If you had asked my 2019 (or earlier) self what I thought of tiny living, I would have said it wasn’t for me. Why would I want a smaller living space?
Little did I know my perspective would flip, and I’d end up in a 410 ft2 studio apartment.
While there are challenges associated with living in such a small space, an abundance of benefits counteract those difficulties. Here are six of those advantages:
1. Less cleaning and maintenance
Even if you declutter a 1,500 ft2 home and curate a minimal aesthetic, you’ll still be left with 1500 ft2 to dust, repair, vacuum, caulk, sweep, and tidy.
Cleaning takes a fraction of the time when you have less space, and there’s less to maintain overall.
By reducing your cleaning/maintenance burden, you’ll free up additional time (and money) for things you actually want to be doing.
2. Better furniture
Whether you move into an apartment with a $50, $500, or $5,000 budget for furnishings, having less space enables you to purchase higher-quality furniture.
Instead of feeling the need to buy five chairs, two mattresses, three mirrors, two couches, and four end tables, you’ll likely only need one (or none) of each for a studio space or tiny home.
This concept allowed my wife and I to purchase a high-quality, handmade rug while still remaining within our budget.
3. Optimal location
While the price per square foot is typically higher for a studio vs. a larger apartment, the overall rental cost is cheaper. Because of those inherent savings, renting a small space can open up nicer areas and better amenities while still fitting within your budget.
Rather than rent a two-bedroom house in a less choice part of town, what would it look like for you to rent a studio apartment within walking distance of work and your favorite coffee shop?
4. Minimized mental clutter
Even if we’re not actively aware, physical belongings take up space in our mental libraries. The more trinkets we hold onto, drawers we stuff, storage units we fill, and space we own, the more our minds are burdened by those things.
By its nature, tiny living reduces mental clutter through the ownership of less.
Does that mean you can’t be intentional with belongings in a two-bedroom home? Of course not! Rather, living in a small space narrows your focus and aids the process of deliberate ownership.
5. Reduced footprint
One reason I highlighted Never Too Small’s YouTube channel in my September newsletter was due to its focus on sustainable living. It’s not enough to build well-designed tiny homes and micro apartments – it’s important to understand why the approach is important for our world.
With limited resources at our disposal and a growing world population, 2,000+ ft2 new builds in sprawling suburbs don’t make sense for the environment or our future.
When looking to build a home, rather than asking “how big can we build?”, why not ask “what’s the size that fits our needs?”. Even better, how can we reuse and repurpose already-built structures rather than starting from scratch?
By living in smaller spaces, we limit our consumption and footprint, benefiting future generations and the world.
6. Community focus
Whether you’re in a packed apartment complex or a tiny home in the woods, living in a small space encourages a community mindset. By having limited room at home, the areas (and people) nearby become an extension of your space:
- Coffee shops become your office
- Restaurants become your kitchen table
- Parks become your home gym
As a result of being in the community more often, you’ll likely become more invested in your city, meet more people (even if you’re an introvert), and contribute to the local culture.
Final Thoughts
Although studio apartments aren’t suitable for everyone, we can all reap the benefits of a tiny living mentality.
Instead of brushing this article off as something for (insert your definition of “them” here), consider ways in which you can embrace a smaller footprint, more communal focus, and a reduced mental burden right where you’re at!