Problems? View it online here
Spacious Small Spaces!
Housing trends have changed dramatically since the 40’s and 50’s. In 1950, the average size home was 1065 square feet with an average of 3-4 people living in the home. In the year 2000, the average size home was 2266 with 2-3 people living in the home. In 50 years, we have tripled the amount of square footage per person. More house, less people. Why? Less people, more stuff. Bigger is better, right?
Actually, 2000 – 2500 square foot homes would be reasonable considering the 4000 plus square foot homes we normally see in magazines, home shows and parades, in many of our new neighborhoods and for some, even in our own home. The reality is that many people who build really large homes end up finding a disconnection in the family unit. A smaller, well designed home can be pleasant to live in, easier and cheaper to maintain and can serve to keep families more connected
How can you get smaller?
- Get rid of your
stuff and don’t buy more! Ok, that is a hard to break habit that
can take some time and willingness, but it can be done! As an old saying
goes, “If you haven’t used it in a year, do you really need it?”
- Don’t build for resale, build for yourself. Realtors will tell you what you need in your home and these ideas are generally sound, intelligent ideas. However, often times they will also increase your footage. If designed well it will sell.
- Eliminate one time use per year rooms. In stead of having formal and informal dining areas, you may create an open kitchen and dining area that suite your entertaining needs. Use visual room dividers rather than walls.
- Create spaces with a double duty. Eliminate hallways, or make them a functional space as well as a traffic way. You may desire to have a library and a home office. A creative design may work this into a hall way with a row of bookshelves on one side and a hideaway office nook on the other. Utilize space from hallways, stairways, adjoining rooms or views to the out doors to expand your space.
- Get the most out of your space. Ask yourself "How do I really live?" and "What do I need in my home vs. what do I want?”
- Create outdoor living spaces. Outside spaces are cheap! Try outdoor covered and screened patios. Create breezeways that separate the main part of your home from the guest and game room that can also serve as sitting areas to take advantage of cool summer breezes. Incorporate outdoor living into your lifestyle by considering outdoor kitchens, outdoor dining areas, outdoor living areas and even outdoor showers.
Have you ever been inside a home that didn’t feel big, but was 3800 square feet? It was likely the subject of poor design. You don’t have to look far to find great examples of small spaces that work; such as yachts, trains, efficiency apartments, travel trailers and recreational vehicles. All of these examples take advantage of every bit of space available for some useful function. We can look to those examples for how we can approach building living space for ourselves that is more realistic, workable, comfortable and beautifully designed.
Check out our website
Contact Cammi Klier at 512.330.9309
or cklier@cdshomedesign.com
 |
 |