There are many reasons why homeowners today are constructing smaller houses. While the average home in the US today is bigger than it was in the 70s for example, homeowners are going for smaller house plans to save on heating costs and to reduce their carbon footprint. In addition, shifting lifestyles (such as smaller families) and less access to credit means that some families can only afford to construct and maintain smaller homes.
Smaller homes have an advantage in that they have a smaller carbon footprint. This is because they need fewer resources to go to cooling, heating, lighting and other energy-guzzling activities.
In addition, given that the average American home is already buckling under huge credit debt, it makes sense to go for smaller homes whose loans will take a shorter time and smaller installments before they are fully paid off. This is in fact the reason for the decrease in home size, particularly following the economic recession of 2008-2010.
If you’re looking for a smaller home plan for any reason, bear in mind that smaller doesn’t always have to mean worse. Many people have shifted focus in favor of constructing smaller homes and are still able to comfortably live according to their requirements. This article highlights some design ideas that you can employ to make your home feel larger.
- Vaulted ceilings
Vaulted ceilings have the ability to make small rooms feel larger. For a little more pizzazz, consider installing a barrel-vaulted ceiling, with the radius angle connecting both of your roof planes. For a truly dazzling effect, however, you can go for a dome-vaulted ceiling. Whatever vaulted ceiling style you decide to go with, you’ll find the result is a more spacious and airy room.
- Open-plan layouts
Doors and walls take up more space to execute, but you can easily reclaim with space by employing an open floor plan where possible – mostly in the kitchen, dining and living room areas. Just a small change like having an open-plan kitchen can actually add lots of real and figurative space to your house. In addition, open plans encourage better relation among family members – people in different rooms can still have close connection/conversation.
- Indoor-outdoor connection
If you have a great outdoors, you can incorporate this in your home plan to add tons of space. Homes with strong indoor-outdoor connection feel naturally larger. You can do this by installing larger windows with simple drapery that emphasizes what lies beyond the curtain. Installing French/sliding doors opening into a yard or balcony can also give the illusion of more space in a room, especially if you continue with the same flooring pattern.
- Clerestory windows
Any windows that are higher than eyelevel can add to the feeling of roominess. Any expert home builder Stuart FI knows that high windows are excellent inlets for natural light, which helps small rooms appear bigger. The other advantage of high windows is that you can comfortably maintain your privacy.
Conclusion
Of course, once the house is constructed, avoiding clutter is one of the best ways to maintain the illusion of space. Don’t try to do too many things in a room. A minimalistic approach to decoration will ensure you have everything you need without over-filling the space you have.
