Size Matters
When it comes to designing and building a new home or renovation, size matters, the size of your new home will impact three major areas. Let's consider each.
Construction Cost
The size of your home will affect construction costs. For example, if your new home's intended size were 250m2 rather than 300m2, the smaller home would cost less to build, assuming the construction complexity and specification level remain the same.
The key to minimising home size and construction cost is to be smart about the spaces we create because wasted space is expensive. And, frankly, a waste!
Running Cost
You've paid to build your house, but now we need to pay to run it. Victorian homes are currently required to meet the minimum 6-star energy rating, and if you've chosen to exceed this requirement or incorporate additional energy efficiency measures, it will pay dividends here.
A bigger home will draw on more utilities and cost more to heat and cool mechanically.
Connection
Home size and design impact connection. This outcome isn't as widely acknowledged or considered as the first two points. I love Brene Brown's description of connection- " The energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard and valued".
Most meaningful connection comes best from lots of small interactions. To do that consistently, we need to see, hear and value one another easily and frequently. Unfortunately, when our homes are too sprawling, our opportunity for easy connection is minimised. As a society, we have come to prioritise privacy and convenience in our homes, but in doing so, we have compromised connection.
Now we know three great reasons to create a smaller home; here are my top three tips on reducing the size of your new home without reducing enjoyment or livability.
Allocate space and budget to the areas that unite people, such as the main living or outdoor entertaining area. If you need to reduce size, lose it off spaces that don't promote connection, like secondary bedrooms and ensuites.
Create multi-use spaces, particularly where the intended use of an entire room is infrequent. For example, it's very popular to have a guest bedroom, even when you don't have frequent overnight guests. Consider utilising your office or rumpus room converted to this use on the rare occasions it's needed.
Storage is great when storing what you need and not what you hoard. Resist the urge to create storage rooms and oversized walk-in-linen closets to keep things you don't actually need. There will only be so many sheets, towels and kids' toys that you will need at any point. Frequent cleanouts will be much more cost-effective than building giant storage spaces.
Happy smaller home creating. It's a win-win-win. Cheaper to build, cheaper to run and better connection with your family. Boom!
