Choosing a Small Living Space

In January of this year, I moved into my first home! I purchased a condo and finally moved out on my own. I had always dreamed of a fanciful forever home with the yard, and the stairs, 3 bedrooms, lots of charm, and space to grow into through the winding years. 

So when I began my search, those are exactly the homes my partner and I looked at. I knew what I wanted and I wanted it right then and there. Waiting is my nemesis. 

Trust me, the big houses, they all felt right and they all felt real, but between the market and the underlying truth that all of that was not a reflection of where I was at that time, was making itself known. What did I know about fixing a roof? Or tending to a yard? Pulling up carpet? Is that mold? When did this grandmother die? Where…? $400,000 fixer upper? Do you even know how bad ticks are this season? Or how about the fact I don’t have any children or animals or that I am pretty introverted all around and don’t need the space to host or gather. 

It was pretty difficult overall to accept that I was not going to be sharing with people that my first home was a single family home. It felt like a failure. Especially looking around and that was all I saw. Eventually I worked through that and began to look at my search through different eyes. My own. 

So, I began to look at apartments for rent. Time was of the essence, the market was failing, and I couldn’t stop trying. My partner and I surveyed the area and found more places we didn’t like than did, but were always pulled into the promise of the surrounding neighborhoods. In our apartment search, we really got to identify what we liked and didn’t and more importantly, where we liked and didn’t. In this time, we also realized how little space we actually needed. It became clear that 3 bedroom single family home or a studio apartment were all exciting possibilities with the right person. I was going to be happy wherever I lived. 

As I have spoiled for you above, we ended up in a condo. How?That’s a story for another time. Coming in around 800 square feet. It is small, but it is all we need. It is small, but it is home. It is small, but it is unique. It is small, but it’s more than I have ever had. It is small, but so are my worries when I’m cosied up on the couch. It is small, but it is mine. It is small, but my partner and I get to grow in love here. It is small, but Pyper doesn’t seem to mind. It is small, but I am able to run a business and explore and adventure, and find my footing as I grow up and into myself. It is small, but it holds me in as I expand and heal. 

Some people tend to focus on the concept that bigger is better, more is better, and having a lot means you are more successful or accomplished. These projections exist and sometimes, regretfully I fall into them. Sometimes my home does feel small and the judgement of others makes me feel insecure. But, the majority of the time, I take great comfort in knowing that my home is small, but that this is the beginning. And all great things, start out small. There is nothing actually small about my home unless you are looking at it in the scope of comparison. And when I look around, all I see and feel is love and safety. No space for anything else. 

If there are a few things that I have learned in this process, they are to: 

trust yourself

follow your own path

silence the noise and distractions of others 

do not make a decision that you are uncomfortable with 

and never judge a persons living situation. it is really difficult to secure housing. so if someone is renting, mind your business. if someone is buying, mind your business. if someone is living with family, mind your business. if someone has 8 roommates to keep payments down, mind your business. if someone is homeless, don’t mind your business, but do whatever you can to advocate and help those experiencing housing insecurity and displacement. 

you do not have to live in the streets to feel the discomfort of not having a safe place to be yourself, to place your belongings, and rid yourself of worry. please have empathy and compassion for others. enjoy what you have in every stage and set goals to get where you would like to go. you have time. it will all work out. stay the course. 

thank you for reading. 

Want to learn more about how to decorate a small space? Let me know! Although I am a homeowner, my condo is apartment style. So renters and buyers alike, I have tips and tricks for you on how to make your small space live up to it’s potential.