What is a Railroad Style Apartment? + Pros & Cons

If you're apartment hunting in an urban area, you'll probably find listings for railroad apartments. "What Is a Railroad-Style Apartment?" is a common question all apartment hunters have in areas like New York City.

Railroad apartments are dwellings in older tenement buildings or brownstones divided into smaller units. They are usually narrow with rooms lined up one after the other in a single line, like a railroad track.

As with any apartment, a railroad-style apartment comes with its share of pros and cons. We've unpacked everything so you can make the best decision before signing your next lease.

How Many Square Feet is in a Railroad Style Apartment?

Railroad apartments are narrow and usually run from the front to the back of a building. They can be two to three bedrooms, so the square footage will vary.

However, most railroad-style apartments are narrow, but the lack of hallways means larger rooms. Sometimes railroad apartments have bedrooms that lead directly into another bedroom, while other apartments will have bedrooms at each end of the unit and any shared or shared space in the middle.

What is the Difference Between a Railroad, Shotgun, and Floor-Through Apartment?

Many apartment listings use the terms railroad, shotgun, and floor-through interchangeably. They are all similar, but a shotgun apartment is long and narrow at about 12-ft wide or less. The apartment takes up the entire, narrow house with rooms situated one after the other, just like a railroad apartment.

Sometimes a shotgun house can be a large, singular room with a small, separate kitchen. Unlike railroad and floor-through apartments found in the Northeast, colorful shotgun houses are common in historic southern cities like New Orleans and Charlotte.

Unlike railroad apartments, a floor-through apartment takes up the entire floor of a larger building. The rooms are also wider than both railroad-style or shotgun apartments. Depending on the building, a floor-through apartment may only have windows at the front and back.

History of Railroad Style Apartments

Railroad apartments first rose to prominence in New York City during the mid-19th century, though they can also be found in Philadelphia, Boston, Washington D.C., and other Northeastern cities. The apartments were designed to help ease urban overcrowding and create more housing in a single building.

Pros of a Railroad Style Apartment

If you're interested in seeing a railroad-style apartment for yourself, here are some of the pros and cons before your next property tour.

Great for Minimalists

Railroad apartments are ideal for minimalists who don't need a lot of room. These apartments usually don't have hallways, and the space is more functional instead of designed to play around with aesthetics.

Budget-Friendly

With few exceptions, railroad apartments are usually cheaper than alternatives in the same neighborhood. You may be able to live in your dream neighborhood if you choose a railroad apartment on its outskirts instead of a traditional layout miles away.

More Spacious Rooms

The bedrooms in a railroad-style apartment benefit from lack of hallways. That extra square footage can feel like a win in a rental market like New York City, where some beds barely fit into a bedroom at all!

Cons of a Railroad Style Apartment

As with any apartment, a railroad-style dwelling comes with its share of cons. Here's what to expect.

Privacy is Non-Existent

Railroad apartments are known for their lack of privacy and separation from other rooms. If you want to live by yourself, this probably won’t be an issue. However, railroad apartments are challenging for roommates. Sometimes, the bedrooms have no doors at all, making curtains or room dividers necessary.

Natural Light Is Scarce

Unless your railroad-style apartment runs along the side of a building, natural light is going to be scarce. You'll only have light at the front and back of your apartment without windows in the middle rooms. Getting creative with lighting can help, but a railroad apartment will prove challenging if you crave natural light.

Airflow is Limited

Railroad-style apartments were built during a time when issues like airflow weren't part of architectural best practices. Most of these older buildings don't have built-in air conditioning, making window AC units necessary. Railroad-style apartments only have windows at each end, which means middle rooms get hot quickly. Come prepared with plenty of fans and a plan to get fresh air into your rooms.

Decorating is Challenging

The quirky, narrow setup of railroad apartments makes them challenging to decorate. Space and storage are also limited, requiring some creative problem-solving to blend organization with your decor.

How to Decorate a Railroad Style Apartment?

You can get started decorating a railroad-style apartment by maximizing the natural light—place plants in rooms filled with sunshine and use mirrors to your advantage. Hang a few small mirrors across from your windows to mimic the illusion of light and make your space seem larger than life. Placing glass vases, switching to lightweight window treatments, and removing oversized furniture can also help your area feel more airy and open.

Take Advantage of Space Saving Furniture

Railroad apartments often feel dark and narrow, which means bulky furniture is not your friend. Instead, opt for smaller sofas and armchairs and take advantage of space-saving furniture.

Choose padded benches that double as storage, an ottoman that can turn from a game storage area to a seat, and a bed with drawers built into the bottom of its frame. The idea is to combine storage and furniture to get rid of the excess as much as possible.

Maximize Vertical Storage

Don't waste valuable square footage in a railroad-style apartment. Instead, think vertically to maximize your storage. Floating shelves don't require any floor space, and a narrow bookcase is perfect for plants and horizontally stacked books.

You can use a kitchen pegboard to hang gadgets, tools, spatulas, bags, notes, and even potted plants. While you're strategizing your kitchen, check the area above the cabinets to see if you can display items you're not using, like fancy plates or books you don't want to get rid of yet.

Urban dwellers are maximizers and aren't afraid to make their everyday items part of the decor. Grab a few wooden chairs that are colorful with a comfortable padded seat. If your lease allows it, use some pegs or coat hooks in your wall and hang the chairs. When they're not in use, your vibrant chairs double as colorful decor on an empty wall.

Opt for Sliding vs. Swinging Doors

Many railroad-style apartments lack doors and privacy. Check your lease or ask the landlord about installing glass sliding doors. Swinging doors are cumbersome and can injure your roommates and guests by moving from one room to another. Glass doors help maximize your light, and a simple curtain offers privacy when you need it.

Read more on how to divide a room!

Final Thoughts

A railroad-style apartment could be a good fit if you're looking for a budget-friendly dwelling in an old brownstone or historic building. With a bit of ingenuity, you can make it work for you with the right mindset and creative approach.