It's small...get over it! (part one)

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Is bigger always better?

When it comes to square footage, you might be inclined to mindlessly nod your head yes. Of course most of us would choose to fulfill our wish list and build the home of our spatial dreams if money were no object. But what do we need and, residing firmly in reality, how do we make our little homes work?

In essence, how small can we go?

This is a real house!!

Being a deep thinker, these thoughts have been taking up space in my brain the last few days. It all started when I realized I was getting that nasty itch...the itch to re-build. It started with all the extra stuff that made its way into our home over the holidays. Sophie's room is bursting at the seams with pink confection and toys, I realize I desperately need a pantry again (keep in mind, need is used in the most transparent way), and I want more wall space to display I don't know what. It is all very shallow, I know, and it got me thinking, why do we think we need so much space?

Then along came the casually handsome and oh-so-charming Jim Caruk of HGTV Canada's Real Renos. In an episode I caught last weekend, he was lamenting the very same thing!! He was visiting his aging parents who live in the same, small home they raised their three children in: two bedrooms, small living areas, urban back yard. Jim reasoned, he had grown up okay - reasonably comfortable in their tiny abode. Why do home-owners think they require 2000 sq.ft minimum homes with family rooms, large kitchens, finished basements, master suites with huge walk-in closets?? Is is further evidence of the downward spiral of consumerism and excess we are so trapped in?

I think it is.

Of course, not all of us live in McMansions, or even desire to do so. With the high cost of home heating, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense anyway (of course, if you can afford a super-sized home, heating costs probably aren't on your radar...). Many of us can't do a cart-wheel in our living room or host a dinner for twenty without setting up card tables in the living room to accommodate overflow guests. Consider the fireplace (faux or real), television, sofa and extra arm chair, and our living rooms' additional seating consists of plopping oneself down on the floor. No problem creating a cozy feel or intimate seating area - these problems escape us!

photo: The Little Dollhouse Company

Small space design or, more realistically, making do with a real or perceived inadequate blue-print is a challenge I would like to address. How can we carve out more space in our smaller homes? How do we eke out the extras like mudrooms, office areas, guest bedroom when the space just doesn't seem to be there? This is my mission...come along if you like!