The NYTimes says, “In 2008, the unemployment rate for men ages 20 to 34 in New York State was 7.4 percent.” Previously, with ample cash, they spent lavishly on their living spaces. In our current recession these young men find themselves one of the hardest hit demographic segments.

When this expert Seattle interior designer read the story, I saw themes emerging of creative adaptations to drastically different homes. With square footage cut to bare bones to afford rent, small closets are crammed. Roommates offer an opportunity to save money without drastically reducing an apartment size.

Shared 900 square foot loft

Aaron Seawood, a broker, says young men still desire apartments with the “sexy factor.” To afford these sexy-factor places, Mr. Seawood said, bachelors make concessions, either by sacrificing location or by “tag teaming,” as he calls subdividing a space.

Some bachelors find options to the party-filled lifestyle. In place of costly leather sofas, Joe Tandle fills kiddie pools with piles of pillows for guests to snuggle in on his monthly movie nights.

Photos courtesy of the New York Times.

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