Living Large In Small Spaces
By Jenn (TinyChoices.com) | March 25, 2008
There’s so much talk about smaller living spaces these days- it’s one of the biggest green changes one can make, because less square footage means less space to heat and cool, clean, furnish, and light- which translates to less pollution every which way you cut it.
I live in an approximately 750 square foot 2-bedroom apartment, and it’s more than enough space for me, my roomate, and my ginormous cat. By New York City standards this place is practically palatial, and I don’t ever really feel like I need more room-though I do miss having outside space, but that’s not going to happen until I bid the city adeiu.
I grew up in a suburban nook within the city limits, in a 3-bedroom house which was home to 5 of us. There was lots of shared space and places to be, enough room to have big family holiday gatherings, and it never really felt like we were top of one another. There was a backyard, front yard, garage, attic and basement- generally your pretty typical suburban-type upbringing, I think- and I was totally shocked when my dad recently told me that the square footage of that house is only a little more than double that of my current apartment. It doesn’t really seem possible- the house still seems way bigger than that to me, and it’s made me wonder about the need for all those McMansions people seem to keep building. Is more space really better? Or does it just serve to fuel the barriers and walls that people build around themselves, making us more detached from family, neighbors, and community?
Then there’s this couple who’s living in a 436-sq ft one bedroom apartment in Manhattan, along with their lil’ baby (who sleeps in a sling, how awesome). I’m not entirely sure I could go quite that small, but props to them for making it work. People live in small spaces the world over- I’m a big fan of Mongolian yurts, but imagine living with your extended family in one round room?-and somehow, despite our larger square footage, we’re the ones with the fastest-crumbling family structures.
How big is your home? And, do you feel like it’s a suitable size for you, your people, and your stuff?
[Image by Jurek D. via Creative Commons]
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My husband and I live in a 1927 one bed apartment. The size is fine for the both of us. It has the smallest kitchen and bathroom I ever used, but it works. Only thing is since it’s such an old apartment, the storage/closet space is so small, so a lot of our stuff it out in the open. It has taught me that owning less is so much better and easier.
My husband and two daughters and I (and our little dog) live in about 2000 square feet of house. It’s from the 1920′s and gorgeous. It doesn’t feel super home though as I think it’s too big for us. We are wondering if we’d be happier moving back to something smaller (our last house was 1300 square feet but that included the basement) or what. Part of the problem is we now have room for “stuff”. Way too much stuff is accumulating here and I feel overwhelmed. I feel like I’m constantly taking bags to goodwill and then bringing more new stuff in. Anyway, that’s us.
Hey Kelly! This is a fascinating thought, that your current home is just too big to feel homey. I know the feeling of being overwhelmed by “stuff”, and it feels so good to just keep trying to purge it out of my life. Keep us posted on your decision to stay/move!
I’m not sure how big my apartment is - maybe 300 to 400 sq ft? it seems really big for me. I would love a space to house guests, but I know I would just fill it with more stuff. as it is, the basement storage space is a terrible “stuff” enabler!
I have no idea how big your apartment is, either! It seems really, really spacious to me. I’d also love another room for guests, and also wouldn’t mind a living room that was bigger than a thimble… but it works, for now, for me, you know? And I’ve been starting to purge the “stuff” lately and it feels so good!
I’m glad you think it seems spacious, because I feel like it’s jam packed with stuff! I definately don’t have room to bring anything else in, and every month or so I try to take a bunch of stuff OUT.
My house is 1400 sq ft + a full basement. No attic as it is a Cape. Overall space is great for us (myself, fiancee, cat & dog. Would be nice if the kitchen were bigger and perhaps the dining room, but that is specific space needs, not overall square footage needs.
Small front yard, and large backyard (.3 or so acres total property).
I miss the many benefits of Astoria, but not the 600 sq feet of space in the apartment. It wasn’t a bad place at all, but didn’t allow for much organization of things, nor separate living/work spaces for the two of us.
Being able to step outside into my yard is incomparable (I grew up in an apt in Flushing, so never had that previously).
Jenn, I too have a hard time believing your folks’ place is around 1500 sq ft. Under 2000 probably, but I remember it as a pretty big house. Not extra rooms, but the rooms were sizable. Maybe I was just a youngun’ back then and had no idea :)
Hey ck!
I know, isn’t it shocking to find out how not-big that house is?? But pops said that he looked at the deed recently and the house is only like 1700 sq feet or something crazy like that. Doesn’t really make any sense to me, to be honest…
Not sure of square footage here, maybe 750? A loft space for 2 people and 3 cats. Puh-lenty. We could do with less, even, but we’re happy here, 5 years and counting. If (big if) we ever buy, we won’t be looking for more space, but good use of space.
My husband and I and our greyhound live in a 900 sq. ft., 2 bedroom apartment in Chicago, and we LOVE it. It is the perfect size home for us, the building is pretty energy efficient, and we have a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan.
We have always felt committed to living in a small space - we don’t need to use any more energy than we have to, and we enjoy community living in our condo building - and the units surrounding us certainly help insulate us in the colder months.
