There was a time not long ago when homeowners wanted as much house as they could afford. In fact, they wanted as much square footage as they could afford to buy. Details and finishes were often an after-thought or not even considered because more rooms and more space was the primary focus. The bigger the house, the more luxurious in the minds of many. Now fast forward past the great recession that began in 2007, and years later the mindset of potential homeowners has changed tremendously. Downsizing to small homes has now become more popular with many homeowners. In fact, one can argue that it is considered to be a priority for people who are looking for the perfect house plans to build when space is not as important.
While the trend of decreasing square footage has become the key factor, smaller homes are not necessarily lacking in available space. With efforts to reducing the cost of home construction as well as the overall footprint of the residence, some rooms and their sizes are sacrificed in order to make the best use of the reduced square footage. With proper planning in the conceptual design phase, your home can still feel big and spacious despite being at a smaller scale. It seems that more and more homeowners are willing to make this transition when downsizing to a smaller home for their living needs.
It was once the norm to see a family looking for home plans between 3,000 and 3,499 square feet. Home designs above 3,500 sq ft ran a close second. Homeowners are now looking at the 3,000 square foot range as the maximum. House plans from 2500 to 2999 square feet has become the sweet spot for many families. This is a bit more than the national average of 1,800 sq ft, which is often what baby boomers and empty nesters look for. Homeowners are now more focused on quality and details as opposed to quantity and useless space. Downsizing to a smaller home does not mean omitting attention to detail.
What compromises are made to accommodate downsizing to a smaller home design?
The most common compromises made by homeowners when downsizing to a smaller home includes reducing square footage. This can be done in multiple rooms or by eliminating single purpose rooms. The one room that is almost unanimously protected from reduction is the kitchen. This room has become the place of family gathering over the years, so it is wise to make this room as big as the design allows. Another room is the master bedroom; however, this space is more likely to be reduced if the kitchen is in play.
Laundry rooms can also be a significant piece of the square footage math. At times it can be the size of a small bedroom, which is roughly 100 sq ft. Homeowner’s don’t see this room as a sacred cow, so it has become a space to scale back on too. The washer and dryer are more frequently being incorporated in other areas of the home. Designers use the mudroom, walk-in closets, or under a staircase for laundry rooms to save space.
What are the best options for downsizing to small home designs?
The best way to achieve a functional small house is to design it with an open floor plan layout. This design technique minimizes the use of interior walls where that are not needed. This gives a sense of space to the home making it feel larger than what it really is. Adding depth to ceilings via vaults and trays also adds to this openness.
Given the cost of energy and maintenance with owning a home, it has become clear to many homeowners that downsizing bring on savings. American homeowners know they have to cut their expenses where ever they can. This mindset has lead to what is definitely a trend in downsizing to a smaller home design. The question that remains is whether or not 2,400 square feet will remain the new small, or will future homeowners bring the small house trend even lower seeking to reduce cost. What size home do you think is enough for you and your family?
Last Updated on July 23, 2024