small houses?

Question

I have been looking into "small houses" like 500 to 700 s.f. I know about the small house society, but ide like to find pictures and floor plans that might give me more of an idea. I like the concept of small houses, and would like to build one and live in it and see if I really can do this. Any ideas or thoughts on the subject would be news for me, thank you in advance.

Answer 1

Certainly nothing wrong with the notion, and many come in pre-built of kit form, often similar to camp cabins.

In general terms "efficient" use of the space is key, not strictly size. A 3000 sq. ft. home has a lot of wasted or unused space in it.

My first apt. was 440 sq. ft. in NYC. I lived in it and enjoyed it for 6 years

Another example though not what you're looking into, would be a one bedroom mobile home, usually 600 sq. ft. plus/minus.

Given that multiple family dwellings and zero lot lines are here to stay, I think "Less is More" is valid thinking.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

We live in a rent house right now that is 750 SF.
while we are building our house on 2 acres, it is just me and the wife now so we don't need much room, we are not old but are getting up into the late summer of life..the Kid is gone and we really don't want a lot to take care of as we get older, so our new home will only be a little over 1000 SF.
with the price of electric and gas, also insurance and taxes, I myself can't see why a single person are a couple would need anything bigger..take a long hard look at the big picture,and give a lot of thought to resale value..then just go for it..worse case you can always move up and keep the small one for a rental.

Answer 3

I built houses for a number of years. The size of house you are building would be best built in an L shape. The open part of the L could be about 4 - 6 feet wide by 10 or 15 feet long. This would give you a front porch to sit on, which is where you will probably do most of your sitting(hehe). Then extend the roof over the porch area and you basically have a square or rectangle.

Put all of the kitchen on one side, a small enclosed room for a bathroom, the rest is living area. Kind of like a studio apartment. The layouts would be endless because your boundarys are established by furniture and fabric or paper privacy panels.

God Bless

Answer 4

The square footage you have in mind is pretty small,however,I lived in a house that small at one time and if its just you it is doable,you want your living space to be as open a floor plan as you can live with,the more open the floor plan,the roomier it feels.I would suggest you look at open houses in your area that are newly built and or for sale, that will allow you to do a walk through.Look at houses in all different sizes,so you can get a feel for what it is that you yourself are looking for,what you could live with and what you couldn't live with,it will give you great ideas.

Answer 5

If you build make every inch count you will need storage a attic a basement something also make decorating a storeage ites also you;ll need all you can get Been there done that Don't like it