What Actually Makes a Great Apartment
There’s no single definition of a “great” apartment — because people don’t live the same way.
Some people want sunlight everywhere.
Others want a dark bedroom they can actually sleep in.
Some love hearing the train roll by.
Others would move tomorrow if they could hear it at all.
Taste matters. Routine matters. Context matters.
So instead of chasing a universal ideal, it’s more useful to understand what actually affects daily life, and how those factors trade off against each other.
1. The Space Itself
When you walk into an apartment, you notice the volume of the space before anything else.
Does it feel welcoming?
Does the layout make sense for how you live — or just how it photographs?
Some people prefer open plans.
Others want separation and doors.
Neither is right or wrong. But layout affects how a space feels every single day.
2. Light, Noise, and Sleep
Natural light is important — but so is control over it.
A bright living area might be perfect for one person and exhausting for another.
A dark, quiet bedroom can be a luxury if sleep matters more than views.
Noise works the same way:
- Trains, traffic, nightlife, neighbors
- Some people find it comforting
- Others find it draining
The key isn’t eliminating noise or maximizing light — it’s matching the environment to your tolerance.
3. Location Still Does a Lot of the Work
You can love an apartment and still resent it because of where it is.
Commute time, walkability, access to groceries, coffee, parks, and work all shape daily life more than most finishes ever will.
A slightly smaller apartment in the right location often feels better than a larger one that isolates you.
This is where priorities become real:
- Drive vs walk
- Central vs quiet
- Convenience vs space
4. Amenities: Overhyped, Underrated, or Essential
Amenities are easy to dismiss — until they’re not.
A gym you actually use can save time and money.
A co-working space can change how you structure your day.
A well designed package room can remove a constant source of stress.
Some amenities are marketing fluff.
Others quietly improve daily life.
The difference is whether you’ll use them consistently, not whether they look impressive on a tour.
5. Function Beats Finishes
New doesn’t always mean better.
Functional design — real storage, usable shelving, solid drawers, well-placed outlets — tends to matter more long-term than brand names or trends.
Technology is helpful when it disappears into the background.
Design is successful when it supports routine instead of interrupting it.
6. The Right Apartment Is a Fit, Not a Trophy
The best apartment isn’t the most expensive or the most “luxury.”
It’s the one that fits how you actually live.
Your schedule.
Your tolerance for noise.
Your need for light or darkness.
Your commute.
Your habits.
When those line up, the apartment feels easy.
When they don’t, no amount of upgrades will fix it.
Ultimately..
A great apartment isn’t defined by a single standard.
It’s defined by alignment.
When a space, a location, and a lifestyle work together, it feels like home — even if it wouldn’t be someone else’s first choice.
That’s the most practical definition of “luxury” there is.
Ioan Ozarchevici
Leasing & Relocation Consultant, Nashville Apartment Locators
License #369903
If you’re apartment hunting in or around Nashville, I help you narrow options, avoid mistakes, and save time — at no cost.
C: 615.602.3000
O: 615.606.APTS
700 Craighead St., Suite 200
Nashville, TN 37204