Some people dream of living in massive mansions and large homes, while others embrace minimalist lifestyles and fully support the tiny house movement. There isn’t a wrong answer when it comes to what the size of a house should be, but the hardest part when building a home is determining what square footage is right for your family.
There are three primary questions to consider when deciding on home sizes:
- How much space do you need?
- How much space will you actually use?
- What is your budget?
These three questions guide the conversation because problems with home size most often arise because of a lack of space or too much space. (Budget is obviously a major factor, as well.) The answers change depending on your lifestyle, stage of life, and whether your family has the potential to grow in the near future or not.
There’s no foolproof answer to what type of home you should pursue as a prospective homebuyer, but it’s important to weigh some of the benefits of varying sizes to determine what fits your needs best.
The Case For A Larger Home
If your family is growing, then a home that’s on the smaller side might not be a good idea. A larger home will be a better fit, as it will allow you and your family to expand without growing too big for the home. You’ll want extra bedrooms to accommodate children, flexible space for bonus rooms activities, more storage space, and additional living spaces.
The Case For A Smaller Home
Smaller homes are great choices if you’re looking to downsize or if you have no current plans to expand your family. They are typically more affordable, with lower purchase prices and lower expenses for heating, cooling, furnishing, and the like. They also take less time and effort to clean and maintain, making them much more hassle-free compared to larger homes.
Precise square footage numbers don’t do much to help people determine what they need, as each homeowner has different goals, aspirations, and desires with how they want to use a particular house.