smoore I think a person could live in a small place easily. Add in a significant other, kids, pets etc and live in 220 sq ft? I wouldn't want to attempt it.

Cathy Lara 220 is pretty small but 500-700 sq ft might be doable and enough for people who live in homes according to how they spend time in it 80% of the time (sleeping, eating, lounging) as opposed to how they spend it 20% of the time (entertaining during the holidays or having sleepover guests).

LOCZIdesign This is a great post. Very informative and full of possibility if done right and willing to make the simple-life sacrifice...

gharatani I forget who said it, but it seems that the more space one has, the more clutter one accumulates. My friend has a garage literally full of 'bargains'!
I like to study sailboat and RV floorplans to see how to maximize efficiency and make certain things do double duty. There used to be a website that showed some clever designs for turning doors into desks, storage, etc. Minimal sq. ft. living requires some changes in attitude and habits, but I like the challenge of paring down one's life to essentials and designing to that paradigm and preserving open space for all.
Sure it helps not to have kids, but there are many societies that live in single rooms with them, (yurts for instance).
There is some great stuff coming out of the determination that shelter at its core is not an excuse for grandiosity. The McMansion craze was a pretty clear indicator of trying to fill emptiness inside. Thank god Sarah Susanka made small cool again for the masses.

Cathy Lara This UCLA CELF study on middle-class homes and the challenges we're facing when trying to combat clutter, junk and our obsession with stuff is pretty enlightening:

http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/celf-seven-common-challenges.aspx


And I don't think it's just the middle-class that has this problem. When I peek into the garages of crazy expensive homes near my neighborhood, they're just as cluttered.

Roots and Rafters It would certainly be do-able if it was just me, but since my husband and I both work from home we'd go a bit batty if we had to do it in a small space.

When we lived in NYC we had the choice of taking a tiny studio apartment with an enormous roof deck and beautiful view of Manhattan, or a larger 1-br apartment with no outdoor space and an ugly view of a brick wall and our neighbor's kitchen. To save our sanity, we chose the 1-br.

I've always wondered whether we would have stayed married if we'd chosen the studio. :)

Darzy I think small spaces like this are perfect for a young person who would like to be independent and have their own space that is affordable. Many young people do not stay home much anyway and have yet to accumilate a bunch of "Stuff" that clutters. Surely, they will soon outgrow the space and will look for something larger. Personally, I couldn't live in a space this small because I'm a big clostrophpic...well maybe if the walls were "glass" with two way mirror. Now, that would be "open" feeling!

1annabelle No

Iyare I I couldnt do it. I need room and space. I definitely couldnt do it if I werent alone

babyb I got a reality check when I moved into a 430 Sqft studio in DC some years ago, which was $1400 per month, cheapest place I could afford. I quickly learned all the things, I actually didn't wear, and learned to downsize. Now I have a much larger place, but still NEVER acquire useless things/clothes. When I hear people talk about how much space they need, it kind of makes me chuckle.

olldbobbi If I were alone, I could possibly do it. But I would spend a lot more time away from home, that's for sure.

John Hill gharatani's comment about looking at sailboat and RV plans for maximizing space is a good one. It reminded me of Le Corbusier's Petit Cabanon that he built in southern France. It's tiny, but it works similar to a ship's cabin in terms of compact storage and flexibility.

gharatani I like that Le Corbusier example and raise you one Bucky Fuller bathroom! Not good for accessibility, but a great study in efficient floor planning.

olldbobbi And I'll raise you one Bucky Fuller bathroom for this! [houzz=
]

Note the sink in the toilet tank!

gharatani I used to sell Ifo toilets from Sweden that had that built-in sink available. I think the Japanese figured that one out (of course). I always flush my toilet with water collected from my shower so I figure I'm good. A lot of RVs do that toilet in the shower trick, but my wife won't have it. Can't imagine why, some feng shui rule? Bathrooms really eat a lot of space up as they address the most vexing issues with fixed bulky fixtures used only infrequently. Very few tiny house designers get this resolved well. Definitely worth the effort though. Cheers.

kateskouros No thank you. And i've grown tired of the influx of articles trying to guilt me into believing our family of four could do without our sizeable home and yard, in exchange for something not even suitable to serve as a closet. My "less is more" way of thinking thankfully vanished when I grew up and learned, that more is in fact, more.

durden62 A PRISON CELL WITH OUT THE BARS IT HAS BEEN DONE FOR YEARS BRAKE THE LAW AND TRY IT OUT

olldroo I just think of the housework I wouldn't have to do, but of course the smaller the space, the more organised one has to be - a place for everything and everything in its place otherwise it would be chaos.

The only aspect that concerns me when authorities change building codes to allow denser development is frequently the failure to look at the big picture, and the effect of doubling or tripling the population in an area can have on existing infrastructure. It seems to be develop first and worry about traffic congestion, lack of public transport and other amenities when things can no longer be ignored.

olldroo Bobbi - I actually considered one of those combination toilet/hand basins for my toilet. It is separate to the bathroom but I don't have room for a basin - back when we built, the small basins hadn't been designed - and it is handly to have the separate basin if the bathroom is being used. The basin is totally separate to the tank, the water just drains into the tank to be flushed into the toilet - just have to remember to wash hands first, flush second.

patricia beharry A lot depends on the climate in which you live. In a cold climate it can be challenging. In a year round warm or hot climate, one is never inside, hence the outdoor living spaces. See that hammock under the tree?

olldbobbi Patricia, really good point!

wallsproperties I'm a designer / contractor and my family of four lives in 650 s.f. above my wives restaurant. It works, but an extra 200-300 s.f. would have been more practical, allowing each to have our own room. the problem in a unit this small is storage. we have lots of storage, but not enough.

olldbobbi wallsproperties, you're scaring me. Do you mean wife's? Or do you have more than one? Just kidding, natch.

pallu I thought the idea given here are superb,too best for 220 sq ft,,,,it's amazing....very good designing by the interior...

coligny As said, it's a matter of climate... in tropical or cold climate, outdoor= certain death.

olldbobbi coligny, certain death! Funny, but true.

Mark Kruger I'M IN THE PROCESS, NOW, OF DESIGNING A 225 SQ./FT. TRAILER FOR EXTENDED TRAVELS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH MY FIANCE'. AS WITH ALL SPACES, THEI ARE THREE-DIMENDIONAL BOUNDARIES THAT CANNOT BE CROSSED. MY OWN DECADES-LONG EXPERIENCE NEVER PREPARED ME FOR "GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT", ENGINE TORQUE, AND "PULLING POWER" OF MY HUMMER, CELL PHONE AND TELEVISION COVERAGE LIMITATIONS AND HOW TO BOOST SIGNAL STRENGTH, ETC. WE'LL ALSO HAVE TO PROVIDE OUR OWN "OFF THE GRID" ELECTRICAL POWER.

I MUST SAY, THIS ONE PROJECT HAS BROUGHT WITH IT A VAST NUMBER OF UNIQUE ROBLEMS, AND NEW KINDS OF SOLUTIONS THAN ANYTHING I'VE EVER DONE BEFORE

THE CEILING HEIGHTS ARE QUITE LOW AT BOTH ENDS OF THE AERODYNAMIC, TUBULAR WEDGE, WHICH IS THE TRAILER., IMPACTING THE BATH, THE BALCONY STUDY (YES, A SECOND FLOOR WITH 7'-0" CEILING") AND BEDROOM AT THE REAR. SPACE PLANNING HAS NEVER BEEN MORE DEMANDING. WITH STORAGE BUILT UNDER THE BEDROOM FLOOR, A SHORTER "WALK-IN" BATHTUB FOR "GREY-WATER" RECYCLING TO A TOILET THAT CAN UTILIZE THE "DIRTY" WATER FOR FLUSHING HUMAN WASTE. THE BATHROOM WASH BASIN IS BUILT INTO THE TOP OF THE TOILET.

I'M INVESTING MUCH, AND RECYCLING MUCH, OF MY ORIENTAL "ZEN"-LIKE FURNITURE TO COUNTER THE CONSTRICTED,COMPRESSED LIFE-STYLE AND SPACE..

GORGEOUS JAPANESE-MADE WOODEN END-TABLES, SHOJI SCREEN DOORS EVERYWHERE SO THAT FILTERED LIGHT/SHADOW INFUSES INTERCONNCTED ROOMS, SWAGS OF TIBETAN PRAYER FLAGS SWEEPING UP FROM THE FORESHORTENED BEDROOM IN THE REAR, TO THE SECOND FLOOR STUDY EMPHASIZE THE RELATIVELY TALL CENTER OF THE SLOPED SPACE, WHICH IS THE LIVING ROOM. BRIGHT RED (DISTRESSED) PAINT AND CABINETRY, BLACK ACCENTS, LOVELY SRTIATED TEAK OR TAN TATAMI MAT FLOORING HELP TO REINFORCE THE ORIENTALISM.

ploefff I think the problem is that people don't take the time to think about how they actually use their home but if you do a little math you'll see how little space you actually need.

My personal calculation looks like this: In a day I work/commute 9 hours, sleep 8 hours, cook for 1 hour, 1 hour of bathroom/shower time and spend the remaining 5 hours of time either being out of the house or sitting in my favourite spot of the couch. So in rough estimates I space wise as one person physically take up roughly 20 sq ft of sleeping space (twin bed) 10 sq ft of sitting space, 30 sq ft of cooking space (for stove, fridge/freezer, sink and standing room) and 20 sq ft of bathroom space + 40 sq ft for storage of clothes/cooking gear and such which which ads up to 120 sq ft. Now that's the space I NEED then there's the space I'd like to have so I can walk around and don't feel like I'm living in a small box.
I have been living in a 480 sq ft 1 bedroom apartment for the last 11 years but renting out the bedroom for 6 of them so in effect that takes it down to 360 sq ft of living space I have access to.

