Take a look around some of London's compact homes

How much room do you really need for cat-swinging anyway? With London property prices sky-high, unless you have ridiculously deep pockets, you're faced with a tough decision: move further out, or accept a property that's a bit smaller. Recently, a number of properties have come to the market that have squeezed living accommodation into surprisingly small spaces.

We reported yesterday on the flat in West Kensington, which had put the bed on a platform over the shower, leaving space for a kitchenette and a couple of dining chairs. It means that despite being just six feet wide, the property has almost everything you need - except for a toilet, which you'll have to share with other people in the building. There will be plenty of people who couldn't imagine living in this space, but priced at just £520 a month, there are plenty more who would seriously consider it.

If this has piqued your interest in compact living spaces, and you are in the market to buy or rent a studio, there are a number of interesting options on the market. Take a look at our gallery below.

There are, of course, those who argue that these spaces are too small, and that there's something wrong with a market that pushes people to live in more and more compact spaces.
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Is this so bad?

However, there are many others who would argue that they'd rather make this compromise than spend half their free time travelling to and from work in order to afford a few more square feet outside the city.

Living in small accommodation doesn't have to be a headache. Well-designed spaces can provide a brilliant compromise for those who want to live more centrally. The question is whether you believe a space can be designed well enough to make it attractive to you.

What do you think? Does a small space appeal? Let us know in the comments.

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