A video of a woman living in a "railroad apartment" with no bathroom sink, laundry facility or dishwasher, that features a "walk-in closet" room has captivated viewers on TikTok.
The clip was posted by Hannah Schiavone (@hannahschiav), a 25-year-old consultant based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The video has garnered 8.9 million views since it was posted on October 12.
The clip shows Schiavone sitting on her fire escape as she says in a voiceover: "Let's take a tour of my railroad apartment in New York City. Keep in mind that I'm a normal person, this is not a luxury unit. But it's perfect for me and for $2,400 [a month] in Manhattan, I think it's pretty special."
The footage guides viewers through the cozy corners of Schiavone's four-room Manhattan apartment, highlighting the design choices she made to "maximize both space and functionality," Schiavone told Newsweek.
The apartment has a railroad-style layout, meaning there are no hallways. So, "each room flows directly into the next, like the cars of a train," the poster describes.
Measuring around 450 square feet, the apartment features four rooms, including a kitchen, a bedroom, a converted walk-in closet, and a combined living room/home office.
The viral post comes as Americans continue to face soaring housing costs. A rent surge during the COVID-19 pandemic-era has caused an "unprecedented affordability crisis," according to a 2024 report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.
Around half of renter households in the U.S. spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent, while 12.1 million households are "severely cost-burdened," spending more than half of their income on housing expenses, marking a 1.5 million rise from pre-pandemic levels, the report found.
A 'Life-Changing' Home Feature
The viral TikTok clip begins with a view of the living room, which features a white L-shaped couch, atmospheric "smart" lighting and a closet converted into a "nook" where the poster's work desk is tucked away. The living room also features a dresser on which the television sits and a small dining table.
The video later shows a small, dark bedroom and her converted walk-in closet space. Schiavone said "the ability to convert an extra room into a walk-in closet has been life-changing."
She explained: "This setup allowed me to remove the doors from one of the built-in closets to create a tucked-away workspace—a luxury that's practically unheard of in New York City. Anyone who lives here knows how rare it is to willingly give up closet space."
The walk-in closet also has a vanity counter for her toiletries and a space to do her skincare, hair and makeup routines.
Living Without a Bathroom Sink
The apartment has a "minimalist but functional setup," with an "extremely tiny" bathroom featuring just a toilet, a shower space and medicine cabinet.
When Schiavone first moved in, the home had a Japanese-inspired "toilet tank sink," where a small sink is integrated to the top of the tank for handwashing using water from the pipes.
"While practical in theory, the sink could only be used by flushing the toilet, and I couldn't get past the idea of washing my hands over a toilet. Instead, I always used the kitchen sink," the poster said.
Schiavone had the toilet sink removed and installed a custom-made ceramic lid over the tank for a "more visually appealing look."
She thought not having a bathroom sink would be a major inconvenience, "but I've adapted surprisingly well and rarely think about it now," Schiavone noted.
'A Game-Changer'
Schiavone's favorite part of her apartment is the number of rooms she has to "spread out between," which has been a "game-changer" for her mental health, as she works primarily from home.
"Being able to designate different spaces for specific parts of my day and routine has made a huge difference in maintaining balance," the poster explained.
Schiavone has lived in the railroad apartment for nearly a year and a half and moved in at the $2,400 monthly rental price. As it is a rent-stabilized facility, "the rent only increases in small increments, if at all, each year," she notes.
While $2,400 might seem like a high rental price for other cities, "especially for an older walk-up without a dishwasher or in-unit laundry," Schiavone noted that "it's actually a great deal for the amount of space I have and the location."
Before moving to this apartment, the poster lived in a modern, two-story town home in Washington, D.C. for $1,250 a month.
"Transitioning to double the rent for less favorable conditions was a major adjustment," she said adding that "you really have to shift your perspective—my fire escape is my terrace, the daily flights of stairs are my built-in workout, the lack of amenities are 'fun' challenges, and the quirky layout is a unique conversation starter."
'Insanely Expensive' Vs. 'Good Price'
Several TikTok users were amazed by the railroad apartment in the viral clip, such as user @kikicastro28 who said: "What a cozy, quant, warm space with so much personality. I love it..."
Andreea Vlogs noted: "I've lived in the city for years and this is HUGE and actually a good price for city living! I love it."
User kell__80 said: "$2400 is insane! I know it's New York and it is a cute place but that price should be illegal."
Others were less impressed, such as user @mikro__kosmos who wrote: "2,400 is insanely expensive, you're not a normal person!! People usually make 2,000 a month at best, how can one afford this."
User @_pinkbuddha said: "That price is insane. We own a 4 bed 3 bath in Canada with a yard and attached garage and our mortgage is half that. If you work from home what's the point of living in such an expensive place?"
Have you transformed your house into something you're proud of? Whether it's a DIY project or a full-scale renovation, share your success stories with us. Let us know via life@newsweek.com, and your dream home could be featured on Newsweek.
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