What Ordinary Apartments on Mars Will Really Look Like

When people imagine life on Mars, they often picture astronauts in bulky spacesuits, futuristic laboratories, or dramatic red landscapes under alien skies. What rarely comes to mind is something far more ordinary—and far more important: the everyday apartment. If humanity truly becomes a multi-planetary species, Mars will not just need research stations. It will need homes. Places where people wake up, cook meals, work remotely, argue over chores, relax after a long day, and build families.

So what will a normal apartment on Mars actually look like?

Living Below the Surface

The most striking difference between Earth and Mars apartments is simple: most Martian homes will be underground. Mars lacks a strong magnetic field and thick atmosphere, which means its surface is constantly exposed to radiation from space. Add extreme temperature swings and planet-wide dust storms, and surface living becomes impractical.

As a result, future Martian apartments will likely be built:

• inside natural lava tubes,
• beneath several meters of compacted Martian soil (regolith),
• or under protective domes covered with radiation-shielding materials.

From the outside, these structures may look plain and industrial. Inside, however, they will be carefully designed to feel safe, warm, and familiar—because psychological comfort will be just as critical as physical survival.

Smaller Spaces, Smarter Design

Early Martian apartments will be compact by Earth standards. A typical unit may range from 30 to 50 square meters, even for a family. Every centimeter will matter.

Instead of large, single-purpose rooms, spaces will be highly modular. A living room might transform into a bedroom at night. A wall could fold open to reveal a workstation. Tables, beds, and storage units will be built directly into the structure of the apartment.

For example:

• Beds may slide into the wall during the day.
• Kitchen surfaces could double as desks.
• Seating areas might rearrange automatically depending on time of day or activity.

This approach will not feel cramped—it will feel efficient. Martian living will prioritize function over excess.

Windows Without Glass

Traditional windows are a liability on Mars. Glass offers little protection against radiation and pressure loss, so most apartments will not have real windows at all. Instead, they will rely on digital window systems.

These will be high-resolution wall panels that simulate:

• Earth landscapes such as forests, oceans, or cities,
• real-time camera views from outside the habitat,
• adjustable lighting cycles that mimic sunrise and sunset.

A resident could wake up to a simulated beach sunrise one day and a snowy mountain view the next. These “virtual windows” will play a vital role in mental health, helping residents avoid the feeling of being buried underground.

Air, Water, and Silence

A Martian apartment will be part of a fully closed life-support system.

Air will be constantly monitored and filtered. Oxygen levels, carbon dioxide, humidity, and pressure will be adjusted automatically. Indoor plants will not just be decorative—they will actively contribute to air quality.

Water will be recycled with near-perfect efficiency. Showers will use minimal water, sinks will capture and purify runoff, and nothing will be wasted. Every drop will matter.

Sound will also be carefully controlled. Mechanical noise can quickly become stressful in enclosed environments, so apartments will feature advanced soundproofing and near-silent ventilation systems. Quiet will be considered a luxury—and a necessity.

Interior Design for the Human Mind

On Mars, interior design will not be about trends. It will be about mental stability.

Designers will avoid cold, metallic aesthetics. Instead, apartments will use:

• warm color palettes,
• soft, indirect lighting,
• textures that resemble wood, fabric, or stone,
• curved surfaces instead of harsh angles.

Even if most materials are synthetic, they will be designed to feel natural. Studies already show that humans respond better to environments that echo nature, and on Mars, that connection will be essential.

Plants, small indoor gardens, and even personal green walls may become standard features—not only for air filtration, but for emotional well-being.

Smart Homes by Default

Every Martian apartment will be a smart home—by necessity, not luxury.

Artificial intelligence systems will:

• regulate temperature and air composition,
• monitor residents’ health through sensors in furniture and walls,
• detect stress, fatigue, or illness early,
• provide voice-controlled assistance for daily tasks.

If a resident’s heart rate, sleep quality, or oxygen intake changes unexpectedly, the apartment itself could alert medical staff. On Mars, your home may help save your life.

Apartments as Part of a Community

Despite the isolation of space, Martian living will not be lonely by design. Individual apartments will connect to larger residential complexes with shared spaces, including:

• communal lounges,
• gyms and exercise modules,
• greenhouses and gardens,
• shared kitchens and workspaces.

These areas will be crucial for social interaction. Humans are not meant to live in isolation, and Martian architecture will reflect that truth.

The Future of Martian Living

Over time, as technology improves and the population grows, Martian apartments will evolve. Living spaces will become larger. Transparent radiation-safe materials may allow real windows. Entire neighborhoods could exist under vast domes, with artificial skies and parks.

But in the early days, Martian apartments will represent something deeper than comfort. They will symbolize humanity’s ability to adapt—to turn an alien planet into a place that feels like home.

An apartment on Mars will not just be a shelter. It will be a carefully engineered balance between survival and humanity. And in that balance, the future of life beyond Earth will be built—one ordinary home at a time.