In large cities across the nation, micro-apartments are exploding in popularity. Big homes also tend to be further from city centers, meaning more driving, which ups your carbon footprint and takes a bite out of your wallet. What small houses might lack in features, they make up for in freedom to not be a slave to your space and your stuff, to live a life that is both financially and environmentally responsible. The apartments themselves are clean, bright spaces. They maximize built-in storage, yet maintain a sleek and uncluttered look. The tiny apartments offer a way to live in a hip neighborhood for less money than a conventional apartment — assuming they’re willing to give up some niceties, such as a bed frame.