Live Well in Less than 1,000 Square Feet: Living in Small Homes

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Jay Shafer's Tumbleweed home features convertible, built-in furniture such as a pull-out dining table for one that also functions as a desk.
Jay Shafer's Tumbleweed home features convertible, built-in furniture such as a pull-out dining table for one that also functions as a desk.
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When Jay Shafer's first home didn't meet the minimum size requirement for an Iowa home, he put it on wheels and called it a trailer.
When Jay Shafer's first home didn't meet the minimum size requirement for an Iowa home, he put it on wheels and called it a trailer.
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The cottage includes a small shower and portable composting toilet
The cottage includes a small shower and portable composting toilet
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A mini wood-burning stove can easily heat Shafer's tiny home, and built-in cabinets and drawers provide ample storage.
A mini wood-burning stove can easily heat Shafer's tiny home, and built-in cabinets and drawers provide ample storage.
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A quaint dining area is perfectly sized for two.
A quaint dining area is perfectly sized for two.
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Outdoor living spaces surround Michael Ann Brown's home, allowing for a comfortable spot outside nearly any time of year.
Outdoor living spaces surround Michael Ann Brown's home, allowing for a comfortable spot outside nearly any time of year.
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Serial archways in Michael Ann Brown's home lead the eye through the living space and to the French doors leading outside, creating a feeling of expansiveness.
Serial archways in Michael Ann Brown's home lead the eye through the living space and to the French doors leading outside, creating a feeling of expansiveness.
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A partial wall or cut-out defines separate rooms without cutting off the long views that make a space feel large.
A partial wall or cut-out defines separate rooms without cutting off the long views that make a space feel large.
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The enclosed porch on the east is wrapped in windows and glass for a strong indoor-outdoor feeling.
The enclosed porch on the east is wrapped in windows and glass for a strong indoor-outdoor feeling.
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This 450-square-foot British Columbia cabin is so comfortable its owners decided to make it their full-time home rather than a vacation retreat.
This 450-square-foot British Columbia cabin is so comfortable its owners decided to make it their full-time home rather than a vacation retreat.
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Architect Henry Yorke Mann used tall ceilings, skylights and lots of glass to make the living space feel larger, while a sloping ceiling defines the kitchen.
Architect Henry Yorke Mann used tall ceilings, skylights and lots of glass to make the living space feel larger, while a sloping ceiling defines the kitchen.
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A cozy sleeping loft topped with skylights offers views of the trees and sky above.
A cozy sleeping loft topped with skylights offers views of the trees and sky above.
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A narrow stairway is made navigable with ladderlike steps and double handrails.
A narrow stairway is made navigable with ladderlike steps and double handrails.

During the past 60 years, the size of American homes has exploded, but the trend is now moving in the opposite direction, proving once more that bigger isn’t always better. In 1950 the average American home size was 983 square feet; by 2009 the average home was 2,343 square feet–even as family size shrank. Finally, it appears people are rethinking housing size. In 2010, average home size is down 9 percent, and many communities–such as California’s Marin County and Georgia’s DeKalbe County–have enacted laws limiting new home size. 

A moment’s thought yields a multitude of reasons to consider living in less than 1,000 square feet. Smaller homes generally cost less and require less maintenance than larger ones. A small house consumes fewer natural resources in construction and requires less energy for heating and cooling. But perhaps the most compelling reason for going small is that it feels good. People who live in small, well-designed houses say their homes feel cozier, and they love having everything they need within reach.

Design makes all the difference. A poorly designed 900-square-foot house can feel smaller than a well-designed 400-square-foot house. Homes feel cramped when they have small, dark rooms and insufficient storage space. Well-designed small spaces feel open, efficient and cozy. As architect and small-space specialist Henry Yorke Mann proves in his homes, living in a cozy space doesn’t mean sacrificing convenience or livability. “You don’t want to get too mean about things,” he says.

The Spirit of the Sea

Keith and Judy Scott loved the 450-square-foot cabin Mann designed for them on their British Columbia property so much that they moved out of their main house and now live happily in the small home. “We never thought we could live in 450 square feet,” Keith says. “The home we’d lived in was 5,000 square feet. But the spaces just work right. They’re not too big, and they’re not too small.”

  • Published on Oct 6, 2010
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