Does anyone live in a tiny or small home?

**nuisance26** · 11-02-2011, 08:48 AM

~I've been in love with tiny homes and cottages since I was a little girl. My sister and I had a playhouse that was actually a real, tiny home a neighbor had lived in. It was 2 rooms about 96 square feet total with a miniscule sleeping loft. The neighbor had an outhouse so no bathroom. I loved it! I wanted to live in it.
I heard about Tumbleweed homes here on FV and now I follow the Tiny House Blog. I spend waaaay to much time looking at and drawing small home floor plans.
Right now, our family of 5 lives in 800 square feet. That's small. I'd actually prefer to go down to about 650-700 and have sleeping lofts or berths instead of bedrooms. I think bedrooms are a waste of space. But I also grew up with 4 siblings in a small house then lived in a 200 square dorm room with 3 other women so I guess I'm more acclimated to less space.
DH isn't. I think that's because he works in a factory and it's like a huge warehouse. It must feel tiny and cramped here at home for him.
He wants to go up in square footage when we move next summer. We probably will. But he's not the one that does all the cleaning.

He is willing to consider retiring to something tiny though. Yay!
Anyway, I was just wondering if I could get some feedback from others in small and tiny homes, especially if you raised kids in tight quarters.
Is anyone else dreaming of downsizing? Why?~

**OOwl** · 11-02-2011, 09:13 AM

I raised my two kids, husband, and two large dogs in a 900-square-foot cottage. I like small houses, too. It forces simplicity and to concentrate on keeping only what you love, use, and need, rather than just collect things because they were a good value or have some sentimental attachment. My subsequent houses were bigger but really made me quite uneasy with that much wasted space, and I was shocked at the increased utility bills (especially summer AC to cool big spaces). And because there was all that extra space, I started collecting JUNK, which ended up causing me great anxiety when we moved, just being disgusted with the waste of it all, meaningless items just stored and not used. We are currently living in our forever home, a custom-built stone cottage at the lake. It's small, rooms are cozy. It was very thoughtfully built in that every inch of space was optimized. Cabinets go all the way to the ceiling, so what IS there, is fully utilized. There is a breakfast bar for additional dining seating. Bedrooms are smallish for this area, but every bedroom has full walk-in closets, where dressers can fit, freeing up room in the actual sleeping quarters. The house has large front and back porches, offering outdoor living spaces. Since the weather here is warm here almost year-round, there are few days those areas don't get used. I spend hours in the front porch swing. The utility room has a full walk-in closet to be used as a second/stockpile pantry and a huge mop/utility sink, which is a fantastic option I just love. Those are just a few of the features I love on my small house. I think it's great that you're exploring options for small houses, too. I'll be looking forward to others' experiences on this thread.

**pollypurebred39** · 11-02-2011, 09:21 AM

We have about 750' of living space for 4 people. Years ago we chose a small fixer upper home because we could live in an upper middle class neighborhood (a lot of iffy neighborhoods out here) and pay ALL our mortgage & utilities, including oil with one weeks pay. We figured that would leave us with more than enough to invest and prepare for retirement, and still be able to do things with our kids, prepare for their college, etc.

Fast forward into this economic mess and it was the smartest thing we've ever done. If we had done what everyone else in our income bracket (at that time) had done, we would have lost absolutely everything within a year of the downturn. We are still hanging on by a thread, but we are hanging on.

Would I like more space? In the kitchen, absolutely, but we made an extremely wise choice not following the Jones.

The only thing that I can say is that it's really easy to accumulate way too much stuff, even when you're not a big spender. Especially if you like to buy ahead off season for kids clothing, or they are in sports. That's hard to keep in check and maintain an uncluttered feel in a smaller home.

**frugal me** · 11-02-2011, 10:14 AM

I'd love to downsize some. But DH is not for it until the kids are grown & gone.
We live in a 1600 sq ft house for the 4 of us.
I would really love something about half this size.

**pammy** · 11-02-2011, 10:43 AM

I've been really thinking about this a lot. I think we have pretty much decided we will be moving to another state (the one my dh works in 3 weeks a month) one way or another. So I've had my family scouting some homes, and what they are sending me are homes that are about 1800sqft. Umm... it's just me and my hubby. Our current home is like 1950sqft, and the utility bills are kinda ridiculous. Plus, so much space wasted. And it's usually just me here by myself. They keep arguing that I'd have all this furniture I'd need to find room for, but I don't NEED all of this stuff.

If I can go against the norm and get dh on board with me, I wouldn't mind to find something older, smaller, less expensive. You never know when life is going to happen to you and I'd feel so much better with less.

Oh, and I've always dreamed of having one of those tiny little cottages someday, place that is just mine, hidden in the backyard. They are so cute!! In my mind, lesser home, lesser payment, lesser utilities = more money to be able to build one some day.

