In an apartment of a few square meters with a rent of $1,345 per month, Liv Hendrix does not have a refrigerator, wardrobe, or shoe storage. All activities are confined to a single bed.
Liv Hendrix has dreamed of moving from a small town of Tennessee to New York since visiting the busiest city in the United States at the age of 4. Insider .
However, at that time, Hendrix did not think about the expensive living in New York, ranked 3rd in the 10 cities with the highest spending and housing prices in the world, according to research by consulting firm ECA International . While many friends move to more remote boroughs like Brooklyn or Queens to save money, Hendrix insists on living alone in midtown Manhattan. However, with a small amount of money provided by her parents, this 21-year-old girl can only live in a micro apartment. In New York, micro houses are only about 4.5-9 m2 wide and are usually suitable for single people. Hendrix found a 7 square meter apartment in the West Village for $1,345 a month. “The building is in the heart of the city, has fire exits and is the perfect space for a recent college graduate like me.” 
Liv Hendrix’s 7 square meter room. Micro-houses appeared in the US since 1987. However, after the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, these few m2 apartments became a trend. The majority of tenants are low-income groups or young single people. In New York, since 2015, the city government has been testing the My Micro NY micro-apartment model at 27th Street, Brooklyn Navy Yard in the Manhattan district. 22 out of 55 micro apartments are for low-income people. The remaining apartments are subject to commercial rents of over 3,000 USD/month. Make the most of every space In the small room, Hendrix’s bed took up most of the space. So during the day, she often doubles the bed, stacking extra mattresses and pillows around to turn it into a couch. This way helps Hendrix have more living and working space and correct the habit of sleeping in every morning. She had thought about using the attic as a place to sleep. “However, this option is not feasible because I am afraid that the attic will not support the weight or I may roll down at any time.” The kitchen area right next to the bed is where Hendrix does everything from brushing his teeth and washing his face to cooking, making coffee and washing dishes. “Although it’s a bit inconvenient, I still can’t get rid of the habit of drinking coffee every morning. I have to stand on top of the refrigerator to get coffee, water heater and make drinks right under the sink because there is no space at the counter.” . 
Without a closet, Liv Hendrix hangs clothes on a drying rack, hangs bags and shoes on the wall. After breakfast, Hendrix also cooked food for the day and cleaned the sink to use for other things. The 7 m2 room has no room for a wardrobe. Hendrix had to buy 2 drying racks to hang clothes for work. And her pajamas, underwear, accessories… were stored in a big box by her. All shoes and bags are hung on the wall by Hendrix. “Doing that gives both room and decoration.” The toilet and bathroom areas are also extremely cramped. Hendrix said she couldn’t put on makeup in the bathroom because there wasn’t enough light and storage. “One thing that annoys me is that the bathroom floor is always wet. I use the shower to shower in the morning but by the afternoon the floor is still not dry.” Do not receive guests at home Hendrix estimates his apartment can accommodate up to three guests, but with the condition, they can only sit still on the bed. Because of this inconvenience, she hardly ever invites guests to her house. “I have two friends who live downstairs, but we mostly meet in their more spacious room. If it feels too crowded, we can go down the street or to the park near our house.” Hendrix says the apartment’s central location is both a plus and a downside. The most obvious benefit is ease of movement. The Hendrix residence is full of everything from convenience stores, restaurants to parks, cinemas, and entertainment areas. 
View of New York City from Liv Hendrix’s apartment. “When the weather is nice, I like to sit for hours at Washington Square park. It’s so close to my apartment that it feels like a backyard. I also love living near the famous restaurants.” However, noise is one of the biggest minus points of the apartment. The space is not soundproof, making the noises from the traffic and the street seem to be amplified at night. “I have to play loud music to drown out the noise, but on terrible nights I have to use earplugs.” Hendrix says that micro apartments are definitely not the perfect choice. One day, she will also dream of houses with large living rooms, full refrigerators, wardrobes… However, small spaces also have their own advantages. “I have learned to keep only the items that are really necessary, limit shopping. In addition, I also find decoration very important because it can turn the apartment into my real home. “.
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