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Tips for Downsizing - Pain Free!
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Downsizing is so popular right now it's about to hit the tipping point. Not really - let's hope that never happens. Environmentally conscious folks, architects, editors at Dwell magazine and people who live in expensive places like Manhattan have been honing their small-space living skills for quite some time now. They have a lot to teach the masses who are now seeking to live a bit smaller.
Well, we can give the current economy a lot of credit for the current downsizing trend, but it's not a bad thing, I promise. Our culture was celebrating huge plasma screens in every room, homes where you never had to pass by another family member for an entire week, huge closets for a gazillion pairs of shoes we couldn't afford, and garages large enough for a plethora of gas guzzlers a bit too much. Now even the Real Tacky Housewives of Bravo are downsizing.
Small space living allows you to clear the clutter, decide what's really important, save money for more important things, save energy, spend more time with your family and even allows you to gather a captive audience, if that's what you desire. Who knows? You may save so much money living smaller that you'll be able to take more trips, hit the day spa and be able to enjoy more of life outside of your house. Start to retrain your thinking. Instead of thinking "cramped" think "charming." Instead of thinking "one room studio" think "pied-à-terre." Instead of thinking "rinky dink house" think "cottage" or "bungalow." You get the picture. Still not convinced? Go watch a marathon of "Hoarders" on A&E. This will jump-start the clearing of the clutter part of this exercise. You can do it. Here are some simple instructions for living smaller:
Well, we can give the current economy a lot of credit for the current downsizing trend, but it's not a bad thing, I promise. Our culture was celebrating huge plasma screens in every room, homes where you never had to pass by another family member for an entire week, huge closets for a gazillion pairs of shoes we couldn't afford, and garages large enough for a plethora of gas guzzlers a bit too much. Now even the Real Tacky Housewives of Bravo are downsizing.
Small space living allows you to clear the clutter, decide what's really important, save money for more important things, save energy, spend more time with your family and even allows you to gather a captive audience, if that's what you desire. Who knows? You may save so much money living smaller that you'll be able to take more trips, hit the day spa and be able to enjoy more of life outside of your house. Start to retrain your thinking. Instead of thinking "cramped" think "charming." Instead of thinking "one room studio" think "pied-à-terre." Instead of thinking "rinky dink house" think "cottage" or "bungalow." You get the picture. Still not convinced? Go watch a marathon of "Hoarders" on A&E. This will jump-start the clearing of the clutter part of this exercise. You can do it. Here are some simple instructions for living smaller:
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Get Clever. Turn a little closet or nook into a fabulous little bar.
Get Open-Minded. Blow out some walls and combine your living spaces. Here the kitchen, dining and living areas are all one large space.
by CWB Architects
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Again, here the architect says "To give the cottage a roomier feel, we removed the existing low ceilings and clad the existing gable shape in pine shiplap. "
By the way, this is one of my very favorite houses on Houzz. If you want to get inspired to get small, check out the entire home.
By the way, this is one of my very favorite houses on Houzz. If you want to get inspired to get small, check out the entire home.
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| Get Symmetrical. The balance in this room is so pleasing that you don't realize how compact the space is. |
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Get Cozy. Is this fireplace not the cutest thing you've ever seen? I want it. I want to design a small room around it, and sit right next to it.
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| Get Light. The white walls and furnishings in this house make the space look much larger than it is. |
Get Comfortable. The clapboard walls, antique bed, and Oriental rug make this room irresistible. Another good trick used here is to use sconces that eliminate the need for beside tables.
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Get Cornered. A less talented designer might write this little corner off as wasted space, but this homeowner turned it into a beautiful eating area.
by CWB Architects
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Get Architectural. Here pocket doors are huge space savers.
by CWB Architects
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Get Over It. Again, a very clever architectural move. A small home office was formed on a small landing.
by CWB Architects
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Get Punchy. With holes for windows that is. Let in the light and the view.
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| Get Real. Personally, I use my oven for storage. Take a look at apartment-scale appliances and think about how much you really need anything larger. |
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Get Multifunctional. This room is a playroom, a study, and a guest room thanks to the multi-purpose daybed.
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| Get Close. Alright, this is more of a vacation home move, where how many people a place sleeps is a priority, but bunk beds and lofts are a great way to use space to the max. |
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Get Garaged. Or something. I call outbuildings like this marriage savers. Let the cigar smoking and hustling happen on the across the yard in the shed (oh my gosh, TOTAL side note, I will never look at a little pre-fab shed in the same way again after watching "Dexter" this season).
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| Get Outside! If you are lucky enough to have a patch of land attached to your home, consider it another room and enjoy it to the fullest. You may want to go so far as to add some structure like this trellis, or a simple fire pit. |
Ideabook updated on Dec. 27, 2009.
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Happy new year!
Tim
http://con-tain-it.typepad.com
I just pulled a TV out of my attic I had not used in seven years. It was heavy, and I kept thinking "just leave it here until you move someday," but I'm starting to have the sense that a big toxic piece of junk in my home is not healthy. I don't even want my attic to be cluttered anymore!
I rent but I'm also very attracted to interesting and practical use of space as well as beauty. I'm focusing on change without extreme changes. I'm also a huge fan of sweet ideas like the loft office:)