What Is a Garden-Style Apartment? Learn Before You Rent

Have you driven past an apartment community that looked more like a neighborhood than a building? Low-rise structures spread across grass and trees, on-site street-level parking, and courtyards instead of elevator bays… Those are garden-style apartments.

This post breaks down what garden-style apartments are, how they compare to other building types, and what living in one actually looks like. If you're apartment hunting and trying to figure out which style fits your life, here's what you need to know.

 

What Makes an Apartment “Garden-Style”

A garden-style apartment community refers to a low-rise apartment complex (usually four stories or fewer) that is built around green, landscaped outdoor areas, which is where the name “garden” comes from. Instead of one tall building, a garden-style community typically features multiple smaller buildings spread throughout the community’s footprint. Most apartments have direct outdoor access rather than opening into an interior hallway or lobby. Residents typically enter through a private entrance, patio door, or exterior walkway. This layout creates a more open, suburban feel than the elevator-and-corridor style typically found in high-rise buildings.

Garden-style apartments are designed to blend into residential neighborhoods, often resembling a cluster of townhomes or single-family homes from a distance.

Don’t Confuse “Garden Apartment” with “Garden-Style Community”

The term “garden apartment” can have different meanings depending on where you encounter it. In some cities, it describes a single ground-floor or basement-level apartment that has direct access to a small yard or patio. It is not indicative of the overall shape or feel of the greater apartment community.

In contrast, a garden-style apartment or community refers to an entire apartment complex designed around shared outdoor areas.

 

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Garden-Style vs. Mid-Rise vs. High-Rise: Main Differences

These three main types of apartment buildings dominate the rental market. Understanding how they differ helps you search more effectively.

How Building Height Impacts Your Daily Life

Garden-style apartments typically do not exceed four stories in height and comprise numerous buildings, each with just a handful of apartments. With more end units available, garden-style apartments offer the most opportunities to minimize shared walls. Mid-rises range from 5 to 12 stories and contain more apartments per building, while high-rises have 12 or more floors.

Building height plays a role in the different daily patterns residents adopt at each type of community. In garden-style communities, residents enjoy direct entry with immediate access to outdoor spaces and a close connection to the ground level. In high-rises, residents experience elevated living with elevator service and shared corridor spaces that foster community interaction. Mid-rises blend both access methods, so the experience differs by floor.

Typical Locations for Each Apartment Type

Garden-style communities need horizontal space, so they cluster in suburbs and semi-rural areas where land is more readily available. They are typically situated in residential areas with quieter streets and more lush greenery.

High-rises concentrate in urban centers where density allows more people to enjoy the area, and are usually found in active downtown cores with restaurants and transit nearby.

Mid-rises appear in both settings.

Amenity Differences Across Building Types

Garden-style communities spread amenities across the grounds. Pools, fitness centers, clubhouses, and shared spaces are typically located in separate buildings or outdoor areas throughout the community.

High-rises concentrate amenities inside the building. Fitness centers, lounges, pools, and shared spaces occupy dedicated floors. Residents access them through interior hallways and elevators without having to go outside.

Mid-rises take different approaches depending on the community shape. 

How Entry and Access Differ by Building Type

High-rises typically offer one main entrance, usually adjacent or connected to the leasing center. Residents enter through that single controlled access point to enter their apartment corridors and the communal spaces.

While garden-style communities have multiple buildings, many offer controlled access to the community as a whole. Residents then proceed directly to their apartments without interior hallways or shared lobbies.

Mid-rises blend both approaches depending on design, with some featuring lobby entry and others offering exterior apartment access.

Quick Comparison Summary

Here’s how garden-style, mid-rise, and high-rise apartments compare across main features like height, amenities, and location.

Feature	Garden-Style	Mid-Rise	High-Rise
Stories	2 to 4	5 to 12	12+
Access	Stairs, ground entry	Stairs or elevator	Elevator required
Entry points	Multiple building entrances	Building lobby	Secured lobby
Parking	Surface lots near buildings	Surface or garage	Parking garage
Green space	Extensive courtyards, lawns	Moderate	Minimal
Setting	Suburban residential	Mixed	Urban downtown
Building count	Multiple	Usually one	Single tower

 

Why Renters Love Garden-Style Apartments

Living in a garden-style apartment offers a different experience than living in a dense urban high-rise. Here are some benefits of garden-style apartments that residents often appreciate:

• Direct outdoor access. Open your door, and you're outside or just a few steps away. No elevator waits and long hallways. Pet owners find this especially useful for quick trips outside with dogs.
• More apartment for the rent. Garden-style communities often deliver larger floor plans at lower price points than high-rise alternatives.
• Surface parking at your building. Because surface-level parking is spread throughout the community, your car can be parked relatively close to your front door, making it easier to carry groceries, load the car, or move furniture over shorter distances.
• Green space included. Ample courtyards, lighted paths, and landscaping are included as standard features. You get the benefits of outdoor areas without the hassle of yard maintenance.
• Fewer neighbor interactions. Multiple buildings spread across the community mean smaller groups share common areas. You encounter fewer people daily than you would if you shared elevators and hallways with hundreds of residents.
• Natural temperature regulation. Low-rise buildings stay cooler in summer because heat rises. Ground-floor apartments often need less air conditioning. Some partially below-grade apartments benefit from earth insulation in winter.

Overall, garden-style apartments appeal to renters who value outdoor access and suburban tranquility.

 

Trade-Offs to Keep in Mind

While garden-style apartments have a lot of perks, it’s important to consider the potential downsides as well. Depending on your preferences, some of these might be deal-breakers. Here are the main cons or challenges of garden-style apartments:

• Weather becomes part of the routine. You have to go outside to reach your car, the fitness center, the pool, or other amenities. Rain, snow, and heat are part of your path.
• Less natural light in some apartments. Ground-level apartments, especially those under tree cover or facing north, receive less sunlight than upper floors in taller buildings.
• Views of immediate surroundings. Your windows face landscaping, parking areas, or neighboring buildings. No city skylines or long-distance views.

 

Find Your Ideal Garden-Style Apartment for Rent with Fairfield

After weighing the pros and cons, you might already be picturing your future home. If the thought of leafy green surroundings, a bit of space to breathe, and a friendly neighborhood vibe sounds like your ideal living arrangement, then a garden-style apartment could be the perfect choice.

The good news is you don’t have to look far to find one! Fairfield offers a variety of garden-style apartments for rent, an ideal blend of comfort, nature, and community that you deserve. Our apartment communities are designed to provide you with the best of both worlds: you can enjoy landscaped grounds, outdoor amenities, and spacious layouts without compromising on professional management and quality service.

Explore Fairfield’s garden-style apartment communities to see what’s available in major markets nationwide. Don't see your area? We operate in many markets across the country. When you’re ready, our team is here to help with any questions and to schedule a tour of your next home. 

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