How Much Space Do You Really Need?

  

An excerpt from Sarah Susanka's More Not So Big Solutions for Your Home

"You cannot define space by square footage for two reasons. First, a house that has a sense of home has almost nothing to do with square footage; and second, Not So Big means building a house about a third smaller than you thought you needed with dollars reapportioned out of square footage and into quality and character. Both of these points are intended to take the focus off quantity and place it firmly on the things that affect livability.

So where do you start, and how do you know whether the amount of space you are living in or plan to live in is not too big, too small, or just right? The following rules of thumb will help you determine whether it’s more quantity of space you need or more quality you’re really seeking. Although the answer is usually a combination of the two, our typical solution these days is to favor more quantity over quality, when almost always it’s an increase in the quality of an environment that makes us feel more comfortable and more at home (pp. 11-15)."

What to consider when building a Not So Big House:

•          Measure and inventory the rooms you currently live in to identify dimensions and frequency of use.
•        When working with a builder and/or architect, keep the proportions of your existing home in mind.
•         Don’t build spaces that you use less than a handful of times per year.
•         Identify rooms that can do “double duty.”
•        Select a design whose proportions match those of your favorite houses.
•        Always get measurements of the spaces you plan to build, including the ceiling height of each, before committing to a design.
•        If you think something might be too big, visit a model home with similar proportions to get a feel for the space.
•        Find some you can trust to help you with the design and listen to their advice.