The attentive mathleet might object with a:"Well where do you eat your food?" I sit on the couch which is also my bed. I have a queen size boxspring that I built some armrests and a back for so I can sleep comfortably and have an extra big space for sitting so I can curl up with my blanket. When I moved in I did have a dinning table and 4 chairs but it ended up as a clutter station so I gave it away. Instead I have a folding table and chairs for those rare occasions I have guests over for a meal.
My (now) husband moved in earlier this year and not having a dinning table is an issue but we now have some extra space (roomie out + husband in = added 120 sq ft) so we are looking for one to put in the living/bedroom. Also we opted for keeping the bed/couch and instead turning the extra room into an office for him and craftroom for me.

I realize that percieved need for space varies greatly depending on where you live in the world. Here in Denmark especially in Copenhagen a standard apartment is a 1 bedroom 500 sq ft apartment which means for me it doesn't seem that small and I'm even lucky enough to have a 20 sq ft bathroom which mens I don't have to take showers on top of the toilet which is more the norm than the exception here and people are happy with this because at least you have a bathroom and don't have to share a toilet with your neighbour and shower in the buildings communal shower either in the basement or attic.

The reason for this is most apartment building here are 80 to 100 years old and back then a luxurios spa like feel was not what they were going for. In the last 15 years or so a major public renovation project has been going on in the city where apartments are being rebuilt to up the standard of living which amoung things means installing private bathrooms. This is slowly doing away with the shared baths however the way apartments are layed out doesn't always leave room for more than the 10 sq foot shower on top of the toilet solution.

Living in small spaces means getting creative with storage and here boat and RV solutions are good to use as refrences to give you a starting point. I included some pictures of my folding chairs stored behind the kitchen door and the shelf above my bed with boxes that store the not so heavy items like my bag collection, summer shoes and extra linen, duvets and pillows for guests. It's all about reevaluating every nook and cranny.

simplycharmed All this small living is great for those who can afford the custom made furnishings, moving ladders, etc., but completely unrealistic! I agree with kateskouros and durden62.

ploefff oh still have doubts? check out Gary Changs "domestic transformer":

trasgorshek I think it's a fine tuned balance. If you have a small space but spend a lot of time on the go, due to size, then your spending a good amount of money out. Almost everytime you leave the house it costs money. Sure you can walk and not take a taxi or the subway but you still spend the money at a restaurant or movie, etc. Sure, you would still spend money on groceries if you were home, but how much...always a balance. Don't get me wrong, I know you can do things out that don't cost money...believe me, we have found them all. I'm just saying you have to know the balance. If you spend a lot of money going out verses in then you could be spending that money for a bigger place and stay in, possibly save. All depends on circumstances and where the balance is at. Especially if there is a family involved, entertainment costs go way up due to the number of people.

Diversified Planning and Design I used to live part time on a 30 foot sail boat. Habitating such a small space is a good lesson in resourcefulness. You have to deal with and plan for things like clutter, trash, cooking, cleaning, and sleeping before they happen. 220 feet for one may work, but you may need an additional 100 feet for each additional person. Also, I live in an area where the average house size for the entire city is about 4000 feet. Living small and the promotion of living small is a difficult concept for most.

Mark Kruger thanks, T. I'll be posting photos of this unique trailer in a few months time.

smorgenstern Liked your report. Wish you would have shown more photos so I could get some ideas. I have moved from a 6500 squ foot home and down-sized to 1500 squ feet. Now, my friend and I have moved to a 36 foot motor home AND I LOVE it. It is a challange, however I have more time, less maintenance around the house, less space to fill up with "stuff". As a designer I miss not having so much room for an other project. For now, I am planing to update the motor home with modern and chic fabrics and new window treatments. Any tips from the people living in small spaces are very welcome.

huned52 Good piece of information, where land cost is high & also good for small family!!!

sailnmuffin I've spent the last 10 years living with my husband aboard a 40 foot sailboat that comprises 225 sf belowdecks. I am now spending half the year living on shore with my husband in a 22 foot travel trailer that comprises 157 sf inside. It is TIGHT. By way of comparison, the legal per-person minimum for a prison cell is 48 sf - but of course that space does NOT include shower, dining and cooking facilities which is of course included in a sailboat & a travel trailer.

Anyway, I agree with the posts that pointed out that living in a small space can save you $$$ by eliminating the possibility of accumulating consumer goods;and can allow you to save/plan for life's next stages. HOWEVER, I notice that it's almost impossible to find anyone who's living in a tiny space- say, less than 500 sf, who's not single. After 10 years of tiny-space living with another adult human, the biggest irritant is the complete absence of privacy. If one person wants to get something out of a cabinet, the other person must move. If one person eats something that disagrees with them, the other person lives with the results. Taking care of personal matters becomes a group event. Injuries or disabilities become extremely difficult or impossible to manage, in a tiny space. The only solution is for each person to change their habits to spend a lot of time outside the actual tiny living space. So in that sense, micro-living is definitely not for everyone - especially if you have a partner and/or children and/or mobility problems.

Fun fact: after 10 years, Hubs & I need a break from micro-living: we have enough $$$ saved from our micro-life that we're building a 1400sf house to live in for half the year during hurricane season when we can't sail our boat. But we're still keeping the boat & traveling in it, so this 50-50 living will be the next stage of our lives...

Peter Medvin As this article shows, small space design is gaining its rightful place with architects and designers the world over as people realize that their lifestyles can actually improve as they downsize and simplify. Although "multi use and disappearing furnishings", i.e., convertible furniture, is covered here, no mention is made of technology and its emerging contribution to good small space design. One example where this is the case is Zoom-Room (www.Zoom-Room.com), the electronic, remote controlled, retractable Murphy Bed. Updating the Murphy Bed concept by adding an automatic component, and offering the added benefit of being able to use the space in front (for a high-tech flat screen TV, for instance), allows folks living in smaller spaces to maximize what they have without sacrificing lifestyle!

cathg Layout is everything! Not all 200 square-feet apartments are created equal. Windows are also everything. One room with a huge window plays twice as big as a room with two smaller windows. I also think that a square room feels more spacious than a narrow room of the same square-footage.

High ceilings can also double the "feel" of a place. Thus I am not a fan of the sleeping loft. Would rather keep the bed in the room.

I recently saw someone's space: huge window (6x6) looking into treetops, very high ceilings, square room - no separate kitchen, just a tiny alcove. The room was only about 15' square and felt extremely spacious. Held a queen-sized bed, small sofa, side tables, large desk, and large bookcase, and still managed to feel large and roomy and airy and open. Don't ask me how.

I would have added a couple of folding butterfly chairs for company and a poof or two. I would have put up a curtain on a track to hide the kitchen alcove when not in use. Maybe a folding table tucked away for dinner guests.

I could have lived in that room for the rest of my life! But only would work for a single person, imo.

wallsproperties Bobbi P. oh my - A typo for sure - one wife is more than enough.

bleeps3 What I'm struggling with is the apparent need to hire a designer and/or buy custom-built furniture in order to make these spaces really liveable. If the units are meant for people who could afford more but who are choosing to live this way, that's one thing. (Just like the rest of the green/sustainability movement, the sad reality seems to be that it takes money -- sometimes -- to live that way [junk food being cheaper out-of-pocket than organics, etc.]) But if these units are intended to serve the low- or lower-income segment of the market, expecting that people can afford to do what it takes to make the space truly work seems unreasonable to me.

Hidden Vision This space is where the hidden TV mount works. You have a picture on one side of the mount and on the other is the TV.

Berkeley Orton Interesting idea. It would require some modification of building codes to achieve a 200 sq. ft. living space but is certainly doable in 400 or 500 sq.ft.

olldroo Well from a senior's perspective, I'm afraid one does need a certain amount of space as one ages. Sadly, I am learning fast - way too fast. Ladders are out, so high storage is not an option, comfort and support in bedding and seating is vital as is a proper meal area and drawers more practical than cupboards - especially low ones. Tight spaces are also to be avoided, especially in bathrooms, to allow easy movement and general safety - more so as eyesight diminishes. I prefer to wear bifocals for ease but they actually distort distances. I'm also thinking zimmer frames, but don't want to go there.

Lara, I checked out the UCLA website and quite frankly I was horrified, I really think people need to totally reassess their priorities. I know clothing, toys and such are very inexpensive in the US compared to other countries which makes it easy to overpurchase but I still can't help but be appalled by the absolute waste not just of the items themselves, but of the resources used to create such items. I honestly feel a huge reality check is needed. Just because you have space you don't have to fill it up or spend money just because you have it or your credit card is not maxed out.

When it comes to buying in bulk, sure it is a great idea, we had bulk grocery buying many years ago that for some reason failed but my neighbours and I worked together and shared things so we had the savings benefits without the storage problems. Now we have a Costco, I have seen families there buying together and sharing - maybe the fact that we don't have basements and attics makes us more resourceful.

patricia beharry OOOOHHHH Hurricane Ivan!!! How may people can stay in a 250 SF house? You would be surprised. And they were thankful for it. But , in an emergency every hole is a port.

lydiahope76 My family of five just went from about 1000 s.f. to 2800 s.f. We moved from the country to the city and bought a repo for a song. Here in the Midwest the winters are harsh and the summers brutal, so there isn't much outdoor living six months out of the year. In our smaller house we were on top of each other all the time. Not fun. I've had enough of downsizing. I like my big house, thank you very much. If it were just me, now that's a different story.

imissliberty "Although the skeptic in me is concerned how these units will benefit landowners and people with money" -- I don't understand. Does the author think that the landlord - tenant relationship is win - lose? All free market contracts are win - win. That's the whole benefit of freedom in the marketplace: everybody wins.

Jennifer Long I lived in a house 147 square feet quite comfortably....it's called a TRAILER! You just don't collect a lot of crap.
I like to sew and often moved it outside, weather permitting. But otherwise it was economical and fun.

Ruth Hovsepian I designed and decorated a 175 sq ft apartment for a client. He lives alone but this space could easily accommodate a couple. Verticle space is always under used.

gharatani Great comments all around. I was really attracted to this article as I am trying to design independent living / care facility units that can be affordably built. I envision a small community cluster with nursing facilities on site. A couple of interesting sites I try to get ideas from are http://www.monolithic.com/stories/project-the-future-of-senior-living/photos and http://medcottage.com/. I would like any links to other housing solutions for assisted living as that is my passion for now. Thanks.

zombikiller You forgot to add that heaps of people live in caravans far less than 220 sq feet.

Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel John's design is terrific. Even a tub! My art and equipment have first priority so, when necessary, I've done without couches, and entertained at a bar-height table (work table by day) with comfortable upholstered bar chairs. Guests still sat around for hours. Also, I used risers under my bed, to store more paintings there, and used a small footstool to get in and out of bed. No, I don't let people sit on my bed.

Cathy Lara @kateskouros — No one is trying to guilt you into small space living. Certainly not in this forum, where homes over 3,000 square feet are the norm and tiny homes aren't as prevalent... so when homeowners and designers get it right by way of unique design solutions in these tiny spaces, we write about them if there's a story there. But there's no guilting here, and if there is, I think it might even be heavily skewed into guilting you into a larger space.

If your eyes need to look at homes that celebrate a 'more is more' ethos, read through these tours, all homes that are way, WAY over 220 sq ft:

Cathy Lara So many of you are onto something with your small space design solutions. You'll be hearing from me!

@groovygranny — That UCLA study held a mirror up to our family's way of consumption, especially when it comes to buying toys for our little one. Btw, thanks for sharing your "senior perspective" :)

Portland Stair Company This reminds me of living on a ship for 4 months at a time. I really enjoyed the small space and the comfort of it. You live outside of your space, which has its benefits at times. This would come under being single and a much simpler life style.

Michael Tauber Architecture Interesting article...I appreciate the discussion. Will also be interesting , should this proposition pass, to see how many developers will pursue this avenue of the micro units. In a city with a dearth of affordable housing for the working poor..this may be a good avenue. On another note it is worthwhile to compare how people in different locales live, as an example my studio apt is relatively huge compared to NYC apartments.

Linda Rowland On HGTV Design Star Challenge, the end contestants had to design a container like the big trucks haul and all three did an awesome job. Google the results and see for yourself!

ploefff @simplycharmed: I don't spend more money building my custom furniture than I would buying a ordinary table/couch (I'm talking IKEA prices here.) I can see how you could end up spending a ton on some of the fancy solutions I see around the web (like the "domestic transformer" in my link. They're great for inspiration though) I'm not a carpenter I just get ideas, buy some wood and research how to do it best. In the beginning my furniture didn't have the best finish or durability but over time and with some guidence from my super handyman dad things are getting to be really nice.

Ruth Hovsepian I agree with @plouefff. As long as the scale of the furniture is right for the room you don't have to spend tons of money. Shop at thrift stores, IKEA and look at Craigslist, there are so many places.

breezycanyon This article speaks to city living, but living in a small rural home works just as well. My 750 sq ft home (a comparative mansion) allowed me to afford the 15-acre view site on which it sits. It takes work to design a feasible layout and even more "internal" work to define what's really important in life. I love household "stuff" as much as - if not more than - the next person, but it's really liberating to have just what you need.

marsia I live in a college town where square footage is at a premium. Some students rent out tiny spaces here - campers in back yards, sharing a garage with other students, vw campers, tiny cottages, cob houses, and I know someone who rents out a tree house. I think the tree house idea would be amazing. It would be worth it not having many possessions to live in a tree house, but I would miss my oodles of books.

ploefff @groovygranny: In Denmark a new type of housing is becomming popular with seniors. They are moving in together in modern communes. They have their own living spaces but share a communal space where they can share meals and socialize. They are an alternative to nursing homes for seniors that are well enough to live on their own but like the homes social aspect. The communes has a smaller footprint than if each were living in big houses by themselves but I completely agree that 220 sq ft with vertical storage is not a solution for seniors.

jobella1 I live in about a 6oo sq ft apartment and let me tell you it has it's challenges especialy with two Chinese Cresteds. However I have made it work. I have a small bedroom that fit's a full sz bed, dresser w/mirror and one night stand, I built upwards in the closet to have several extra shelves, re-doing the bedroom now with new carpet, fresh lavender paint with silver irredescant glitter in it, new pillows and coverlet, white cotten sheer window panels, purchased a white small crystal chandelier to hang over the bed and am currently looking for a floor mirror that leans up against the wall inbetween the bed and closet just enough space. Under my bed I have a roll out drawer with handle to store all my summer shoes. So far it's really coming together very nicely. Elegant and serene was what I was after. The rest of my apartment is full of character as well. I am always amazed at how my little apartment has more intrigue and style then some of my friends who have much larger living spaces and houses. I have a fireplace, washer and dryer, free standing pond and a hydroponics garden in my attached Florida room with faux trees and lights strung across the ceiling. Everybody loves how chic I made it. You don't have to settle for anything you can still make what you have work and let it reflect your personality regardless of how big or how small your surroundings are you should always take pride in where you live and how you live.

Mackenzie Austin Design As a mom with two very active boys I have spent a few years dreaming of more space...an ensuite bathroom, a bigger kitchen, a mudroom, a living / family room on the main level, a king size bed...but I don't long for that anymore, and I believe it is these articles on Houzz and others like it that have changed my views on living. Now, we don't live in a tiny studio apartment in the city...we have a small bungalow (with a finished basement!) in the suburbs, so small space living is all relative. But I appreciate articles like this, they make me take a step back and evaluate what is really important...is it the amount of space we have or how we use it, and who lives in it that's important? And no, I'm not trying to make anyone feel guilty for living in a large home. As a designer I love, admire and appreciate all sizes of homes and how they are decorated / designed, but to live in and love a small home and especially a "micro space"...well, there is something to be admired in those people.
As for my old "wish list"...do I NEED that extra space? REALLY need it?? No. I am going to continue to work with what I have and make THIS work for us. A good home design is what works for those who live in it. If your 4,000 sq.ft. home functions so well for you and your family, that's great! Same goes for 220 sq.ft. If your home meets your own unique needs, functions well for you and your family and compliments your lifestyle...what more can you ask for.

unclemonkey When I was going to college in Manhattan, I lived for a year in an "apartment" of about 80 sqft, with an external, shared bathroom, no kitchen, but a sink. Dead easy: start out being dirt poor and a cheapskate, too. Buy two plates, two each knives, forks, tablespoons and teaspoons, two cups and the best small coffee maker you can find. I had a little over two feet of shelving (the windowsill). Change the pictures on the wall, and more important the books, often. Buy something different to take home every day. I'd do it again.

Handcrafted House Patterns tend to set the mindset of most people. We are all used to having more, each kid with their own bedroom etc. I live in 550 square feet with a loft that adds another 150, plus a nice outdoor space, and a full basement for storage. It works for my family of two adults and two kids- no dogs : ) We love sailing and find that looking at boat designs really help. We love our space and so do our kids. We have large windows and great views, which helps. I could only figure out how to attach one photo here, so choose the kitchen. One space saver design is that the bathroom door sides over the refrigerator.

vwtyler I've found these comments very thoughtful. We are now designing our retirement home, and are trying to keep it small. We have two bedrooms in the design, and one of the first comments is "won't you need more room for when your kids come to visit." I really don't want to have a house with empty rooms that aren't used 99% of the time. So while we won't be living in 500 ft of space, ideas like the murphy bed will be an excellent way to accomodate more guests within spaces that are used on a daily basis.

Cathy Lara @vwtyler, Studio Garneau designed a Murphy Bed for this Manhattan space: Ideabook: Houzz Tour: A Manhattan Studio Opens to Flexibility

Now you see it:
Transformer Loft 1

Now you don't:
Transformer Loft 2

Your New Home LLC My wife and I spend a significant part of the year living on a relatively small yacht (53 foot length). I'm not sure how many square feet of interior living space is on the boat, but it is probably less than 300 square feet. Yacht interiors are constrained by lots of issues, like the shape of the hull, mechanical systems, the engine room, stability and weight distribution and the like. Yet they somehow manage to be both functional and luxurious. Step one is learning to redact your "stuff" to only the essentials -- then cut it in half! Living in small spaces is liberating in a way that is difficult to explain.

kelleemalia78 Forget about ever having a house guest!

Mark Kruger ... depends on the "measure" of sociability, and how minimal the amount of "stuff" she leaves for her return, no?

j0dy It seems that a lot of the negitave comments come from people that have never tired living small. I moved from a 3 bedroom apartment to a studio building 5 years ago. At first I thought "No way am I going to be able to live here! It's too small" I made it work and I'm still living in the studio building. I even live in a smaller one than I started out with. It's 299 sq ft. You can really make it work if you find out what you really want and need. There are lots of ways to 'hide' things. Think of all the vertical space that is wasted in 'regular' homes, apartments. You have to think out of the box for storage ideas and how to make it comfortable for you. It's a creative process but the up side is you know where everything is and it takes a lot less time to clean :) Think of closet orginizers, use your whole closet from top to bottom for extra out of the way storage. Add lot's of boxe's or baskets for your things you don't want to display, make sure everything has a place and that you use all the space in your place. Use dual use furniture, with casters to make it easy to move. Most of all up high and vertical spaces add extra sq footage to your space. I now look at big spaces and think "This is so big, it's too much wasted space." It's doable. It's not for everyone but if you've never done it before, think about it or try it at least once. You can save lots of money too!

patricia beharry kelleemalia78, Is that such a bad thing not wanting house guests? then you don't have to lie, you really don't have any room. Go to a hotel.

patricia beharry vwtyler, We bought and renovated a two bedroom retirement home, then decided to add a third bedroom in case we had additional guests. In six years, the third bedroom was used only twice. That is just my experience; maybe you expect more visitors than I get; but a two bedroom would have suited me just fine.

mrsben Totally agree with 'Patricia Beharry's' comment re climate you live in. As a Canadian think it wouldn't take too long before I became ''stir-crazy' (yes there really is such a condition) during the Winter months living in such a confined space. Otherwise ..... yes I think I could.