Smaller spaces force you to choose your belongings carefully, and not let them overrun our space. And we’re glad to escape the tasks of maintaining a house/lawn and spend our free time strolling through the neighborhood with the dog or visiting our favorite neighborhood spots. It works.
Plus, while we have many house guests, they’re not inclined to stay longer than a night or two, as there’s only so long you want to sleep on an air mattress in the middle of the living area. Works for me. ;)
I live in an approx. 950 sq. ft., 2 bedroom home with my fiance and teenage daughter. It’s the perfect size for us. Part of the basement is finished, and we have a crawlspace, attic and backyard shed for storage. It’s pretty tiny, yet everyone can escape to their own space if they need to.
On those rare days when we all need to get ready at the same time I sometimes wish we had a second bathroom. Other times I feel an urge to host a get-together and wish we had a dining room.
I really wouldn’t want anything bigger, though. And we have a really nice sized yard, so we just need to keep our entertaining limited to the summer. And maybe someday one of us will be desperate enough to try out that creepy stand-alone shower in the middle of the unfinished half of the basement!
The best way to make space, is to have less stuff and organize as well as those people who write books and film shows about organizing space better ;) … then you don’t need as much SQ footage. I have prefered smaller homes for years cause the bigger the space the more waste, the more to clean, the more I am inclined to collect things i don’t need(thrift junky). And i too feel it’s more homey in a smaller more intimate space.
Keeping space very zen, with less furniture helps too. I only have a few small pieces to lug around when i move, and it keeps my place less cluttered. :)
We have 5 of us (2 adults 2 kids 1 dog) in abt 1400 sq ft. As some PPs have mentioned, we might like a diff configuration of our space (ie missing an office at the moment, not a lot of space to have, say, an extended family dinner, no guest bedroom) but the *amount* of space we have is definitely livable and enjoyable for us. In fact, I would say that we don’t use the bedroom floors much except to sleep. So we spend the vast majority of our time pretty happily in 700 of the sq footage.
My mom lives in a 250 sq foot two room cottage with three cats. She loves it. She also lives almost off the grid without electricity or land-line phone (she does has gas for heat, hot water, and stove).
I’m not sure of the exact size of our urban duplex but I feel it’s a bit too big for us, or that a lot of it is useless space. The basement with it’s work area and storage and laundry room is useful, and the kitchen works out well. The dining room is currently the living room (smaller and warmer in the winter, better light) but the living room is more of a catch all space. One thing is that my SO and I like to have our own rooms (keeps us sane), so I think I’d always want to be in either a three bedroom or a place that has two distinct spaces for each of us to have “me” space.
In my dreams I have a large old house with lots of windows and rooms and not a lot of stuff, just space. I always felt cramped growing up in a small ranch house, which I think fueled the large house desire.
i have no idea how big our place is but it is a tad too small for us, mostly because we have lots of hobbies and i work at home. i would like 900 or 1000 square feet just so i have room to make things and not feel like i always have to clean up after myself immediately. it’s hard to craft in a small space and the mr. would really like more room to screen print.
i don’t think i could ever imagine living in a really big place though. i would be happy with one more room and a little backyard.
[...] Living Large In Small Spaces Tiny Choices Posted by root 22 hours ago (http://tinychoices.com) Small front yard and large backyard 3 or so acres total property part of the basement is finished and we have a crawlspace attic and backyard shed for storage reply to this comment comment by leslie the oko box tiny choices is proudly powered by wordpress Discuss | Bury | News | living large in small spaces tiny choices [...]
[...] As the seasons start to change and we take the opportunity to nestle into our homes and get comfortable, how about using this time to get organized as well? While you’re cleaning up, go ahead and figure out what you have around the home so you can use it. For example: if you have a hobby such as knitting or crochet, use an online organizational site such as Ravelry to keep track of all the yarn you have so you can use it up, instead of buying more. Go through your kitchen cabinets to refresh yourself of what you have hidden in the dark corners, and maybe bring a bag of food that just isn’t your speed to a local food pantry. As you go through your things try to repurpose idle items or give them away. Extreme case: maybe it will be a not-so-tiny lifestyle change and you can reassess your required living space! [...]
I live in a 405 square foot condo about 25 miles northwest on Phoenix. It’s th perfect size for me. It has one bedroom, a super tiny kitchen (no oven - just a two-burner stove). I managed to fit a dining room table into the space that will seat eight without making the space feel crowded. I have a queen size bed, night stands and dresser. My living room has a full size sofa and recliner, with a coffee table which holds my big screen TV. I’m actually envious of people who live in smaller spaces.
Jon, we want to see pictures!! :)
HI, read your comment on small spaces about your Mom. How does she heat water? I am 59 wanting to live off the “Grid”/ She single?….Joe
I’m getting ready to move into a 200sq foot studio (TINY HOUSE) and I cant wait. it is laid out so cute and has a large out door space also a retractable sky light . The owner is the nicest man ever , he is putting a new heater in for me and new windows. It is 10 blks from the ocean and 3 from the bay in San Diego Ca. It will be a challange at first but I can hardly wait.