Happiness in a Smaller Home: 10 Reasons Why You’ll Love Downsizing and Living in a Smaller House
Where I am from in Australia, the average size of a house is over 2000 feet square feet. In the US, it is reported that the average size of a house is over 1600 square feet. When I moved to London, I discovered the average size of a house was half of this figure at around 800 square feet. There was one point, as a new arrival to London, I shared a 1-bedroom central London flat with 2 others and I was living in a large storage cupboard of 18 feet square! Yet, believe it or not, I look back fondly on this time; the fun and adventures that we had in the hustle and bustle of city life. It was an exciting lifestyle!
I have met many people in London who live in the tiniest of spaces and absolutely love it. It is not about the space, but the freedom of experiences to be had in the outside world that a tiny home encourages.
Why do so many people strive for larger homes in the first place?
A growing family (More rooms to hide in)
Disposable income (Too much play money)
As a symbol of status (To impress other people who are probably more interested in their own lives than yours)
Too much stuff determining more storage (A hoarding problem)
Fantasies and ideals encouraged by the media (Too easily led by social influence)
Spending and buying in excess is a trend that is thankfully beginning to die away as people become more aware of environmental and social issues. Certainly, a number of friends of mine have made a conscious decision to downsize and I have spent much time discussing living with less with them.
10 reasons you will be happier downsizing and living in a smaller home:
A smaller home costs less than its larger neighbours: This means cheaper bills and expenses and more money in your pocket to enjoy outside experiences.
A smaller home encourages more tasteful and easier decorating: Painting walls, choosing furniture and fittings becomes cheaper and faster, with more scope to keep up with changing trends.
A smaller home is easier to clean and maintain: It takes much time, effort and energy to properly keep a large house clean, plus maintain the quantity of plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling elements.
A smaller home is easier to keep decluttered: Less effort is needed to tidy, and you will find that you will naturally be rid of excessive, unneeded possessions to maintain clearer spaces.
A smaller home is more eco-friendly: It consumes less energy and are cheaper to construct, using less materials. The materials are typically designed for energy saving.
A smaller home is more intimate: Larger houses discourage relationships as there are more rooms to divide a family. Smaller spaces encourage better, harmonious relationships with more experiences being shared. You can quickly see if a relationship has flaws and work toward resolving them.
A smaller home lessens your temptation to fill it: With less space, you become canny at investing in multi-functional items. You have no need for a home gym, you exercise outside or at a local gym. You refine your hobbies to just those you truly love, rather than entertaining many. Reduction brings freedom and clarity.
A smaller home means that you learn to live with less: By living with less you learn to appreciate and enjoy the more important things in life, such as friendships, learning and real-life experiences. You can in fact choose to live with better quality items in the few possessions you choose to own as you have more money, if that is what you like.
A smaller home means you can become mortgage-free faster: You no longer have a massive debt hanging over you and life becomes more affordable.
Smaller homes are faster to sell, are more secure and easier to move from: Many people are seeking affordable homes and if you decide to move on, this becomes a quicker sales process. Smaller homes are also easier to secure with less entrance areas. You can lock them down faster and get out and travel to other places. With less stuff, moving becomes much more freeing.
Please consider reading my book, “Mindful Minimalism” which thoroughly explores the What, Why and How of decluttering and living with less.