A micro-apartment is a single occupant studio that is designed to be as compact as possible. It has all of the amenities that you’d expect to find in a traditional studio apartment—think kitchen, bathroom, general living space—but all of it is squeezed into a tiny footprint: about 200 to 400 square feet. (To help visualize that, 200 square feet is about the size of a one-car garage and 400 square feet the size of a two-car garage.)

While space may be tight, micro-apartments are generally designed to maximize the appearance and utility of the available square footage as much as possible. This is achieved through design elements like high ceilings and tall windows to bring in more height and airiness, as well as smart features like Murphy beds and tables that fold into the wall when not in use.

Unlike pod living, micro-units are private and people living in a micro-apartment don’t have to worry about sharing essential spaces with a bunch of roommates. Similar to the pod concept though, there are generally additional communal spaces that help offset the small living environment, such as gyms, pools, and doormen. And both are part of a larger trend of offering alternative rental options in high-demand areas.