If you are planning to live with your partner, you’ll want to choose a property with a floor plan that makes it easy for both of you to live together.
In this article, we will be introducing floor plans for couples and how to choose a property that suits both of your needs. Please use this as a guide when searching for a new home together!
Village House has many 1LDK, 2DK, and 2LDK properties throughout Japan. We offer rental apartments at reasonable prices, so be sure to check out our website.
Recommended floor plans for couples
The most recommended floor plans for couples are 1LDK, 2DK, and 2LDK. Here are the pros and cons of each floor plan:
1LDK
A 1LDK is a one-bedroom apartment with a living/dining area and a kitchen area. The living/dining area is larger than 8 tatami mats in size, which is spacious enough to accommodate a sofa, a TV, and a dining table.
One advantage of a 1LDK is that there is only one bedroom, so you will naturally be spending more time together with your partner. Also, the rent is cheaper than a 2LDK with two bedrooms, so you will be spending less on rent per person.
On the other hand, living in a 1LDK also means that it will be more difficult to find alone time. Not to mention, due to the limited space, it will not be easy to invite your friends over. Moreover, if you and your partner have different daily routines, you will need to be considerate of your partner’s sleep schedule.
For the reasons above, we would only recommend a 1LDK floor plan to couples who have similar daily routines and want to spend more time together.
2DK
A 2DK is a two-bedroom apartment with a dining area and a kitchen area. The dining area is 6 to 10 tatami mats in size and can accommodate a cabinet and a small dining table.
The main benefit of a 2DK is that each of you will have your own room, so having a different daily routine won’t cause as much of a problem. Also, a 2DK has the same floor space as a 1LDK, but it is typically cheaper to rent.
On the flip side, 2DK apartments also tend to be older. The 2DK floor plan was popular in the 1980s, so many of them have older-looking Japanese-style rooms and interiors. The dining area might also be rather small when compared to a 1LDK.
Thus, we would recommend a 2DK floor plan to budget-conscious couples with different daily routines and who want to have their own rooms.
2LDK
A 2LDK is a two-bedroom apartment with a dining/living area and a kitchen area. The living/dining area is over 10 tatami mats in size, which is wide enough to comfortably fit a large dining table and sofa.
2LDK apartments are often newer or even freshly built, so they are more likely to have better amenities. Since each of you will have your own room, working from home will not be an issue. Furthermore, thanks to the large floor space, both of you will have enough space to relax even when occupying the same room.
However, the rent for a 2LDK is considerably higher than a 1LDK or 2LDK. Moreover, you may have to pay more for your electricity bills, especially if you tend to spend time in separate rooms.
Therefore, we would recommend 2LDK apartments to couples who value amenities and comfort. Newer properties will have better security and higher-grade amenities. For budget-conscious couples who still want a 2LDK, we would recommend looking in the suburbs.
Consider each other’s daily routines
When choosing a place to live together, it is important to consider each other’s lifestyle. For example, if one of you always gets home late, it might be a good idea to choose an area closer to that person’s workplace instead of somewhere in the middle.
Also, if both of you wake up and go to sleep at different times, it may be better to get two single beds instead of one double bed. When moving in together, make sure to choose a place that suits both your lifestyles and allows the two of you to live comfortably with each other.
Treasure your alone time
Once you start living together, you will be spending a lot of time together with your partner. However, it is only natural to want some alone time every now and then.
Furthermore, even couples can find it stifling to constantly be in each other’s company. If you’re thinking about the future, consider a floor plan that allows you to create a space where you can relax by yourself.
Consider the kitchen and amenities
Depending on how and how often the kitchen is used, opinions may differ regarding which part of the apartment to prioritize.
For example, you may want a large kitchen with plenty of storage, but your partner may prefer a place with cheaper rent, better amenities, or a better interior.
It is also not uncommon for couples to disagree over whether to get an apartment with a narrow built-in kitchen or a more spacious kitchen.
The kitchen is especially important to people who love cooking. When two people live together, it is essential to consider each other’s priorities and confirm what can and cannot be compromised.
If you want a sofa in the living room, choose an LDK
If you want to have a sofa in the living room for relaxing, go for the more spacious LDK floor plans. On that note, here are our recommendations on which sofa size to get:
- For a living room that is around 10 tatami mats in size, we recommend a sofa that seats 2 to 2.5 people. Make sure to also consider the sofa’s depth when deciding where to place it.
- A 12-14 tatami living room can accommodate a sofa for 2.5-3 people. With this amount of space, you will have a greater degree of freedom in arranging the space.
- For a 14-tatami living room, we recommend a sofa for 2.5 to 3.5 people. You also have the option of getting a large L-shaped sofa. With a comfortable sofa of this size, you won’t have to worry about space when inviting guests over.
Storage space for two people
Some of you may be wondering how much storage space two people will need. Generally speaking, the standard is 1 tatami area of storage per person. Therefore, it would be best for couples to get a storage space that is at least 2 tatami mats in size.
However, clothes aren’t the only things that need storing. You will also need space to store your daily necessities and other personal belongings. When living alone, it isn’t an issue to leave your belongings out in the open when you run out of storage space. However, this may become a problem when living together with another person.
Start by going through your belongings and disposing of anything you don’t need. If you still don’t have enough storage space, you can consider getting a cupboard or some shelves.
Large cupboards and the like have the drawback of making a room appear smaller. However, their size can also be used to your advantage. Consider using them as partitions to divide a room and create a nice cozy corner for you and/or your partner.
Discuss living arrangements before moving in together
Before deciding on a place, it is crucial to discuss how each of you will use the spaces in the apartment. To determine which floor plan is the best for both of you, we recommend discussing the following questions with your partner:
- Should we share the same bedroom?
- Do we need a private room?
- Do we want to invite friends over?
- What furniture/appliances should each of us bring along?
- Are we living together with the intention of getting married down the line?
(And so on…)
A 1LDK apartment will work fine if you want to sleep in the same room, but you’ll need two bedrooms if your daily routines don’t line up. Also, if budget is a concern, choose a DK-type apartment to keep rent low. However, for couples who can afford it, we recommend getting an LDK-type apartment for the larger living area.
Village Househas wonderful 1LDK, 2DK, and 2LDK apartments across all of Japan’s 47 prefectures. If you are a couple looking for a place together, please contact us. We don’t charge any deposits*, key money, brokerage fees, or renewal fees, so you can save on initial costs!
*A security deposit may be required depending on the contract details and screening results.
Hello, I’m Machiko Doi, a freelance writer who writes about housing and living in Japan.
I live in an 80-year-old house that I inherited from my grandparents along with my two shelter cats and daughter.
We live a relaxed life while repairing the house.
I like to cook vegetables from the garden and fresh fish caught by my father, and enjoy them with cold beer on a hot day or hot sake on a cold day.