 maller homes are enjoying increased popularity today as some people are becoming attracted to a more simple lifestyle. Smaller homes can be designed to look like a mountain cabin or a country farmhouse or they can be contemporary, traditional or southwestern designs. They can be used as a primary residence or as a vacation home, guest house or a home for an elderly relative. Small homes certainly have some advantages; less to clean and maintain, a cozier atmosphere, lower building costs and a more environmentally friendly design.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SMALL HOMES
 If contributing to a more sustainable, less consumptive future is a part of your motivation for building, the size of your home will make the most dramatic impact on its environmental sustainability. Small homes take up less space, use fewer resources in construction, operation and maintenance and are, therefore, a more "green" alternative.
They are also a perfect choice for people who want less home to care for and people on a budget.
THE COST OF SMALL HOMES
An important fact in home building is that small homes (under about 1800 square feet) begin to cost more per square foot than larger homes. This is because small homes can't take advantage of the economies of scale that larger homes can. There are still set costs; permits, utility hookup fees, insurance, land, etc.
Kitchens and baths are more expensive spaces because of appliances, plumbing fixtures, cabinets, vanities and additional lighting. Smaller homes have these expensive rooms, but there is less of the empty, less expensive square footage (bedrooms, etc.) to spread these extra costs over.
 Designing a "not so big" home is often more difficult than designing a larger home because the additional criterion of no wasted space is added to the formula. All of this must be factored into the cost of your home, but while the cost per square foot of a smaller home will be higher, your total, overall cost will be less.
Visit our Bookstore (link on the left) to read more about a popular book on the subject of small homes,
The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live by Sarah Susanka and Kira Obolensky
This book suggests that we can trim unneeded floor space and use the money saved to upgrade finishes. Many of the concepts in this book are dear to our hearts and this book is definitely worth buying if you are planning to build a smaller home.
The Sunlight Homes home/office, built in 2003, is under 1500sf and is a good example of green, sustainable, small home living. Visit Little Sunlight Homes (link on left) for more information. See the photo journal of the building process in the Projects section.
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