Corcoran Perry & Co logo

Back To Blog

Could you live in a Denver Micro-Apartment?

Did you know that there are developers in Denver building micro-apartments in order to combat the super-low vacancy and rising rental rates that the Mile High City is currently experiencing?

According to 5280 Magazine:

"Bad news, apartment shoppers: That big, cheap, centrally located place you're looking for only exists in Friends reruns. With Denver boasting some of the country's fastest-rising rents, most tenants aren't able to get everything they want. Thanks to developers' new fling with microapartments, though, œcheap and centrally located is getting easier to come by.

In September, Turntable Studios debuted 168 efficiency units (rendering above)each 339 square feetinside the old VQ Hotel, the circular building near Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Tenants get a close-to-downtown pad starting at $885 a month. (The average efficiency in Denver County is $1,057.) The developer, Denver's Nichols Partnership, gets more bang for its buck since smaller units reap more per square foot, according to a 2014 Urban Land Institute study. Nichols isn't the only developer going small.

At LoHi's Eliot Flatswhere some 380- to 390-square-foot apartments will rent for less than $1,000 when they're finished in Januarydevelopers hope to trade on millennials' desire for green homes. The units will feature smart water heaters and thermostats that default to an efficient setting when residents are away."

We think this is a trend that is well-timed in the Denver area - especially as the Live Leasing Team reports that affordable rentals are super hard to find and secure, no matter what neighborhood renters are looking in, but especially in popular 'hoods like LoHi, Jefferson Park and Highlands.

But, it does beg the question...could you live in less than 400 square feet?

5280 Magazine asked some local designers for tips on making the most of a micro-sized apartment, but we thought we would take it a step further and curated a Pinterest board full of awesome ideas and products for living MICRO - these would also be really great if you are thinking of moving into a home with small rooms (like a Victorian) or building or downsizing to a tiny house (they are all the rage, you know)!

See loads of ideas for small space living, as well as the original sources of all of these photos, on our Pinterest board for Living Small!

Recommended Reading

Denver's Best Dog Parks for Grateful Pet Parents and Delighted Pups05.20.2026

alt tag
Dogs are some of the most social creatures in the animal kingdom, so it’s time to fill up those fur minglers’ warm weather [...]

Denver's May Market Trends: Why Some Buyers are Flush While Others are Down05.13.2026

alt tag
Restraint has governed the Denver area housing market for several years now. One thing’s for sure… Colorado knows how to [...]

The Elevated List: New Colorado Restaurants Michelin Will Rave About05.07.2026

alt tag
It was 2016. Hip restaurant featured glassy mercury finishes, a crystal chandelier, and industrial-style tables. The [...]

Best Spas of Colorado: The Elevated List (Mother's Day Edition)04.15.2026

alt tag
To adequately thank the one who keeps the backpacks packed, the boo-boos bandaged, and the house feeling like a home, gift [...]

Why Denver's Median Market Speed Just Cut in Half: April 2026 Denver Housing Market04.08.2026

alt tag
The Denver housing market spent most of 2025 and early 2026 in a state of decoupling. For ten consecutive months, pending [...]

Selling Your Denver Home: A Quick Guide for 202604.01.2026

alt tag
Selling your Denver home in 2026 requires more precision than it did a few years ago. The market that once accepted [...]

The Elevated List: Colorado's Best Bakeries03.18.2026

alt tag
Colorado has a reputation for altitude, outdoors, and craft beer. The bakery part is newer to the conversation, but it has [...]

March 2026 Denver Housing Market: Spring Arrived Early. The Question Is Whether It Stays03.11.2026

alt tag
At the start of the year, Denver’s housing market signaled cautious participation. The March 2026 Denver housing market [...]

Denver Restaurant Week 2026 Guide: Make Your Reservation Already03.05.2026

alt tag
Denver Restaurant Week has been running since 2005, when it launched with a $52.80-per-couple prix fixe, a nod to the [...]

The Modern That Lasted: Mid-Century Modern Homes in Denver02.27.2026

alt tag
If you know Don Draper, you know the mid-century modern aesthetic. And even if you don’t, you’ve seen it in the optimism of [...]

Say Hello

Do not fill in this field:
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.