rbeller My husband, 2 kids and I lived in a fifth wheel RV for just over a year - about 280 square feet - we didn't plan to but our home renovations stalled. We were not hooked up to sewer, only water, so that added an additional element of fun. We found the RV storage to be seriously lacking because they were big empty spaces with no ability to organize items, so added stand alone shelving and drawers inside closets and stacked them wherever possible. I developed a sudden love for Bed, Bath and Beyond for the myriad of storage items, configurations and styles. For the visible storage we used a few bright colors for some fun, but otherwise used opaque white to blend nicely. Various door hangars helped with four shower towels and robes. We also moved into the outdoor space, setting up an outdoor shower, places to hang wet towels, bathingsuits etc. I agree the key is to pare things down. We had a place for every single thing and there was no clutter. We had a flat screen stacked on cork board at one end of the dining table to prevent damage from spills, so the area tripled as office, homework site, and meals. We're now in 3,200 square feet and it feels ridiculously big and wasteful, and we're starting to throw things out from the boxes we had in storage that whole time. If we didn't need it for a year do we really need it?

jojo132 @imissliberty. Here in Ireland it was most definitely the property developers and landowners who benefitted in the mid-nineties when the min size for apartments was set at 33sm (just over 325sf) for one-bed apartments. Apartment blocks were thrown up all over the place. The whole idea of city living, being close to amenities, was turned on its head as many long-established businesses sold their premises and moved to retail parks on the outskirts of the city to be replaced by apartment complexes - so instead of people commuting from the suburbs there are now also countless apartment dwellers commuting FROM the city.

The first photo above shows a stunning space. This is a world away from the apartments that were built here. At the time there were very poor building regs, insulation, expensive-to-run electric storage heating, etc. Also at the time people had very few options but to buy these sub-standard units as they tried to get a foot on the property market. In a lot of cases it has made for very transient communities as the units quickly turned into rentals.

I really agree with the comments about climate, but, while I automatically think of small space living in terms of city living, I reckon it'd be easier in the country where one could just open the door to some greenery and space rather than being cooped up with four walls pressing in on you!

taureg Anything under 400 sq ft is pushing it, but comments about the need for custom built-ins bears no relation to the way people in cities- especially young people - actually live. There is a world of smaller scale firniture on the market.

After living in studio apartments, I bought a 900 sq ft loft years ago. NO ONE in NYC thinks that is tiny. Couples live in them all the time. We entertain, cook and go out - because cities are so interesting., not because our apartments are unlivable. Would I like more space? Sure, even though I have no use for it. Could I downsize to 500 sq ft - not a problem.

olldroo Lara - don't worry when it comes to little ones and toys I am the biggest softie out, I really have to restrain myself. Sadly, two of my littlies live in the US so I can't dote like would like to but, in lieu, I do give them a sizeable gift for Christmas and Birthdays that they wouldn't otherwise get, so I guess one sensible large gift is better than umpteen frivilous things through the year and they are things that are constantly used.

Ploefff - we do have retirement villages here for independent living without the gardening and other outdoor work. There are also serviced apartments for those wishing to escape housework too. As well as upmarket dining rooms and communal lounges, many also have pools and gyms and they also have their own minibuses to assist with transport and shopping. Once the idea was you built the family home and generally extended it with the family and after the family all left you sold, downsized to a property half the value of the family home and the balance became superannuation to finance your retirement. Sadly developers have jumped on the bandwaggon built these places more and more upmarket with all the bells and whistles and lock people into contracts that are win/win for them. People wishing to exit these places for various reasons frequently have to wait months, even years to have their money refunded. It has even reached the point where the family home is no longer enough to buy into these places.

The other downside to this type of living I experienced when my mother was living in one. It is a fact of life that women seem to outlive men and as we age we also tend to become a little more selfish and less tolerant of others - in the village my mother lived in there just weren't enough roosters in the henhouse and I nearly went insane every time I visited her - the bitching and whinging was unbelievable until a man came on the scene!!!! It has totally put me off that type of living.

GreenFx Three actually four of us at one point including new baby, lived and functioned well in a one bedroom 500sq ft apartment in city for two years--left to share an attic with my 2 children after that--now were in 2000sq ft n the truth is: IM as Miserable here as I've EVER been. It's separated my family SOO much, I'm a house keeper n it's Overwhelming,(actually caused health issues for me medically), however--it has brought me "back to source strength" I always say...I am again reminded what's important to focus on and the rest of the space is just a waste (FOR ME personally)...our new planned family life will be a permant build of so etching no more than 800-900sq ft MAYBE! Myself and my daughters prefer to be close together. We slept in the same bedroom, watched tv, played and everything for the first three months, until the separation began.

ploefff @ groovygranny: I've heard about these retirement communities and from what you describe it sounds well horrible but what I described is something else and it seems to work really well primarily because it's in a much smaller setting. They all live in the same house sort of like roomies and just like 20-somethings evaluate a new roomie so do they to make sure it's good fit. They go travelling together and have theater clubs. It works essentially like a big brought together family. They are not "sent" there by their children but choose to live together with other seniors to have a more active and social life. We also have housing built for seniors and nursing homes of course but these places have sprung up to fit the needs of the newer generations of seniors that are not worn down from a hard working life like their parents were (who truely needed to be nursed in a home.) Also the name which just makes me smile every time because it's so awesome is Ollekolle (a of the danish word for elder or more precisly great grand parent and collective) It's mfun to say but also sounds like a nice place to be.

Essentially the idea is you are at a part of your life when your children are not dependent on you anymore and maybe you have retired so when you think about what you want to do with your time moving in with your friends, hanging out, going on trips but still being able to hate everyone and close your door sounds pretty sweet.

hammered I lived in a 20' shipping container very comfortably.

I made a small studio for some friends and this couple has been in a 150 sq' / 20' shipping container for near 3 years now.
The intention was a year well they were building hotel and home on the beach.
They have grown so used to the confined space that they are worried they will not feel as comfortable in the new open air home they are building.
We joke they will be dragging a cot into the closet to sleep at night.

People should to step back and look a the spaces they live in.
many homes are more than they can use or ever need.
I was one of them. 3 bedroon 2500 sq' of home and had 3 visitors a year.

many lower income 2nd and 3rd world cultures live in small spaces and normally large families.
Sq footage = money. larger spaces consume more energy.
they make the smallest foot print they can for what they need and adapt.


The home I am building for my family here will be less than 600 sq' interior space with 2 bedrooms one bathroom.
We spend near 12 hours of our day outside and away from the home.
I will be building more deck and than interior space.

I understand in cold climates one is indoors part of the year.
this has to be considered also.

RV campers are a great model for tight living spaces yet functional and comfortable.
I do recall looking at some motor homes that looked like 5 star hotel suites.
A trip to a RV center is the best model for tight living spaces.

It can be done.
There maybe a day in the near future we will be forced to live in smaller homes due to the rising cost of energy and materials.

ploefff @ kelleemalia78: My 480 sq ft sleeps 4 comfortably. 5 if it's close friends/family. The last bed is in the same room that we sleep in.

Dawn W step zero of the space constraints here is understanding the client's motives: are they coming to the tiny space to conserve their income? Anyone with piles of $ can stylize any size space, but if the idea is to save $$, send it home to others who might also want to emigrate these ideas are moot. Many who live in tight quarters do so because they don't have much time to spend there except to sleep, most work outside the space and eat, meet, get entertainment do many "in home functions" outside the space as stated here--it's just not an aesthetic need for every user. I like the idea of downsizing, many ideas here are great, we just don't all do it for the same reasons. If more Americans spent time living abroad this idea would seem less alien to us; most of the rest of the world ( including families) lives Large in Smaller abodes.

olldroo ploeff - it is very much a luck of the draw thing as to who you have living in your village. Almost like apartment dwelling - only takes one person to spoil everyone's fun. Mind you, you can live in a home and have one nasty neighbour in the street too, but at least it is easier to turn the other way. I think too my mother's generation were so different, education for women didn't have a high priority, women stayed home and tended their homes, unlike even my generation who are constantly wanting to learn and broaden their horizons.

What you describe sounds a lot of fun, especially being able to vet your roomies, but I would feel it would be a nice place for a holiday, but I wouldn't want to live there. Yes, it would be fun having lots of activities and someone to do them with but one can also feel pressured to always join in. There are times I very much value my own space, I can even hibernate for several weeks at a time, and that often doesn't go down well in communal living. We oldies can become very comfortable in our own skin and with our own company, we don't have that urge to always be on the go or socialising. Using my mum as an example again, she used to get travel sick on buses and coaches and usually ended up with a migrane. Her village ran a lot of day trips and theatre evenings that she couldn't participate in but instead of people being understanding, she was considered a snob and was gradually left out of all activities.

I did have to laugh at your comment about our children not be dependent on us anymore. Please ......... when does that happen?? There is always babysitting in school holidays, a child suddenly ill and mum has to go to work, one child's football match that conficts with another child's netball game, help in the house for a special dinner party, or just generally behind in the housework, a special costume to be made for a school concert .................. the list is endless. Mums are mums for the rest of their lives!!!

ploefff @ groovygranny: wauw I just had a flashback to when I was in school. I guess mean kids really don't nicer they just get taller!

This type of living is of course not for everyone but it is part of a new movement toward cohabitating outside the nuclear family. Families have begun to move back in together so you have multible generations under the same roof. I even heard a group of my single parent friends talking about moving in together to have more people to help out with babysitting, picking up the kids and so on. Clever minds say that in time of hardship we tend to group together in the security of social groupings. I think they might be on to something.

I understand your amusement but I guess it really depends on proximity. I feel fairly close to my parent but don't see them that often. My mom moved to Greenland (4 hours and a VERY expensive flight away. I see her once a year) and my dad (3 hour trainride away) who was "supposed" to retire a couple of months ago but is flying to Qatar as soon as his visa clears to work on a project. When his not working he's very busy with his bowling night, cinema club and his activities in the national guard. I don't predict much costume making in my future but that's ok because they are there for me in other ways.

