Small home living is beneficial in many ways and is also very practical. It can be important, however, to use the space to it’s fullest potential. I am going to share how that can be done!
Let me just share that I am not an expert on living in small homes, however, I come from a place of experience. My husband and I lived in 450 sq ft for the first two years of marriage and then moved to our current home of 950 sq ft. We are currently a family of 5 in this space and I love it! It is comfortable, not crowded and is a beautiful place to call home.
Why live in a small home?
The average square foot of an American home as of 2021 was around 2200 sq ft. Now go back 50 years and the average square footage was close to 1660 sq ft. We have greatly increased the size of our homes, but not to much benefit. Many families do not spend more than their evenings and sleeping hours in their homes. Why have so much space to care for and manage if we are not even going to spend time in it?!
Here are a few reasons a small home is beneficial:
- less space to clean
- lower cost of living
- encourages family bonding
- less inventory to have in a home
Most of you have probably already chosen the small home path and know these reasons, so let’s get into the tips and tricks of small home living.
Keep the rooms minimal
We are a culture bombarded with “stuff”. In order to keep rooms minimal we have to have less furniture, decor, counter and floor clutter. Smaller furniture helps maintain that simple feel and also do not crowd the space. Refrain from what society says in getting more and maximize your valuable realistate.
Share a bedroom
If you have a family it is almost a must to share a space. Our two girls share a bedroom and our little boy sleeps in our master bedroom. When the time comes, all three of our kids will share a room. Being in a shared space requires us to keep less clothing, toys, etc. The closet areas are shared as well in the bedrooms, so the saying “less is more” truly needs to apply.
Keep on Decluttering
My rule of thumb is if we bring something we have to get rid of an item. If we keep collecting items in our homes and never declutter, that’s when the piles build up and we run into trouble. The money we spend on items that just sit in storage or that we think we will one day get to is wasted if we don’t even use it.
Have less clothing
When we live in a small home the closet spaces are typically not large. Keep clothing pieces in your closet that you enjoy wearing and that fit you well. I am not a 10 item capsule wardrobe gal, but I do rewear clothes often.
One other thing with bedroom closet space is that we usually have to store more than clothes in our closets. As you can see in my Small Home Tour video, we fortunately have ample storage space, but many small homes do not. Bedroom closets have to then be used for other items like blankets, extra toiletries, linens, etc.
Maximize your storage space
Using space wisely in small homes is key! Several ways we make the most of our storage space is by:
- storing off season clothes under the bed
- stacking toys in containers vertically in a closet
- using decorative picnic baskets as toy storage
- sliding storage bins under couches and chairs
- Use a dresser as a nightstand
Let the light in!
Natural light can make any space feel much bigger and more spacious. We have a nice large south facing window that I love! I open our blinds as much as possible and I honestly do not even have curtains. The window treatment is beautiful and I want to see that instead of hiding it with curtains.
Have less larger furniture
When we have small spaces, minimal and more compact furniture are very helpful. Larger pieces, of course, take up more square footage, which makes for a crowded home.
Keep kids toys simple
When it comes to having kids and all the things that can be gotten for them, keep it simple. Ask family and friends to gift them with experiences instead of toys or things that can take space in a home. Don’t get me wrong, I have toys for my three kids, however, continually getting more from other people can be a detriment to keeping a simple small home.
Also, get the family involved with decluttering and donating toys and items they no longer want or play with.
I hope this was helpful for you in ways that you can keep a small home. Our home is a place that I love and want to care for. Having a small house just means I can give it that much more affection and care!
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