...approx 120 sqft, not including the bathroom and small foyer.
So, I'm an older woman (early 60s) who used to own a three-bedroom home in the 'burbs. After a long spate of challenges, though (layoffs, catastrophic illnesses etc), I've had to drastically downsize. But I didn't want to feel like I was living in someone else's bedroom (which is how I've lived for the last several years). I wanted to feel like a grownup again, even in a very tiny space.
I've also wanted to move into the city for a very long time, but even a traditional studio apartment is far out of reach for my limited income, especially if it's near downtown. I was about to give up ... when I saw this "sleeping room" advertised on Craigslist. It's actually a converted butler's quarters in a huge 1920s apartment building.
The neighborhood is safe and extremely walkable, literally in the middle of everything. And because it's so small (and lacks a kitchen), the monthly rent is HALF half the going rate for a modest one-bedroom.
Still, my funds for moving were pretty limited so I did everything as inexpensively as possible. Furniture is almost all IKEA (I had to measure everything down to the inch). The hideabed is an Älvdalen (less than $500!), surprisingly comfortable even for my old back, and unfolds sideways compared to traditional hideabeds; this saves tons of space.
Anything else new I had to get came from Black Friday and other discounts/sales, mostly. I really couldn't do thrift stores much because things had to be very specific sizes, and there was no room for anything that wouldn't fit and work perfectly.
Also: It was important to me that the decor be intentional and not cluttery, so I limited the color scheme. I think it works. 🙂