Dawn W The idea that inter-generational living is a new thing is, dare I say it? Hogwash. The idea is older than the hills, it's positively medieval and so our present times are really just returning to a pattern we-come-latelys have forgotten, unless you're an historian or are really into indigenous cultural studies that most westerners are unaware of. It's a sign of the times: economic squeezing and collective support of family and community are directly related to the need/desire for smaller living spaces ;)

brysonleague I'm pretty sure my kitchen equipment alone takes up more than 220 square feet.

gharatani If you have a Netflix account, I recommend watching the documentary 'Happy' that has a section on communal housing. I know I'm more focused on space efficient bathrooms, but I'm including this kitchen idea for other nerds like me. Here's the website http://www.compact-concepts.com/englisch/index.html Cheers.

scribeslave I used to live in a studio apartment, and was pretty happy with it. Then, I let friends talk me into upsizing. Recently, I realized my overly large apartment saw me in only a few places. The other bedrooms were turned into storage.

I recently, sold most things and bought a 31' Motorhome and couldn't be happier. Plently of room, and I can go places on weekends. Okay, I miss the fireplace. But what I save on rent, I can use for fuel and my life is more enjoyable outside of work. Just had to get used to less things. Fine.

I have been interested in the tiny houses things lately. I see some on trailers. Now, I am thinking again.

olldroo Ploefff - I think your family is a classic example of how small the world is becoming these days and how it can affect the way we live. People are becoming very mobile which is splitting up family units and in many cases can leave older people quite alone and the community you refer to could be a boon to prevent loneliness - a major problem for seniors and with serious implications on health issues. I think it is a great idea to give people more options but of course not everything is for everyone.

Our family joke is that my eldest daughter married a German and lives in Germany, my second daughter married an American and lives in the US while my third married an Italian - but they stayed here, in Australia. I definitely need my space to be able to have them stay when they visit and entertain their friends here and also have their friends stay here. They still have quite a few things here they want to keep or use when they are here and that all takes space too. There is no way I could consider downsizing until my health forces me to and my life is too busy to include any extra activities right now.

It has been very interesting hearing how things are done in your country though, and your attitude towards things, I find this website very educational in that respect.

davisbj Living alone there might be OK for me. I would have a Murphy bed or sleep sofa.
This would be great for the elderly and some who are disabled. My 94 year old mother would like that if it had a porch for flowers.

krismort Where would I put my grand piano? I will NOT give that up.

davisbj I'm enjoying all the different comments. Also, I'm very interested in the shipping containers being converted into homes. I wonder how much that costs. I'd love to see a yurt, too.

olldroo OMG!! Shipping containers!!! I know people who put them in their garden for storage. Definitely going the wrong way. Another possibility is old train carriages too - come complete with windows and doors, might even get one that included a bathroom.

kinglet749 I live in a 300 square foot in-law. The place is beautiful and was skillfully designed with high ceilings and storage reaching to the ceiling height. My kitchen is taller than it is wide. But the bathroom is "normal human" size- a quarter of the entire place- which makes me feel like a civilized person. (Tiny bathrooms-- I mean the kind where you can't shut the door and sit on the toilet because the door hits your knees-- *are* depressing). And the view is spectacular, with the west facing side of the apartment consisting of two wall to wall sliding doors. It is perfect. I honestly never want to leave. I recycle and compost. I don't need a vacuum cleaner- a single hand vac suffices. I have a queen bed, and two cats. The fridge and stovetop are full size (and they MATCH). It's amazing what can be accomplished with an eye for design and the actual needs of people. Those who are so adamant that they could NEVER live in such a tiny space- I'm sorry to break it to you, but you have too much stuff. Take a look at how most of the world lives, and you will see that Americans are utterly mad in their "need" for 2000 square foot homes. Your children don't need 1000 toys and playroom to be happy. Your dog needs to be walked no matter how big your yard is. Not saying everyone should live this way, but talking about those who do as if we're crazy or there is something wrong with us is incredibly misguided- and not very imaginative.

Russ Button I lived in a studio apartment in Berkeley back in the late 80's. It was just about 220 square feet. The key to making it work was to make multiple uses of objects and space. My bed was a narrow platform bed I put up against a wall, just under some street facing windows. I put bolster cushions on it and it doubled as a couch. I also had a futon couch on another wall, so there was a nice conversation area, as well as having something that could sleep two for those occasions that called for it.

I removed the Murphy bed, put in a closet organizing system that made very effective use of the space available, and somewhat like the photo in this article, I had a desk in the closet with overhead shelving for my technical books.

It was big enough for one person, but would have been uncomfortable for two to live in for an extended period of time. Part of what made it work so well was that my rent was $125/month.

jobella1 I have been in my beautifully decorated 600 sq ft apartment since 1997! Not my inetention but I'm there none the less. I am a single woman with a decent good/stable job. I have 2 dogs, a small private yard with gate, park in the driveway in a lovely safe neihborhood, a fireplace, washer/dryer, 1 bedroom, 1 bath, small kitchen and living room and an attached florida room. The main reason I have been there is I cannot find ANYTHING better in style or size for the price (even though it is small thier are even smaller for alot more money!). My landlord has never raised the rent since '97. I pay only $640.00 a month plus electric 45.00 a month and my own cable around 65. My kitchen is the biggest challenge since that is where the washer and dryer are it is exstremely small but very cute I am going to try to find a table that either folds down attached to the wall or have seen a rnd very small bistro table that the chairs when pushed in sit flush with the round table, I angled my refrigerator in the corner wich helps too. In my living room I have 1 larger trunk as living room table and another smaller trunk as an 1 end table. I have all my summer clothes and a blanket in the larger trunk and all my pocket books in the other. I have a wood dark brown stool (no back) on the other side of the couch as my other end table that fits snugly in between the couch and my corner desk where my computor is. My TV Armoire is a beautiful old pc of bedroom furniture that was given to me by a stranger who just wanted to get it out of her garage that her husband made in to a tv armoire for me by removing the top shelves now I have more storage underneath where the tv sits for more clothes!! Yippee!! lol Since it was origionally a dresser Armoire. Every nook and cranny in my apartment is used under the couch, behind the armoire, closets in bathroom, pantry closets, attic from my apartment for more storage all hidden "smartly" so it does not look like Sanford and Sons home! lol Thank goodness for the florida room! That is where I made another beautiful sitting area with dark brown resin wicker furntiure, I also bought high back beautiful 60" resin dining table and 4 chairs so when I have company that is where we eat and can hang out. I put a barrel pond in there and a hydroponics garden for fresh herbs. My friend for Christmas bought me a small faux Christmas Tree that is in a red pot that stands about 3 ft tall that I use as a Christmas tree that I just put on the table in my living room. I would upload some pictures but still trying to figure out how to use my new phone. As you can see with a little imagination and a flair for style and decor wether it's old or new your decorating with and regardless if it's your motor home, a yaght, studio, basement, attic, shipping containers etc...you can make even the smallest and oddest home structure into your own private palace. =)

mittig i've lived in 200 sq feet for 5 years, love it.

patricia beharry @ Krismort, You can use your grand piano your queen size bed.

jl123 220 square feet is about 6.5 tsubo in Japan, also a developed country in quite cold winter. In Tokyo, many people and their families live in space of such size, 6~10 tsubo. They are not at a special stage in their life, i.e. students...etc. it is just housing in Tokyo comes in that size, given the price. If you are not spending hours on commuter trains, this is the size you get. There are also many ready made small space storage solutions, instead of custom made, since the market is big. The more compact the stuff is; usually the higher the quality. All-in-one TV means it also doubles as the family computer. It is not hard to understand why Sony PS 3 is so quite when it is running ( coming from a crowded living situation); while Microsoft X-box is so loud when it is on. The washer is also the dryer. As for the toys, kids learned at a younger age that they can't have all the toys in the world and it is important to put the toys back after playing. Otherwise, we have no place for dinner and sleep afterwards. These may sound like stories from another universe but they are not.

littlemissk Different circumstances and different timesinf our lives require different solutions. Very clever uses of small spaces. Been there, done that and couldn't do it again.

patricia beharry @littlemissk, If I were single I can do it again in a studio. Married, I would one extra room to get away from --you know who ,so I don't face murder charges.

littlemissk Hey Patricia ... I totally agree with you, especially in the winter months with bad weather that keeps you inside a bit more, but I certainly appreciate the creativity and cleverness. ;o)

sara jane bolt I designed, and have been living in 240 sq ft for 4 years now - a very big change. One bonus for me, even when the weather is bad I go OUTSIDE because I crave SPACE. It's not a bad thing at all in that regard. What is more difficult - staying inside and concentrating. I can actually sleep 3 people. SPACE is the final frontier!

Maloney Interiors I lived in a one room apartment for almost a year. At first I hated it, but after a while I discovered my love for interior design, and on a small budget I made it work. By using sheer curtains to separate one area from another, but still allowing the major amounts of natural light to flow through the room helped a tremendous amount. I had a designated area for seating and living, a place where we could lounge and watch television or drink tea and gossip. Behind the curtain elsewhere was the sleeping area and though you knew you were in the same room, you felt the total opposite. Using mirrors and paintings to draw an imaginary line between one part of the wall and another also helped. I used dressers and got end tables with drawers for storage and also stuck things in suitcases put on display and boxes far under the bed. Here are a few pictures so you can get the idea :) If you'd like any more insider tips feel free to email me at gadamaloney@gmail.com!

