Living in a home that is smaller than some closet rooms is not for everyone, but those who manage to do so derive several benefits, for themselves and for the world around them. Here are some tips to choose the best type of small house and to simplify and make life in a small house pleasant, rather than limited.
Steps
Step 1. Do your research
There are many types of small houses, starting from 1 square meter up to 77 square meters. Look at the designs, which can range from traditional to ultra-modern in design. Some include unconventional features like solar / wind power, rainwater harvesting, and composting toilets.
Step 2. Decide what is needed in your home and what you would like instead
Most people need a cozy, dry and quiet place to sleep; a clean place to have personal hygiene (bathroom, shower); a welcoming place to sit or lie down during the day; a place to store, prepare and eat food throughout the day. However, you may want other types of amenities such as a large refrigerator for chilled food, a washer dryer, etc. You could combine these two appliances into one appliance. Do you really need a dryer or could you dry your clothes outside?
Step 3. Look at the benefits of “living small:
”Less space to clean; less unnecessary clothing collections, broken appliances, etc; lower electricity bills and a greener environmental impact; fresher food purchased or collected on a daily basis; more time for outdoor activities and entertainment; no need to sell a house when you move in (if your small house is towable).
Step 4. A small house costs more per square foot than a large house
The design of small houses is more complex, as elements such as modular furniture must be tailor-made to take advantage of all the space. Compact appliances sometimes cost more than large ones. If you are planning your new home on a trailer, you need to consider plumbing (storage and disposal of gray and black water).
Step 5. Decide if you will build your house based on a project or if you will buy it already built, new or used
There are also "kits" available that include all or most of the equipment for building the house, along with instructions. The cheapest way to live in a small house is to buy a used motorhome in good condition or a caravan. The “Subito” site usually has several valid ads. There is the advantage of having something already designed and built, but the disadvantage of not being able to customize the house according to your needs and wishes.
Step 6. Reduce your belongings:
we spend 80% of our time wearing 20% of the clothes we own, so by getting rid of a good part of that wasted 80%, your life will immediately become easier: less clothes to wash and less indecision about what to wear. Instead of having 3 TVs, 2 computers, a VCR, a DVD, a Blu-Ray and 3 different game stations, you reduce it all to one computer - transfer your movies to a hard drive, a flat screen monitor can be twice as large. a TV. A laptop with a TV tuner is also more energy efficient.
Step 7. Be creative on multi-functional furniture:
a bed platform may have containers on the bottom. If you are planning a built-in sofa (without a bed), you could use the space underneath to store things. A table can have shelves under the shelf for storage. Or you could design a table that opens from the wall and can also become a bed. Use planks, shelves (including recessed ones), drawers, wall and ceiling mounted elements to reduce the proportions of wasted space above, below or around the edges of the elements. Consider metal materials to reduce the space occupied by furniture.
Advice
- Don't try to cram too much stuff into your small home - it will make it appear cluttered. This goes twice for the furniture: a large sofa, a double bed, a dining area for 6 people and an armchair or recliner will not leave much space to pass. An armless sofa, a full size bed in a loft and a folding table with two folding chairs that will allow you to seat 4 people for dinner (using the sofa to sit) are more reasonable.
- To take a "test drive" of your small home, you can rent a motorhome (for six months) and try out what you need in terms of space.
- Design according to your needs and prioritize your desires, add them one at a time to the house until you get a balance between desires and space.
Warnings
- Attentive to the quality of the air in a small house. Especially if the house is built 'hermetically' against the infiltration of air for energy saving, and if more than one person lives in it or there are animals. In a larger house, the increased volume of air is a protection against the increase in carbon dioxide produced by the occupants. With a lower volume of air, and if the house is very airtight, mechanical ventilation may be needed to supplement fresh air and avoid headaches or other symptoms of drained air. Of course, during the summer you can simply open a window. During the colder months, the air quality can be lower.
- Check local regulations on restrictions on minimum room sizes and prefabricated RV homes in residential areas. Many regulations require at least one room of 11 square meters and other rooms of a minimum of 6 square meters. Some require the house to be built on a minimal percentage of the area. You may be able to accomplish what you want, but be aware that some communities see small houses as something that lowers the value of properties. Other communities see small, well-built homes as good for infrastructure, less use of electricity, sewage and drinking water systems, and so they accept them.
- Not everyone will share your enthusiasm for living small. Some will think that you are a little crazy for living all the time in a space that they would only consider for one or two weeks a year at the most. If you are engaged or married, make sure there is full agreement on this matter between you and your partner. If you plan to have children, be aware of what will happen to your home at that moment: will you build another small house and join them or will you build a new one?
- A substantial investment is required to build or buy a small house. Make sure you are physically and mentally prepared.
- Used RVs and prefab homes tend to leak, so check if you are about to buy a used one. If you are planning or building your home, pay attention to the potential damage of water leaks.
