Not sure you want to live in a small home? These 7 reasons why small homes are the best will convince you there’s no better way to live!
In the last decade, there seems to be more of a focus on larger, more grandiose homes. A lot of people’s vision of a “dream home” is that of a larger one, and many overlook the benefits of a smaller home. Larger homes have become status symbols and ways to impress others, as smaller homes sometimes get ridiculed for their “less impressive” ways. As a small homeowner, I am here to debunk this societal perspective, and give 7 reasons why small homes are the best.
In this post, you’ll be given different perspectives and positive points revolving around small-home living.
After reading this post, you’ll hopefully be able to see the attraction of the small-home lifestyle, and may even consider buying a small home yourself!
Small-Home Lifestyle
Small-home living truly is a lifestyle. From being creative with small-space organization to only buying what you need, small-home living can be a dream for some and a nightmare for others. As there are both pros and cons to any home, living the small-home lifestyle has some things that a bigger home won’t ever have, no matter how large the square footage.
Recently, my husband and I bought our first home together. It is one-story, and 1,000 square feet of function and cuteness. I always knew I wanted a smaller home. But, I will admit, when we first bought this house I was leery of the lack of storage, and smaller rooms. However, once we got settled in, I realized just how much I love our small home, and how it works for our lifestyle. It keeps us honest when it comes to clutter, and is easy for us to maintain. We were able to furnish and decorate it without breaking the bank, and have everything we need.
As we approach a year of living here, I am going to share 7 reasons why small homes are the best, based on my personal experience!
7 Reasons Why Small Homes Are The Best
1. Intentional Living
With a smaller home, there’s no room for “extras.” Too much decor and furniture can quickly make a home feel very cluttered, and there isn’t a whole lot of room to store items that are not frequently used. This forces you to pare down your belongings, and to only keep what is really useful and sentimental. Not only does this provide a clutter-free space, but it ensures that you only have what you really want, eliminating the headache of having too much stuff.
In addition to this, having a small home leads to more mindful purchasing. Small homes don’t allow for the storage of an abundance of things, so intentionally buying items is a must. Buying intentionally not only saves you money, but it helps you choose things that you really love or truly need. There have been so many times when I think I need something, but don’t purchase it due to a lack of storage space. I always end up realizing that I did not in fact need this item, and saved myself money and space in the end.
Buying with intention when living in a small home makes every purchase more satisfying, and stops a lot of needless stuff from entering your home. Everything you have and buy has a home, which creates an organized environment. You treat the space you have with more mindfulness, and think about the long-term storage and use of a product before you add it to your cart.
2. Less To Maintain
Less house, less work. Now that I am a homeowner, I have a new appreciation for the phrase “keep it simple.” I never had to care for a home before, only an apartment, and the amount of work that needed to be done went up exponentially when we moved into our home. From maintaining a driveway and yard, to home improvement projects, there is ALWAYS SOMETHING to do. The upside of this is since our home is small, the magnitude of each project is manageable and never takes more than a couple of hours.
This goes for both indoors and outdoors. When it comes to outdoor maintenance, our yard is small, our driveway is short, and our landscaping is minimal. If we DO want to do more landscaping or outdoor improvements of any kind, we only need a small amount of supplies since everything is so reasonably sized. When it comes to indoor maintenance, keeping up on that “to-do” list is not overwhelming because when you have less things, there’s less to fix or do.
Having a smaller home/property means smaller projects and less work, allowing for more time to actually enjoy your home. Rather than spending the weekends doing lawn work or maintaining rooms that never get used, you get to kick up your feet and relax knowing everything is in its place. As some home maintenance can be enjoyable, it can also become overwhelming and steal all your free time if your home is large. Because of this, small homes provide a more manageable environment that you can control, rather than it controlling you!
3. High Coziness Factor
This isn’t to say that larger homes can’t be cozy. However, there is a certain charm to small homes that larger homes just can’t compete with. Having a less vast home creates a more welcoming, homey feeling that immediately puts you at ease. Small homes wrap you up, and there is something so comforting about living in a smaller home. Having smaller rooms also adds to the level of coziness, as furniture will be closer together which eliminates useless, large spaces. Each square foot is being used, and is filled with something that contributes to the cozy feel of your home.
4. Lower Costs
This goes for all areas of a home; heating, electricity, mortgage, repairs, furniture… the list goes on. Having a smaller home requires much less resources, and allows you to put that money toward savings. Utilities for a smaller home are much lower than those of a large home, and when needed repairs pop up, it costs a fraction of the price. This makes your “emergency fund” last longer, and it can be used for more than just one repair or project.
The down payment and mortgage of a smaller home is much less intimidating as well. Being a first-time home buyer, the appeal of this was enough to draw us in, and keeps our monthly cost of living very manageable. This will allow you to save money, and in our case, is one of the reasons why I am able to be a homemaker. When your housing costs are not more than you can handle, you will feel lighter and more free. Having a small home provides you with the opportunity to save more money and pay off other debts, which will lead to more financial security and freedom.
5. Proximity
Need to wash your sheets? The washer is conveniently five steps away from your bed! Small homes are FULL of proximity perks such as this. In a smaller home, everything is closer and more accessible. Not a huge perk in the scheme of things, but once you experience it, you’ll realize just how great it is!
Having everything closer together makes daily chores easier. For instance, when cooking a meal, getting all the needed items as you cook will be much more convenient in a smaller kitchen. Everything is only a few steps away, and eliminates the hassle of going back and forth for forgotten items! Having everything you might need or want close by is part of the convenience of a small home.
6. Less To Clean
Undeniably the best part of a small home. Less house = less cleaning! Cleaning a small home takes a fraction of the time it would to clean a larger home, and is much easier to stay on top of. Cleaning a small home will also take less effort and less cleaning supplies! It’s an overall win. It is less overwhelming, and is easier to “speed clean” and quickly tidy up. Interested in learning about the products I use to clean my small home with? Read my post, “18 Cleaning Essentials You Need To Make Your House Sparkle.”
Since there are minimal rooms, you can create a simple cleaning routine that won’t require spending hours cleaning every day. Quick touch up here, quick tidy up there, and you’re done! Keeping on top of cleaning a small space is so manageable, and allows you time to do other, more important things.
7. Every Room Gets Use
What’s the point of having three living rooms if you can only use one at a time? No matter how large the house is, we tend to gravitate toward only one or two areas. Using these areas becomes a habit, and once we get in this routine, those other rooms usually stay pretty empty of life. In our 1,000 square foot home, we use probably about 700 square feet on the daily. Master bedroom & bathroom, kitchen, living room. That’s the extent of our living quarters, and it works just fine! Having more rooms would not change the fact that we sit in our living room at night, it would just mean more dormant space!
On top of this, you’re closer to the ones you love. Living in a small home means being near each other most of the time, since there is only one single living room to attract all members of the household. Rather than being in separate rooms and hollering to each other, you’re able to spend quality time together in one space.
If you are currently living in a small home or are contemplating downsizing, hopefully this post highlights the reasons why small homes are the best! From lower costs to more intentional living, small homes provide unique benefits that will heighten your quality of living.
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