Missy Wilson First image is impressive and doable. Second image is rough and takes me back to my dorm days. Too much black Home Depot style office furniture and heavy shelving. Seems like even Ikea could have some better solutions to make even the smallest space look livable.

nikilyn207 When our children were young we would close up our house for three months and live in our travel trailer which we kept set up in a campground. We remember this as some of the happiest times in our lives. I think the key was that, it was summer and we spent most of our time outside. We live in a cold climate and such close quarters would be extremely uncomfortabel during the winter months. There was something wonderful about living with only what we needed and with living mostly outdoors.

shartga I live with my partner in a small one bed loft appartment and we love it. We have 3 big sky lights letting in plenty of natural light so it is lovely in summer. I had to plan the furniture layout to make sure all the avaliable space was used wisely, but being an interior designer I love challenges like these! Now it is a cosy first home for us :)

faranakabbasian It means you have to go vertical, it means less clutter, its means less trips to wallmart and target, it means less depend on junks comes from China, It means better quality products from America

Derviss Design I currently live in a 900 sq. foot home and could easily adjust to half that amount judging by how I currently use a whopping 900 sq. feet . The biggest 'eater' of space is my old fashion Mayline drafting board ( that I use everyday) and my book collection. If I had another person living in this house though, I would really appreciate the full 900 sq. feet , and I think they would too !

krismort Patricia, my husband and I don't do well in a queen size bed - health issue that I won't go into. So I have to have my king size bed and my grand piano. And there's no way I'm going to put a mattress on a $10,000 piano. As to the rest of my house, if my 5 children would have survived toddlerhood in a space this small, the teenage years would have been iffy. I could have done it on my own before children, maybe with my husband, but once I could afford the piano, I would have been outta there. Now we live in a large home and, although the nest is currently empty, I'll keep it. I have 2 rooms dedicated as guest rooms and have filled both as well as another smaller room and the couches and floor in the basement. Every year at Thanksgiving and/or Christmas I host an extended family dinner with 25-35 people. I could rent a place but have the room here. And I cook. A lot. I also wouldn't want to give up my 2 ovens or counter space for a 2 burner hot plate when the cooktop is full. I didn't know how to cook when I visited my daughter when she had a tiny kitchen. I could live in a small space if I had to but my lifestyle would be very different. And I like the lifestyle I have. I'm a homebody who likes people to visit. They'd be visiting elsewhere if I didn't have the space. To each his own, and to each time of life.

patricia beharry @krismort. Hope you know I was kidding.

krismort Yes, Patricia, I figured you were kidding. I just wanted to point out that there are valid reasons for not wanting, or being able, to live in small spaces. And they don't always include the desire for more stuff, except my piano of course. :-)

ploefff @ krismort: Here's what I read in your comment - roughly 340 days a year you have an big empty house sitting around using energy to heat and light it.
I don't understand the either or attitude. I live small and I have a full kitchen with a 4 burner stove and oven, fridge and freezer and loads of counterspace. There's even room to sit and eat. I live small because it saves me money so I can work less and have time to travel. This lifestyle suits me so it works. If you need all that space then that's what's right for you but have you thought about ways to make your house more energy efficient?

krismort ploefff, you read things into my post which weren't there. For one thing, I said nothing about the energy efficiency of my home. My house is 12 years old. It has triple pane windows and is very well insulated. We have main floor living for myself and husband with the other bedrooms in the basement and in a bonus room over the garage. The main floor and basement have their own furnaces so the climate control is controlled separately. The system also includes a low tech way of bringing cooler air up from the basement in the summer and sending warmer air down to the basement in the winter. The bonus room is on the same system as the main floor but with it's own thermostat (programmable, as are the others) and there is very little air going to those vents when the temp is set to save energy. (Set quite high in the summer and just high enough to avoid frozen pipes in the winter. Same with the basement.) And the parts of the house you think sit empty all but 20 or so days of the year are actually quite busy. I had guests filling much of that space at least 2/3 of the time this past summer, as well as hosting a nephew's wedding reception, and things haven't been much slower this fall. Except for the wedding, this is pretty typical. And as well as the big family dinners during the holidays, we host summertime holiday BBQs with the extended family and other parties and gatherings throughout the year. And most of my children still live close and come over weekly for Sunday dinner as well as other times throughout the week. They still often use the basement family/game room for parties with friends. Trust me, my big house is well used!

patricia beharry @krismort, You dont have to apologize the way you live to anyone. You live in the USA, You are free to live in a tent or the Taj Mahal , or even a cardboard box. My goodness !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ploefff @ krismort: Thank you for answering my questions. I'm sorry if the came across as accusations I was simply intrigued about why some people live in big houses, since I don't.

olldroo ploefff - I think you have to take age groups into account as to how people live as well as the period in which they were raised and what they are used to. A young single person like yourself would have far different interests, lifestyle and needs than someone like Krismort or myself with grown and expanding families. You have also been brought up in a time of far more conveniences. I like to be as green as possible but, like Krismort, I still like my living space to enjoy and to accommodate family. Back in my day everything was green naturally, we walked to the shops and caught public transport, there wasn't the need for cars like today, we didn't have plastic, we used string bags or paper bags for shopping or had shopping trolleys for heavier loads, clothes dryers and dishwashers were non existent, we didn't even have TV!! Think of eveything that has been invented since then, but you will find that many of my age group don't rush out for the latest gadgets, we are far more discerning and don't have that need that younger generations do. I grew up without central heating and air conditioning, it just didn't exist as we know it today, we learned to wear extra clothes to stay warm, or close the house to stay cool. Our homes were far more solidly built than homes of today. I still don't have a dryer or a dishwasher, I have no need for them - if I entertain, everyone pitches in and washes up and chats as part of the evening, the rest of the time I clean as I go so there are no mountains of dishes to be washed.

Empty rooms in the house whether short or long term don't necessarily impact on energy efficiency, mine aren't heated or cooled or like Krismort the areas are separately controlled, they are dusted and vacuumed as necessary and are kept uncluttered to keep that to a minimum. Of an evening I only have a light on in the room I am using, the whole house is never lit up unless others are here, you don't have to have rooms lit up just because you have the rooms. Bear in mind also that retirees are generally on pensions or limited incomes so can't afford to not to be mindful of energy use.

ploefff @ grooveygranny: I think this is more a geographical issue than a generational one. My grandmother, my mother and me didn't get dishwashers - we got husbands :) Unlike them I do have access to a dryer in the communal laundromat in my building. Which is good since there is no space to hang my clothes like they had. They also had their own washing machine which I don't have the room for because I choose to live in the city where as my mom lived in a town and my grandmother in the country. My grandparents have a car because they live in such a rural place that there are no public transport. My mom and dad had a car until I was 7 after that it was public transport or bikes. I just have my bike. Most of the differences in our lives has to do with the difference between rural and urban living but then there are the national differences. Here houses are built with brick, the average household is 1070 sq ft and air conditioning is a novelty.

olldroo Couldn't agree more Ploeff and different countries have different customs and lifestyles, often dictated by climate, and our population growth and sprawling cities have totally changed the way we do things too. The corner stores have gone and replaced by huge shopping malls that are no longer convenient for everyone to walk to - just walking around them is enough. Extended shopping hours also make a huge difference, once the corner store had enough light for it's needs in shopping hours, now these huge centres are ablaze with lights 24/7. Topography also comes into it, I live in a very hilly area and there is no way you can walk everywhere, especially with shopping. I love how you can ride bikes, but I have enough trouble pushing me up our steep hills without a bike as well and coming down is scarier.

I'm thinking also that 70 years ago the world was in the middle of a war that caused massive shortages that many countries took decades to recover from. Food and clothing was rationed for years afterwards and commodities were kept to a minimum. In the late 50s and 60s most countries had recovered and it was only normal for people to splurge after years of austerity and the technology boom started, but of course it has now reached a point where the excesses have to be reined in for the good of the earth. However, as resources are drying up and the price of such resources increases, people are adjusting again, it is just taking time to change old habits. Just look at cars as an example, especially in America where in the 50s cars like Cadillacs just got longer and longer and guzzled petrol like there was no tomorrow. They are now a thing of the past except for collectors, cars have gotten smaller and more economical as traffic increases and running costs spiral. Actually, I had to laugh once, my mechanic loves the old Cadillacs and has several. One time he was driving around with a US number plate on the front and a Canadian one on the back.

I just don't think it possible to generalise and think that people who live in large homes aren't energy conscious. Quite often it could be the reverse, those living in smaller spaces could, in fact use more energy. Like I said, I only have a light on in the room I am using, I have double switching in many areas so I can turn a light on at one point and off at another as I walk through the house - I would be less likely to have that in a small space and all lights would be on at once. I only heat the area I am in if necessary, where small spaces are generally more open so in fact a larger area has to be heated.

krismort Ploefff, I think there are differences based on preference as well as location. I designed the floorplan of our home based on how we wanted to use it with thought toward how our lives and needs would change. I could live in something smaller but prefer the room I have for all the reasons I've listed previously. I grew up in a much smaller home with a much bigger family and had a happy childhood. (And with no dishwasher, I expanded my spatial thinking as I stacked dishes in the drainer so as to avoid having to dry them.) I was also number 8 of 9 children and had a bit more space as a teenager than my older siblings did, except for the big room they had parties in which was half-full of their stuff that they couldn't fit in their dorm rooms or starter homes. That might have something to do with my preference for more space. I can appreciate the desire of some to not spend the money on space they don't need and think it's great that people like yourself do just that. It gives me hope that most people aren't just looking for "things" to give them satisfaction.

ploefff @ kristmort: I think you have hit the nail on the head here: Your mindset is established when you're young and as you described you grew up in a tight space so you wanted more. I grew up with lots of space in the suburbs so I don't think I need it which is why I can live in a small apartment in the city. With the money I pay here I could have 3 times the space in a rural location but I trade space for the "life" of the city because I value that higher than the space. My choices are not better than your but they are the best for me which is what's important: Being happy where you are with what you have.