**Laney** · 11-02-2011, 11:37 AM

I would love one of the smaller houses. less to clean, maintain, insure, heat and cool. we are currently looking at houses and it's hard to find something that is less than 1,200 sq. ft. dh's family says we should get a house that is AT LEAST 2,000sq. ft. I don't know what's a bigger pain...his family or trying to find a house

**krbshappy71** · 11-02-2011, 11:43 AM

My dogs wont fit!!!

Just kidding. I like small for the cleaning benefits, the cuteness of old homes with their built-in cubbies and shelves. I don't care for the large-homes nowadays that have vaulted ceilings, its seems like wasted space to me. How do people get out the cobwebs from way up there? I want cozy.

My current house is too big, 1,014 sq ft with a full basement, 3bd 2 bath. The houses the BF and I are looking at are about the same size of my current house, 1,375 sq ft for the current one we have our eye on, but he has three children that might visit and its a good price for that size of house. I guess the reason we are shopping in that range is that we would like an office and a guest room.

So I say I like small and cozy but in reality I think that's only if it was JUST ME. I think with other people I need a bit of space, breathing and relaxing areas but not a giant house like some people have. I do love having my dogs!

**cadamsgis** · 11-02-2011, 12:00 PM

My house is 576 sq ft.

For some reason they don't count the basement. I thought we would use the basement but ended up never going down there so now rent it to my SIL, BIL, and 2 & 4 year old boys.

It's a 2 bedroom house built in 1938.

My mortgage with taxes and insurance is $600. Which is amazing in the DC area. I was paying 925 for a really junky 1 bedroom apartment.

I love the house. It is one of the best financial decisions I've made. It's also 4 miles from my office so I go home veryday for lunch (or most days).

I was telling my husband when we relocate to mexico for retirement I want a small house like this one. He agrees. It's perfect for us.

**Libby** · 11-02-2011, 12:20 PM

Personally would love a tiny home! Not sure of square footage though b/c it all depends on layout. Love that a smaller home = less cleaning. Would also like a garage though. Furniture can be purged and repurchased to suit the need.

I watch HGTV shows about buying homes and am flabbergasted that the single person buying a home wants a 5000sq ft ranch style

I think we are in about 1000 - 1200 sq ft but we have a finished basement (in which DH & I occupy) which the square footage isn't included.

DH lived in a tiny apt when we first met and was a minimalist til he moved in here with dad and I.

He'd prob have no issues downsizing. Its me - I have too much stuff but its going outta the house slowly - its still out though

**jas** · 11-02-2011, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by cadamsgis

My house is 576 sq ft.

For some reason they don't count the basement. I thought we would use the basement but ended up never going down there so now rent it to my SIL, BIL, and 2 & 4 year old boys.

It's a 2 bedroom house built in 1938.

My mortgage with taxes and insurance is $600. Which is amazing in the DC area. I was paying 925 for a really junky 1 bedroom apartment.

I love the house. It is one of the best financial decisions I've made. It's also 4 miles from my office so I go home veryday for lunch (or most days).

I was telling my husband when we relocate to mexico for retirement I want a small house like this one. He agrees. It's perfect for us.

Love your cute house! I used to live near DC in Maryland. In the Oxon Hill area. I have not lived there is 36years though so I don't know what that area is like now.

**jas** · 11-02-2011, 12:51 PM

Love the small houses too! Don't know how DH would cope though. He would need a huge garage for all his junk. Also he snores like a animal. And we sleep in different rooms because of it. Maybe we could each have one!!

**Sonnenwende** · 11-02-2011, 01:05 PM

I like smaller housing, but not tiny. Right now, I live in a 1300sqf house and it is absolutely perfect. If my husband did not need a completely separate office for work, we could go smaller. I probably would not go under 800 sqf though.

**justpeachy92** · 11-02-2011, 01:12 PM

We currently rent a 1000 sq. foot 3 bedroom home. We are due to have our 5th child in Feb. and have decided with 7 people in the family it is time to get something bigger. We are pre-approved for a mortgage and we are looking this weekend at a house that is almost 1400 sq. ft, it also has barn, and enough land to explore the idea of becoming homesteaders.

**OOwl** · 11-02-2011, 01:13 PM

Aww, I love your small house! Here's my little stone cottage. I couldn't be happier with it if it was a huge mansion! It's unique, has character; the builder lives in the same neighborhood and built this house like his own family was going to live in it, a true little, old-fashion craftsman house. I feel very fortunate!

**Laney** · 11-02-2011, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by OOwl

Aww, I love your small house! Here's my little stone cottage. I couldn't be happier with it if it was a huge mansion! It's unique, has character; the builder lives in the same neighborhood and built this house like his own family was going to live in it, a true little, old-fashion craftsman house. I feel very fortunate!

your home is beautiful!! I love the porch