Small Home Living Series

The Question:

What is the average home size in the U.S.?

The Answer:

According to the National Association of Home Builders, the average home size in the United States was 2,700 square feet in 2009, up from 1,400 square feet in 1970.

—The Editors

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am starting a new blog series focused on small home/space living. It's not just for apartments, which we usually equate with living in a small space. The apartments I've seen have often been more spacious and space efficient than homes. This is intentional living in a small home WITH a family. Not two people to a 1000 sq. ft but SIX people to a home not much larger.

We are a six person family living in a 1041 sq. ft. home. We do have an unattached garage and a back yard, which in suburbia, is considered fairly 'roomy' as far as back yards and corner lots go.

The home we live in was built in 1955. Our bedrooms are small, not much space for more than a bed and modest dresser. The closets are not wall closets but the type that have narrow doors and a little space to the right and left on each side. Our living room/dining area is long and our kitchen is narrow. There are challenges and I hope to address those via this series.

Many would consider our home way to small for the amount of people in it, even though we have three bedrooms. Sometimes I do feel a bit cramped in the kitchen. Over all, though I love our home sweet home. I love that my children are always within hearing distance. I love that we usually congregate in rooms together. I think that may be what I appreciate most about small home living, the physical time we spend together. Rarely are any of us in another room alone. We actually like to be together, even if we are watching a movie or online.

The close physical proximity is one of the most beneficial reasons for intentional small home living.  Many claim there is less to clean. I don't know--cause I feel like I am always cleaning. I'll save that for one of the "challenges" posts. haha.

Here's a very interesting article written in 2006, about the rise of the personal McMansion. My how times (mainly the economy) have changed in the past five years! Many families are striving for a simpler lifestyle and intentionally downsizing.

Here is my small bedroom taken from the entry door...the door is to the laundry/dogs room.  That shelf is gone now and the room will soon have new/fresh wall decor. I'm in the process of purging. (a constant of small home living)

It's a little bare for my taste BUT it has a very peaceful feel to it. It is relaxing to be in there and it truly feels like a sanctuary. I think it just needs a little cozying up is all. :-) More furniture is not an option. What you can't see, just to the bottom left of the photo--is the closet. It's *right* there! More furniture in such a small space would just feel crowded.

Stay tuned....
for inspirations, tips & tricks, and over coming the obstacles of small home living!