Small Is Beautiful
Kirsten Hawkins

Remember the studio apartment you had in college? That one room
apartment served as bedroom, living room, kitchen and den; it
probably held a daybed, a television, a coffee table, and maybe
even the stove and refrigerator along one wall. Moving into a
real home after experiencing such a cramped way of living can
be a huge relief. So it comes as a surprise to some that home
owners today are deliberately building smaller. If you've got
the cash, some think, why not slap on as much square footage as
possible?

But sometimes building smaller means building smarter.
It's a fact: small is more efficient than large. Building a
large house requires a lot of building materials and manpower,
and consequently, a higher cost. That's why many larger homes
are built with lower qualities of wood and other materials- if
the builders used the best materials, they would price
themselves right out of the market. A smaller home, on the
other hand, can be built with high-quality materials and
attention to detail, and still not fall into an impossible
price range. If you're not particularly in need of floor space
but you love the idea of oak trim and vintage cabinetry, then
it might be in your best interests to build small.

No matter how much you spend to build the house initially, a
smaller house will save you money in the years to come. Heating
and cooling costs of a smaller-sized home will be a fraction of
what they are in larger properties, and repairs on a one-story
roof run much cheaper than those on a three-story mansion.
Painting or siding the exterior of a house that doesn't have as
much exterior is an easy job and well within most home owner's
budgets.

Of course, there is the space factor. But unless you have a
large family or another reason why you need lots of square
footage, don't rule out small homes as being too cramped and
claustrophobic. In the hands of the right designers, smaller
spaces can be given wonderful, wide-open feelings that rival
those of larger houses. Smart designers know the tricks of
opening up a small space and giving it the flow it needs to
feel larger. Rooms that open into each other, a lack of
hallways and narrow entryways, and large windows can all help a
small home feel gigantic. A light style of furniture and simple,
bold pieces on the walls complement a small space perfectly and
give it a clean, contemporary feel. Imagine living without the
compulsion to fill your space with "stuff." Imagine a home
where one or two quality chairs and a sofa can make a room come
alive.

So if you're considering building or buying, consider going
small. It's the new, budget-conscious wave in home design.


About The Author: Kirsten Hawkins is a real estate expert from
Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.king-of-real-estate.com/ for
more information on real estate, mortgages, and finding the
house of your dream.