What Really Happens to People Who Spend Years Living in Outdated, Worn-Out Spaces

“She chose a sink over a home.” 🛁📍 My friend insists a 19 m² studio in the capital is worth more than comfort, space, or peace of mind. But psychologists—and a harsh reality—say otherwise. Why tiny, cramped living might be slowly killing your ambition… Full story and expert insights in the article below 👇

Right next to the kitchen—though it’s hard to even call it that—there’s only a small tray to wash in. That’s what my friend has in her tiny apartment.

I try to convince her not to settle for this. I tell her that things aren’t that bad in smaller towns anymore. With that kind of money, she could buy a decent three-room apartment outside the city.
But she keeps holding onto one powerful word: “capital.”

We end up arguing. I believe our surroundings affect us just as much as the city we live in.

My friend disagrees. She thinks living in tiny studio apartments, old shared flats, or on someone else’s couch is actually a good thing—it pushes people to work harder so they can move on and improve their lives. But I feel like being in such uncomfortable spaces only makes things worse. It wears you down.

After we argued, I decided to read more about this from professionals.

I came across a few articles by psychologists who explore how our living space affects our mindset and personality.

One expert said, “Look around you. Notice how you’re living. Your space impacts you more than you realize. It shapes your thoughts, moods, and motivation.”

Creaky doors, messy rooms, and outdated furniture might seem like small things. But they’re actually signs that you’re far from living the way you really want. Your surroundings often reflect what’s going on inside your mind.

If you’re drained—whether from tough work or a toxic relationship—you likely don’t have the energy to clean up, paint the walls, or buy a new sofa.

But cleaning up the house isn’t the real starting point. You have to fix what’s happening in your life first. Ask yourself why you’re settling for that old, sagging couch while others have supportive, cozy beds.

I’m not into spiritual beliefs, but I do believe in one strong idea: the longer you live in a place that pulls you down, the harder it becomes to rise above it. It starts to change how you think and feel.

Some items in your home can lift you up and make you feel good. Others can make you feel stuck or low. Old wallpaper, worn-out floors, tiny spaces—they bring the sense that you’re always moving, always trying, but nothing is actually improving.

Tiny kitchens with outdated decor might have been trendy in the early 2000s, but now they just bring a heavy, dull feeling.

Just yesterday, I read some surprising statistics.

44% of working adults in our country don’t own a home. They rent or live with family.

That means they’re eating at tables they didn’t pick and sleeping in beds they didn’t choose.
And over time, this chips away at their confidence. They stop making choices. Their sense of control fades.

Eventually, they stop even asking themselves what they really want. They get used to accepting whatever’s there.
And for people who have a lot of money? Many just hand over all the decisions to a designer, who builds a home without really knowing the heart of the person living in it.

Sure, you can find tons of celebrity home photos online.

But a lot of it feels loud, overly styled, and completely focused on trends. There’s often no real personality in those spaces.

And sometimes what you see is just plain strange. Like that wild bedroom design that belongs to Stas.

Thanks so much for reading to the end! Do you believe your home affects the way you think or feel? Have you ever felt stuck in a space that didn’t reflect you? Share your thoughts in the comments — I’d love to hear from you.