The years of recession are changing America’s idea of what we need to live in. The days of McMansions popping up all over the place are waning, and the idea of less is not only okay, it can be better is growing. The huge number of foreclosures meant that more people had less equity to work with so they had to downsize their living space. Since real estate is not the same investment as it was 10 years ago, people are rethinking the idea of a bigger house being a better investment.
High unemployement, and other factors that have been contributed to the recession have also been a part of the growing trend for smaller homes. This, along with the high cost of energy, are helping to contribute to the trend of smaller living spaces.
There is also the larger awareness that people have of their carbon footprint. Many Americans are realizing that they need to help conserve our natural resources, and these huge homes that were being built were eating them up. With a smaller home you are not only saving money, you are also saving the planet.
It is not unusual to see houses that are under 500 square feet, but they can also range up to 1,000 square feet. To make these small houses livable people have learned how to be more efficient and plan their space accordingly. It is also important to think outside the box when it comes to storage. Much of the furniture and spaces need to have more than one purpose.
These tiny houses are also designed to have good light and a good air flow so the people living in them don’t feel like they are in a hut.