Making the commitment to living more lightly is a big one and should be carefully considered (and agreed upon) before proceeding. Often it means developing a new mind set. You will probably find that educating yourself on current ecological and environmental issues will encourage you to take the next step on your own "green" journey. Read up on the latest technological developments. Some are pretty exciting! Check out our Resource section (links above and below) for places to begin your research.

considerations before downsizing
Before your new home is designed, think about how you actually live, or would like to begin to live in your new home. How long do you plan to live here? What are your space needs now and in the future? Your new home should accommodate you now and be flexible enough to work for you in the future. Your designer must know your long term lifestyle plans in order to help you reach that goal.

assessing your needs
Most of us naturally think of the spaces in homes as we've known them in the past. Instead, think of how you want to live, then consider the type of space that will best accommodate your new, leaner lifestyle. In designing a small home, you must think creatively! What space needs are critical to make this home work for you, and what "would be nice." Are you willing to trade the "would be nices" for additional peace of mind, freedom, independence, and self sufficiency?

Make a list of all the benefits you would enjoy by living in a small, simpler home. This list will be important to refer to when you're making the more difficult decisions about your belongings. Keep this list handy and refer to it often!

Make a list of your most important possessions—the ones you are not willing to part with. (More on this on our Stuff Assessment page.) Think about each one carefully. Is this object really irreplaceable? Is there someone else in your family who might make better use of it? Then make a list of things you are willing to sell or give away. Compare notes with your partner and discuss this until you are in agreement!

These exercises might work best if reworked over time. You might find that, once you realize the benefits of building small, the things you weren't willing to part with earlier become easier to pass on to others. Spend the necessary time with this so that you really feel good about your answers. If you aren't able to come to agreement, perhaps this isn't the time to make the change! Revisit you ideas in six months or a year and see how things feel to you then.

Once you have whittled down your "must have" list, measure the furniture that your new small home will accommodate. Shop with a tape measure and look for smaller sized furniture. You'll be surprised at the sizes you'll find. When designing your living room, furniture that isn't as deep or wide will give you more options.

designing for activities
The next thing to consider are the activities you want to have room for in your home. Do you like to entertain? In more temperate climates, a comfortable covered patio can easily extend your living area. Do you like to cook? What type of a kitchen do you need? Do you have hobbies? If so, can you use space for dual purposes? While you're reassessing things, consider whether you really need to provide a guest room for occasional visits from friends and family. When you consider the added cost, you could easily pay for a motel room for your guests and be able to use that space for things you do daily. Or maybe a Murphy bed is the answer. Or a sleeping loft tucked in a private place might be perfectly adequate for the occasional guest. Get creative and stay open to new ideas, no matter how bizarre they sound at first. The result might surprise you!