Mumbai’s Micro-Apartments: A Tale of Necessity and Innovation

Let’s play riddles!

What place ends at the beginning? Where can you practically live in a matchbox?

Well, these riddles won’t be a challenge if you’re no stranger to the miniscule structure of houses in the city of extravagant dreams, Mumbai! 

The scare of settling into these tiny towers of dreams is inevitable, for the ones moving into the city or even for those who have stayed here for a while.

While it’s true that apartments in Mumbai are evidently smaller as compared to ones you would get elsewhere, there’s a unique charm to it. And like every city derives its stories from the intricacies of its structure, the compactness of the houses here makes a standout story for Mumbai!

This story is not just a random thought of construction, but a well derived practicality from the past and the present needs of the city.

So, let’s address the biggest question here: Why are Mumbai apartments so small?

• Scarcity of land: This financial capital is a densely populated metropolis with a population density of approximately 73,000 per square mile  hence faces scarcity of land. This has given rise to smaller apartments in high rise buildings to accommodate more people.
• Cost of living: Due to high demand for homes, prices here are skyrocketing. Hence, smaller apartments automatically become more affordable.
• History: While this city has accommodated stardom it has also evolved from a colonial era which highlights the concept of maintaining smaller rooms with ease.

The humdrum of the city may kindle your spirits to challenge yourself and belong to its extravagance, crawling back into the shelter of these tiny spaces is what keeps you grounded and going!

However modest these structures are, they are deceptive as well! These places are designed to be functional and efficient, accommodating the population growing at a higher rate each year. From 2023 to 2024 Mumbai has seen an increase of 1.77%  in the population. So conscious utilization of spaces is a must! 

Houses here have:

1. Multifunctional rooms: As the remote work environment has increased by 44% after 2019, people prefer a dedicated work area in a multifunctional space, where a living room could double into a bedroom with a dedicated workstation, the small corner of a kitchen could also be used for laundry.
2. Clever storage spaces: The spaces here have a built-in storage to save area.
3. Collapsible furniture: Space – saving furniture which is easily collapsible to modify the room as per the requirement makes these tiny homes inviting for guests as well!
4. Innovative designs: Minimalism is taking over but so is creativity! To make the place look welcoming and give a larger look, people come up with several hacks such as placing mirrors in the right manner, lighting up the space nicely to give a cozy vibe and sticking to the minimalist look!

We believe that the smaller the space, the closer the knit! While Mumbai gives a plethora of options to live in, these warm nests create the most hugging memories of a lifetime. 

So, embrace these practical & enticing homes of Mumbai, cause to thrive in this city, at some point, everyone has had to keep their heads low!