@ groovygranny: I think there's something you forgot to think about. I don't have 2 switches per room because the door I enter a room by is also the door I exit through since it's the only door there so I just use the one switch.
Turning out the light when you leave a room is something that is taught. Here there have been campaigns going on for many many years to conserve energy and water so part of what I learned at home was to turn out the light, turn off the tap when brushing or lathering and to close the door not to let out the heat or should I say: "where you born on a train?" "No" "Then close the door. It doesn't close itself" Ahh yes sometimes my moms voice takes over. Uh or "are you eating because you're hungry or because it tastes good?" If you were full then the leftovers were served another night.

olldroo That is good ploefff and you are right I wasn't thinking of a small space only needing one switch, but I was more referring to apartments you see here that are basically one large open room except for the bathroom. I like your "born in a train" our term is "born in a tent". Sounds like mums are basically the same the world over and conserving energy is something one quickly learns when one has to actually pay the bills.

krismort Ha ha! I've never heard "born on a train" or "born in a tent". Mine was "Were you born in a barn?"

olldroo Krismort - LOL - it must depend on where you are raised. I always thought barns had doors??
This is one little bonus I love with with website, you really so much about other countries, especially little things like this. Hope you are safe from the storm.

jojo132 With us it was "were you born in a barn or just a hospital with swinging doors" . Oh, and no, barns here tend not to have doors!

olldroo Like this, so far we have Sweden, Australia, US (I assume) and Ireland. How many more can we get??

patricia beharry groovygranny, dont forget we still have Africa and Asia. And I dont mean a big metropolis like South Africa.

olldroo patricia - so what are their expressions ................ if they have them. I'm sure different parts of the States have different expressions.

Mackenzie Austin Design groovy, etc.: "were you raised in a barn"...and "are we cooling off / heating up the neighbourhood today" (Canada)

krismort Groovygranny, barns have doors here in the mountain west of the US, gotta keep the snow out! There are the big doors that the big equipment can go through, which are generally kept closed when not in use, and a small door for people to go in and out, which is often left open during the workday. And I've also heard, and used myself, "Are you trying to heat/cool the entire outdoors?"
Thanks for the concern about the storm. I'm not affected here and, thankfully, my kids in Florida and North Carolina weren't affected much. Just a few palm leaves strewn about in the streets in Titusville, Florida.
Funny how this discussion has moved from differences in home size preferences into differences in colloquialisms! :-)

lk_designs This is a very interesting discussion. A year ago husband & I were looking to move to the USA for his work. It has not eventuated at this point in time. I was on the websites for a number of real estate agents and received regular updates as to what was for sale in the area where we were supposedly going to live.
The "better" houses generally had the same number of bathrooms as bedrooms, and quite often more bathrooms than bedrooms. OK. A bedroom can be anywhere in the house. It's where you decide to put your bed that makes the room the 'bedroom'. Secondly, as I pointed out to one real estate agent one bathroom per bedroom is a waste of space and bathrooms are a large expense in building costs. Not only that, I would be the one cleaning all the bathrooms !
Here in my own 2,300 sq ft (I think that's what it is) in Melbourne we only have one bathroom with toilet (many Aussie houses have a separate toilet) and 3-4 bedrooms. There's 4 of us in the house and while one bathroom doesn't particularly worry any of us, I would like two toilets.
Two of us work from home and because of that, living in 250 sq. ft would definately not work. There's also the issue of being able to have one's own space. Psychologically people do need to be able to get away from one another.
A clue to living in a smaller space is doing away with lots of possessions. I inherited a lot of books from my parents and while there is a certain emotional attachment, I have to be realistic and donate many titles because they are on subjects I just don't read & if I do want to read them, there are libraries that can get the book for me.
I grow my own vegies so I like to have space to do that. We've got solar power & solar hot water. Climate does make a difference to HOW you live. The more temperate the climate, the more you are able to do things outside, or, 'bring the outside in'. In summer we often eat meals on the verandah, as I have a small combined lounge/dining area.
Having access to nature is very important if people live in small apartments with no garden.

olldroo krismort - it is quite funny how some of these discussions can go right off the track, but in many cases it makes it even more interesting. In this case it is just my warped sense of humour.

ploefff @ ik_designs: I think you are right. 220 sq ft is fine for one but for 2 people it's too small. I'm all about compact living but for the sake of your sanity you need one room with a door per person not counting the bathroom and kitchen so everyone has a space they can retreat to when needed. I love my husband but sometimes I just want to be by myself and the living space should accommodate that without someone having to be kicked out for a couple of hours for that to happen.

The apartments described in the article is the bare basics. A place for sleeping and preparing a meal. The rest of your needs are covered by communal spaces which also means you have to be quite outgoing to live like this.

krismort lk_designs, as you're looking at homes in the US, consider the requirement in most areas that a bedroom has to have a closet and a window large enough to escape from in an emergency. In my current home, I have a home office which could be used as a bedroom if needed but can't be called a bedroom because there's no closet. In my old house, there were 2 rooms in the basement with a shared walk-in closet which couldn't be called bedrooms because the windows were too small for an adult to fit through. Fortunately we never had a fire or other emergency but my boys who slept in those rooms could have fit through the windows until maybe a year or 2 before we moved.

Darzy The size of your abode is a lot about desire, culture and population density. Would I WANT to live in 500 sq feet? NO...Unless I wanted to live in Manhatten, then I may have to make that choice. Small countries with huge population density pretty much requires small space living. But, please don't chastise Americans, or an other country's citizens that choose large homes, just because they can.

olldroo Agree Darcy, but I think the $$s come into it too. If you can't afford the big then you have no choice but to go small and without the $$s, theoretically you wouldn't have anything that needs big anyway, but as you say people shouldn't be criticised just because they can afford and want big.

I do think though that we have to read between the lines a bit here, the way the world's population is growing and natural resources are shrinking, as well as the effects of global warming (which the jury is still out on), there may come a time when everyone will have to look at downsizing to survive. The up and coming generations still seem to be thinking bigger and bigger, should we be turning that mindset around? Hopefully articles like this will show people that there is no stigma to living small.

Darzy @groovygranny. I did not get that there is a stigma to living small. I think living small has many advantages. But, as posters above have said.. "it's only temporary" and some "living small" are their boats or vacation homes! For the most part (now) living micro small is a choice. But, the real concern is if micro living (220 sq ft apts) is approved by city council, many people will be forced to live micro as the people with money and landlords will be the ones benefiting with increased rent and making much more per square foot than ever! Then, the working class will be "forced" to live small. I don't think Global Warming or aka, Climate Change, will mean families will need to live in 220 sq feet. It means we need alternative fuel options. I personally have solar panels and am as energy efficient as possible, so we're trying already! Should we change the mindset of our youth to go small? I don't think so, I want our youth to "think big" and "strive big", but let's face it, most of us will live in a "normal" sized abode! Where will families have their holiday dinners?: )

j0dy I like all the comments on here. Some are off topic but it's fun. Since everyone is bringing up different stuff I thought I'd ask if anyone knows if there is a place on this site that could refer you to rentals in your area. Thanks in advance,
Jody

olldroo Darcy - I was only adding more reason to your comment and let's face it 220 sq ft is really taking things to the extreme just as comparing things with the mega mansions is. There is a lot of comfortable living to be had in between and of course family celebrations are important, very high in my list in fact. As I mentioned earlier, I need to maintain a home larger than I personally really need because of having two daughters married to foreign nationals and living overseas, I want them to always feel they can come home at any time, even bring their friends as well.

Don't start me on greedy developers!!! The current craze here as I mentioned earlier is to build so call seniors living and pack all the oldies into apartments or villas in the name of downsizing, that cost more than an average family home. Who is going to retire and take out a $300,000 mortgage?? I never cease to be amazed that people can be conned into buying these places. One developer even wanted to build a huge place in a high risk bushfire area with one road in and out!!

Someone also had the idea of creating 'affordable housing' in affluent areas so those working in service industries could afford to live close to their place of work. Great idea but of course the developers jumped on that too and tried to create rabbit warrens in areas of narrow access roads, limited transport and with no regard for other local amenities or facilities that were already struggling to cope with the existing population.

I am definitely not adverse to encouraging the young to set their goals high and achieve as much as they possibly can, lets face it half of them are hard enough to motivate at all, but I don't think it is all about owning mansions. Here young people who really want to get on live small, even live at home, and put their money into average sized homes and apartments to lease out, the properties pay for themselves and gradually they build a property portfolio as a lifetime investment or to eventually sell and buy the home they want and own it outright.

ploefff No one is saying that any of you lovely ladies should go small but if you take into account the rise in single person households and that families are not all having 6 kids but more likely 1 or 2 I think it's wise to revise the way the collective pool of homes out there are divided. You might not take away the larger homes but provide smaller homes for smaller families and singles to adjust.

giggles60 I was wanting to see the rest of the unit in the first picture :(

sara jane bolt http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/10/23/bc-surrey-micro-suite.html

Build it and they will come - most likely. Will they be happy? Time will tell... The article link above discusses some general things to think about before going small in a development like this one. These homes have diverse sq footage options - still all small. There is a great comment for developers to consider, or potential renters or buyers to consider if thinking of living in a building with small suites.

giggles60 Houzz, it seems to be, is becoming a chat room.

mcacici These are so interesting. Now lets find homes for the victims on the East coast.

smtp reading the comments, people don't read/comprehend well. this is not living for large families, but for one-two+small children. i'm 62, with a snall dog, currently living in 750 sqft and have always felt it to be too large, after downsizing from a large house. after 2 years, i've realized 500 sqft would be a palace for me. my family/friends come to visit, have meals, and socalize but i don't need a table to sit 10 all the time, nor a second bedroom except 2-4 times a year, so why do i live with them continuously. in 500 sqft i could still enlarge my dining room table to fit 10 guests, and have an overnight guest occasionally..... just fine tune my needs, and become more realistic with my living space. 500sqft will be my new accomodations in 2 years and i can hardly wait. may you find the lovely home that suits your needs..... oh, and no junk !! yeah, i feel so free.

casimmons I lived in a 45' boat with 2 boys a husband and a cat..let me tell you, you can fit a lot in a small space! It was cozy and warm in the winter and airy in the summer! I have also lived in a 35' travel trailer with two tip outs and 2 small children. We modified it and put in built-ins where we could. Then about 4 years ago, my husband and I lived in a 32' fifth wheel with 3 tip outs, it felt like a huge space! Now we live in a 40'x14' single wide, we added another bedroom and bath for our son. It is cozy and homey..I don't know what I would do in a large home, after 30 years of marriage, we've never lived in one!

mcd53 Patricia we lived through hurricane Ivan too. Our home is 3500 sq ft, but has had 5 kids in and out over the yrs. I loved my bedroom during our recovery, but we were lucky to have had such beautiful weather after, unlike so many other hurricanes we've had. My family almost went nuts though. But I do love my space and I have never felt the need to fill every corner up with something or other. I have 5 kids, if I don't want it I have a kids that can use it. One thing does bother me though. I haven't watched Oprah in yrs but didn't she let us know that every time the toilet is flushed things float through the room for at least 10 ft???

