In our San Diego real estate practice, we are seeing more buyers who want to be living small within walkable neighborhoods and communities. It’s an easier-care lifestyle that appeals to Baby Boomers and those seeking to downsize.
We all have different definitions of the ideal dream home. But when it comes down to actually living in it, however, can smaller be better? If your dream is for an urban dwelling with access to cultural events, public transportation, or a great walk score you might have to look smaller to be able to afford your location.
Or, if you want a mountain cabin or beach cottage, you may have to rethink that overstuffed sofa, king-sized bed, and oversized dining room furniture.
Does size matter?
Depending on how many people are living in the home and the home’s design, too small a home could make everyone be underfoot and life there miserable. But recent innovations in organization and layout, clever, multipurpose furnishings and lots of personal ingenuity can make a smaller home, condominium, or cottage the perfect place for you and your family.
Mindfulness
When designing and furnishing your small space, be thoughtful about each piece you add to your home. If a piece of furniture has only one purpose, you might want to rethink it. For instance, can your table double as your desk? Alternatively, can a work cart become a counter with stools? Do you mostly eat in the living room? If so, your coffee table could double as a dining space.
Out of the box
Some retailers specialize in small spaces and can give you great ideas on how to maximize space. If your ceilings are tall enough, consider a loft option for your bed. Not just for children or college students, the space below a queen-size loft bed can be a closet, an office, a TV area–or whatever suits your needs. In a child’s room, the area below the loft can become a play or study area, or alternate levels of beds can provide privacy for multiple kids.
Another option is to create storage above, below, or around the bed. Standing or wall-hung cabinets offer designer details while adding a repository for your shoe collection. Raise your bed up just a few inches and you can fit the equivalent of a full dresser under it. Take advice from apartment-dwellers and maximize all of your vertical space. You might also consider the Murphy Bed, which tilts up unobtrusively against the wall when not in use.
Consider your lifestyle
If you regularly cook and eat at home, design your kitchen to accommodate your eating style and use living space accordingly. But, if you regularly order take-out, or dine out more often than in, consolidate your kitchen area in to a gallery and use more space for entertaining. A compact kitchen can still have all the amenities of a large one including stainless steel appliances, built-in specialty storage spaces, high-end surfaces like granite, and designer backsplashes—just in a more condensed layout. Moreover, your kitchen doesn’t even need to be a separate room. A “great room” concept with kitchen, dining and living all in the same area works great in small spaces as well as larger ones.
Know what’s important
The most crucial thing about choosing to live small is knowing why it is your best choice. If access (to work, shopping, transportation, culture, the beach, solitude) is most important to your quality of life, paying more to live small may be the best decision you make. If living small for a season so that you can later enjoy a larger space at home is your purpose, then creating a small space work is an important decision.
No matter what your purpose, small or large, or anywhere in-between, we can help you find the space that work best for your situation. To discuss your options, give us a call at either 877-818-8197 or 760-402-9101. Alternatively, you may email murphygroup@gmail.com