https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:16:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-871301 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 14:20:16 +0000 T.H.O.U. 871301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me, I voted no. I don't know if there is any way I could go down to 1,300 sq ft. I think 1,800 would be my minimum, maybe 1,600 if I had to. </p> <p>I really need storage advice for those of in these smaller places especially with more then one kid! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-871201 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 14:00:34 +0000 rattles 871201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't but only because we already live in such small quarters that I don't think that it would be workable! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-871195 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 14:00:19 +0000 wahine08 871195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: I would absolutely. Would this lower your mortgage too? That'd be another big plus for me!</p> <p>We have a 4 bd 3 full bath house and the rooms are on the small side, but like it's been mentioned- you SLEEP in your room and occasionally play. I had a small room growing up and it was MUCH easier to keep clean :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-871189 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:58:04 +0000 SugarplumsMom 871189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-871180 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:55:22 +0000 avivoca 871180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, absolutely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-871021 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:24:21 +0000 ShootingStar 871021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll be the dissenter and say I probably would not. Right now the lack of space in our house drives me crazy, and the next house we buy I want to be able to stay in for a LONG time. Our townhouse is ~1600 sq ft, but due to the layout it's more like having 1300 sq ft. I feel like all of our rooms (except the giant loft on the 4th floor) have *just* enough space. The kitchen is the only room I wouldn't change, but the living room, bathrooms and bedrooms are the absolute bare minimum. And our 2nd bedroom isn't even big enough for us to want to use it as a baby room.</p> <p>I would really make sure that 1)It's enough space that you'll be happy to live there for several years without feeling cramped, 2)Each of the rooms has enough space to function well (i.e. if bedroom 4 fits just a desk, is it sufficient or do you need to fit a guest bed? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-871013 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:23:11 +0000 mrs. wagon 871013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BKCaribBaby: yup, the school district is the only reason why we're even thinking about it! very exciting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870979 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:19:53 +0000 regberadaisy 870979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: I think all the things you listed in the smaller house would vastly improve quality of life in the long run for your children vs just having more SF! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870959 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:17:30 +0000 chopsuey 870959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep. I would do it!! :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870955 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:17:13 +0000 BKCaribBaby 870955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Storage space is key for me as I hate clutter. Plus, a great school district is more than just a nice perk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870945 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:15:28 +0000 mrs. wagon 870945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The votes are overwhelming! Wow! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870940 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:14:40 +0000 regberadaisy 870940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: haha def up! But we have four bedrooms! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870935 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:13:23 +0000 prettylizy 870935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My initial reaction was no, but based on the list you just gave, I'd do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870910 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:09:34 +0000 mrs. wagon 870910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: yes... I've been promising my Remy a yard for years... poor thing. He does laps in our living room.</p> <p>@regberadaisy: ooh excellent to have your opinion with the exact sq footage difference! Did you go up or down? I'm assuming up!</p> <p>@zippylef: totally with you on the less cleaning and no time in the bedrooms! all we need are our beds and our clothes!</p> <p>@Mrs. Bee: I bet we go through our next house (and school district) journeys at the same time.. hmm.. sound familiar??? ;)</p> <p>@Running Elley: Ok that is AWESOME to hear. You sound literally in the exact same position that we might be in.. so to hear that 1300 isn't bad is great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870905 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:09:02 +0000 lioneyes 870905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>yes! we have a tiny bedroom and it does not matter. i find it actually makes you live with less clutter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870898 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:07:52 +0000 MsMamaBear 870898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It would be hard, but the school district won me over and a yard where there was not one, won me over. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870894 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:07:09 +0000 mrskc 870894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would! Our current home is about 1500 sf and has four tiny bedrooms and it isn't bad at all. I think I like having 4 bedrooms over 3. Only downside is it has a small backyard. If we had a large backyard, our house would be perfect for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870886 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:05:20 +0000 mrs. wagon 870886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: couldn't agree more about the storage! Our common areas are huge but have no storage at all. We have so many pieces of furniture for storage and it just looks so MESSY all the time, no matter what. Plus furniture = more surfaces to throw things onto. </p> <p>@tysonja: I totally agree about the small bedrooms too. We ONLY sleep in our bedrooms! And excellent point about the natural light...!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870885 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:05:13 +0000 Running Elley 870885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely would!!! Our house is 1300 square feet and we bought it instead of a larger one because of the huge backyard and the great school district! And, honestly, this amount of living space is totally manageable! I wouldn't go smaller than this I think but 1300 isn't bad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870883 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:05:02 +0000 Mrs. Bee 870883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>yes i would! our current place is 1600 and we are looking to downsize too. school district and backyard are such big plusses! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870882 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:04:57 +0000 loveisstrange 870882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Absolutely yes! Better school district, yard and 700 less sq ft to clean? Sign me up.</p> <p>Plus, I find that huge bedrooms are unnecessary. We spend next to no time in ours! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870880 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:04:17 +0000 regberadaisy 870880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: hmmm....you're in luck bc our current house vs old house is about those two SF. And I'm thinking in your scenario, I would. Just because Wagon Jr and LMW will need separate bedrooms eventually so the four bedrooms AND a yard AND a top school district would sell me. Assuming there are no other options that are slightly bigger than 1300. Because that would be tight with 4 + dogs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870879 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:03:44 +0000 immabeetoo 870879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>in a heartbeat - not having a yard would be a dealbreaker for us (and our dog!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870878 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:03:23 +0000 tysonja 870878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i think i might! small bedrooms are underrated :) </p> <p>as long as the living space/kitchen didn't get toooo small and general storage space was okay! :) and LIGHT! natural light!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870877 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:03:22 +0000 rachiecakes 870877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>so long as it has storage, YES! </p> <p>I find that we work well with smaller rooms and more storage. Bigger rooms with no storage just looks messy with all of our stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-downsize#post-870870 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:01:35 +0000 mrs. wagon 870870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Curious...</p> <p>Would you downsize on total square feet of living space (say, going from 2000 to 1300) if it meant adding:</p> <p>an extra bedroom (4 small bedrooms instead of 3 huge ones)<br /> a huge yard (instead of NO yard)<br /> a top school district<br /> a quiet street<br /> hall closets (instead of NO hall closets)</p> <p>Just curious! :wink: </p>