Patti Wilson This is applicable only for the young and fit not for seniors and those with disabilities. It is a vertical lifestyle that should be measured on cubic foot not square foot. You may do without tangible ownership due to space but it is encourages an expensive lifestyle of conspicuous city/entertainment/restaurant consumption disguised as "get out and go." There is no accounting for those seeking a respite from urban work with a reflective, serene living space. There's no real availability for slow cooking in house...so much for the carbon footprint. And it appears that the laundro-mat is lifestyle since clothes are hung out the window to dry like the tenements. This the lifestyle the urban Chinese have had for years and called it poverty. We are putting a nice gloss on our lowered living standard in an upscale tenement based on a lifestyle of urban activity and consumption.

Ann Greenberg I live in Germany and 200 sq ft isn't that unusual here. Actually in most cities this is a rather usual size. I myself live in an apartment that is about 200 sq ft and it is not bad living.

mcd53 This is great for a young person in college. I would not want to see 20 of them crammed together making a ghetto, which is exactly what it would become. So the only place where I could see where it might work is built at mom n dads and maybe later renter to other students. My daughter would have loved something like this when she was going to college other than the overpriced, crowded place she had where her rent helped pay for a tennis court and pool no one ever had time to use. She was able to receive help with her housing but refused it when she saw where she would have had to live. Plus 350 would be just a tad better.

getgrowing Reminds of of the nursing homes and seniors who are forced to live like this, often after their families have depleted them of their earthly possessions long before it was necessary!

getgrowing Reminds me of nursing homes for seniors whose families have depleted them of their earthly possessions long before it was necessary! Too bad these buildings are NOT designed for efficient quality lifestyle!

mcd53 We house hunted for over a yr looking to downsize, since it had gotten silly (and hard to find each other in the large house we raised our kids in) for 2 people to waste so much space. No luck. The home builders had gone crazy building 2400 sq ft homes on very, very VERY small lots. We finally decided to build for a number of reasons, but one was with the grandkids now we wanted them to be able to turn around in the backyard. One thing I did notice when we were hunting was the families had larger homes than was the the norm in the '60 &'70, but they had very little furniture. A bed & and a few plastic pull out chest from Walmart does not equal a bedroom. I choose my things carefully because I plan on keeping them n I don't want a bunch of clutter. This was the norm is almost every home. i know everyone starts small n buys over the yrs. but this didn't have that feeling.

missicamps I have a 1350 sq ft town home bought for 3 people to share. Because of the layout it's been a challenge when a fourth person joined the mix. Storage has been the main issue. I've paired down a lot of furniture and that has helped a lot but honestly the design is not the best and I can not afford to move/remove walls or do anything extensive right now. I have however looked at RV's and boats for storage solutions. Mostly though I have learned that there is a whole lot of stuff we can live without. Working on getting rid of such things and finding out how to store the rest.

Jeri Halston where can i find smaller furniture? what a difference that would make!

j0dy Jeri- there are a lot of different sites for studio/apartment furniture. The only one that comes to mind right now is apartmenttherapy.com. Just look up dual use furniture and studio apartment furniture. Dual use furniture is a must. A day bed to use as a couch and a bed, bookshelves with baskets/boxes can be used for anything. A desk that can be your dining table....anyway, just make sure you don't fill your place with ONLY small furniture, it can make your space seem even smaller. If you have at least one big piece of furniture that you really like, incorporate it in your design. Bigger things can give the illusion of more space. Just make sure you leave enough walk way room.

cjktsd I have a 500 sq ft cottage that I will rent out for the summer. Any ideas of a small couch that would work? Coastal Cottage style.

j0dy Any convertable sofa bed would work. There are always sofa covers too to get the look you want. Or check this site out, I just looked it up. http://www.cottagehomemaine.com/cottageupholsterysmallframes.html
Good luck!

Jean Weber My husband and I full timed RV for 4 yrs. When we decided to settle down I figured out that we had been living in about 345 sq ft & got along just fine . So we bought a 659 sq ft condo and are very happy!! We entertain up to 10 people at a time, have family meals etc. In other words. We live quite nicely without a lot of stuff!

gharatani Resistance is futile... http://www.gizmag.com/winning-micro-housing-design-nyc/25989/ ( and no large sodas allowed either ).

mcd53 I was raised in the army and lived in several foreign countries...and Americans are spoiled. It's nice for everyone to have their own room but that is not the norm. And I love my kids desperately but I raised them once and I don't want them back. I will help them get on their ft anyway they can, but if one wanted to stay in my home because all they could find was to small...tough. Unsafe or dangerous, but not to small. One daughter is a an ER nurse and doesn't plan on marrying anytime soon, she want's to be a Dr., but her rent for a place the size of our bedroom is more than our mortgage was. That really ticks her off. Two of the others too. And they don't want to buy, big or small now because they still aren't sure where they are gonna land.

sweet_p NO WAY! I believe that would get old real quick!

olldroo gharatani - they have already been covered here

gharatani Sorry for the repost, has this been posted before? http://www.monolithic.com/topics/cabins I'm considering them for assisted care units.

olldroo gharatani - when it comes to assisted care it is not so much the building as to the location, available local facilities, what is inside it, how it is laid out and accessibility that is important, as well, of course, as the level and quality of assistance given.

Itsy Bitsy Ritzy Shop We actually just invented a line of furniture designed for spaces with smaller footprints. It's hardwood and upholstered furniture with multiple purposes and often built-in storage.

Here are a few examples of spaces under 250 Sq Ft from our website (www.IBRShop.com).

davisbj alldro, space for someone who uses a walker or wheelchair would need to be considered if they need assisted care. Possibly do away with the coffee table or have a bed/sofa arrangement.

julieslounge I live in a 325 sqft space & love it. Turned the nasty garage into a modern guest house then decided to move in & rent the house!

j0dy julieslounge- Great idea! We have similiar tastes. I live in a 300 ft. studio and it's pretty cool how you can just make the space work for you huh? I can't see living large. Thanks for sharing your space, it's nice.

Shoshana Bloom Not sure about sizes, but I live in 124sq/m and have two bathrooms en suite, a study which can double as a guest room, a guest toilet, and a lounge dining room cum kitchen. I also have a largish balcony which I am trying to furnish. My son and wife and 3 kids sleep over often. I only have what I use.

krismort I saw a link on facebook which showed a line of furniture with a bed that folds up into the furniture and underneath there's a desk or other type of furniture which doesn't even need to be cleared to put the bed down, so each piece has a double function. There's even a bunk bed option. I'm still not ready to give up my grand piano, sewing and craft space, good-sized kitchen with double ovens (yes, they're often both running), an extra bedroom for when the hubby is snoring, and space for my five kids, 3 kids-in-law and 6 grandkids to come stay and play, but that kind of furniture would be the only way I could live in a small space, if only for the coolness factor.

sondramartina My ex neigbours (in Europe) ,family of 4 live in 300 sq feet condo . Another one -elderly parents with 2 sons,one of them married with wife and 2 kids -600 sq feet condo. And they never even considered moving out or renting.

j0dy sondramartina- that second sceniero isn't too bad but 300 sq ft for a family of 4? That's pushing it. Too close quarters for me. I'd say one or two people in that space any more than that would cause problems.

sondramartina I agree. And these are not isolated cases. Now i remembered another one ,50sq meters couple with 3 kids and grandmother. One son got married and brought his wife to the familly. And they were not poor people they were on richer side . I think it takes lots od acceptance,patience,respect and tolerance to live along 3 or 4 generations in small space.

kkristalblue I'm thinking of doing the same. My garage is about 320 sq ft. And trying to decide if I can live in such a small space. I notice you do not have a stove. Is it possible to post additional pictures.

franklin36 We have just yesterday moved from a small one-bedroom apt. in a retirement living facility. Our new home is approxi. 1500 sq.ft., 2 bedroom, 2 bath. It is fully accessible. A very open floor plan and a craft room that could easily be turned into a 3rd bedroom. The 2nd bedroom has a beautiful built in queen Murphy bed, a large window and a high smaller window. The room is lined with bookshelves and will be a lovely library or quiet room. Our builder, Brent Jenkins of JBD Construction LLC, mentioned that he has observed a trend in our area toward smaller homes with people putting money into upgrading the interior. We have beautiful hardwood floors, granite counters, stainless appliances. Having lived in our motor home briefly following a home fire, the 1500 sq.ft. is a luxury and we are grateful!

bluchakra I love it and i would live in it. Simple is so wonderful.

ejm32 I currently live in a 500 sqft condo. There are two of us who live in this space and we also have a cat. The space is perfect for us and you will learn to eliminate things you never use and only keep items you really need or use quite often. The more space you have the more spend on things you won't use. Such as furnishing rooms use never go in or designing spaces the have little purpose to your daily life. Save your money and get out of your home more often. Save your money by buying small home and go on a vacation or spend the money on future endeavors

janetlcrawford Great post, though I feel compelled to comment on the statement, "the skeptic in me is concerned how these units will benefit landowners and people with money." I'm a single female business owner who is barely able to hold onto my relatively modestly sized home/office which features two dirt basement spaces measuring 220 and 350 square feet. At the same time our neighborhood rages in a debate about allowing high density affordable housing, these spaces remain unbuildable due to outdated zoning and building codes. Property owners shouldn't automatically be characterized as privileged and looking for opportunities to take advantage of those who can't yet afford a house. How great would it be if I could help solve the housing shortage by providing two chic apartments in a gorgeous area, bring my mortgage down and capitalize on pre-existing infrastructure.