottoman for storage such as books or blankets
- Expandable dining table from seating four to six people
Final Thoughts On 1000 Square Feet
So, there you have it!
You now have a better understanding of what 1000 square feet is and how much space will work for you.
Are you preparing to move or designing for 1000 square feet? Or do you have any tips and tricks that I did not mention in this post? Either way, go ahead and share in the comments!
Related square foot articles
- What is the average size of a master bedroom?
- How big is 600 square feet?
- How big is 400 square feet?
- How big is 300 square feet?