I have been diving extensively into the world of sustainable, small home living and it really is a remarkable idea. With the collapse of the housing market in many parts of the country, people are trying desperately to hang-on to what little they may still have. Many people are choosing to downgrade their current living conditions in the hopes that they’ll be more financially well off after the market recovers. But really, is it such a bad thing to try and make the most out of what you’ve got? I argue that many people were living well beyond their means and the economic downturn really sent a wake-up call to many people nationally and globally.

Do we really need all that space?

According to the National Association of Home Builders, the average home size in the United States was 2,330 square feet in 2004, up from 1,400 square feet in 1970.
Source: Infoplease.com

Seems like a waste of space to me. Companies are beginning to pop up that specialize in “micro housing” or tiny homes. One notable company is Tumbleweed Tiny House Company started by Jay Shafer. They specialize in homes ranging anywhere from 65 to 837 square feet. Is it possible to live comfortably in such “small” spaces? Jay seems to think so.

This is really nothing new as many New Yorkers have been living this way for quite some time now. Well, minus the trash can toilet, but you get the idea. However, what is interesting is the fact that many people are electing to live in places like this because it affords them a much simpler lifestyle. Imagine not having a mortgage, and having an energy bill that’s under $10 or none existent.

What does this have to do with design?

I would argue that it has everything to do with design. In order to live this lifestyle you need to make a commitment to living simply & efficiently, because every square foot counts. Designers and artists often find that when restrictions are placed on their work they begin to develop more creative ideas, because they are forced to think “outside the box.” Yes, pun intended. Placing restrictions on the design process can really get the creative juices flowing. As an example, I have been doing this little exercise where I describe movies with one word. Here are a few examples I came up with:

• Forrest Gump – Chocolate
• JFK – Film reel
• The Usual Suspects – Mug

I’ve stripped an hour and a half’s worth of visuals to one word. Sure, some would argue it’s just an exercise in minimalism, but that is the point afterall. Think about things in your designs that you can strip away and I guarantee you’ll end up with far more visceral results.