Leo Babauta has a very compelling book out titled The Power of Less. Far from being a rehash of the "less is more" mantra it is a guide on how to simplify your life. He has a message that resonates well with those who also believe in building small and living large. This is a must read for those who intend to build or renovate their home. If you can edit your life and reduce what you think you need down to what you actually need you will be very happy, save money, and have a more gracious feeling home.
One interesting power of less that I've noticed is how much space you gain for living when all of the checkbox items for the 3 bedroom 2 bath sweet-spot home have been carefully pruned away. I experienced this first hand when I moved from a 2,100 square foot house to a 1,400 square foot house. The smaller house felt so much larger, especially when it came time to clean, than the bigger house. Considering we buy houses by the square foot naturally you want to get the most out of each square foot. It didn't take too long to figure out why. The bigger house had walk in everything and huge bathrooms eating up lots of space. The smaller house had smaller closets, and smaller bathrooms which maximized the amount of space left over for the living areas.
The lesson here is that it's not about more space it's about having better space. It's kind of like buying food where you pay less per pound when you get all the fat and the bones. Sure, you're paying less. Even though it might look like you're getting more you're not.
Another power of less is the opportunity to take the savings from cutting the fat and instead buying higher quality finishes and fixtures. If you can cut $20k from your budget by having a smaller and smarter design you can afford some major upgrades. Nicer kitchen cabinets, better appliances, stunning floor tiles, and other luxuries that will add tremendous value to your place and provide years of enjoyment. This is exactly what I've been preaching about in the EX, DX, LX posts.
I'm going to start posting some of my updated plans soon. When you see them please note that I've trimmed a lot of fat. I expect Realtors® not to like them, but for many people who are not interested in buying more than they need to satisfy some future buyer (ask the Boomers how that plan is working out) they will be powerful.
Which would you rather have?
Extra fat that you don't need or use ~or~ just what makes you truly happy.
That, in a nutshell, is the power of less.
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