Why do I feel like my house is small if its 2300 sq ft

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Forum -> Inquiries & Offers -> Lakewood, Toms River & Jackson related Inquiries

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Chayalle

Sun, May 21 2023, 8:50 am

DVOM wrote:

We are 7 people in an 1800square foot house in Lakewood.

When we were looking to buy a house, we prioritized living space over sleeping space. The bedrooms are very small. But the living areas- dining room, kitchen, living room, are big.

I don't feel squashed when it's just our family, but when we host guests it does feel crowded.

We have a really large attached garage and an unfinished basement we can use to expand our living space. I've got big dreams for those empty areas! So far though we can't afford to finish them. One day, I hope!

Similar, we are 5 people, but I host ALOT - and I agree it's the living space that makes the difference.

My dining room isn't huge, but my kitchen is spacious, and so is my living room and family room. There's space to hang out, and that makes the difference.

(and one day, when I have 25K to drop - I can expand the dining room using the garage space. And finish the basement. A girl can dream.....)

amother

Maize

Sun, May 21 2023, 9:36 am

Huh we are 10 in 1900 sq ft
4 bedrooms, 2 large 2 tiny
Tiniest kitchen
I'd feel very lucky with another 100 sq fr

amother

Burntblack

Sun, May 21 2023, 9:56 am

amother OP wrote:

Yes - this exactly. There is no place for me to just be. The living room is tiny and there are always people in it. I could hang in bedroom but that's weird. I want a big airy place to hang out but that I could also be alone.

We are six people living in the same space...dunno I think my house is to big😂😂. Im always busy cleaning and cleaning...anyways I got myself a nice chair for my master bedroom and thats where I hang out when I need my private space

mha3484

Sun, May 21 2023, 10:04 am

We have 7 in a 1400 sq ft ranch, kids are 2-12. I have a full basement that I want to finish one day which will double our living space. I dont feel crowded at all. We have a nice size living and dining room, 3 bedrooms are not too small.

Honestly this also works for us because my first 3 kids are boys and once they are teens they likely wont be around much unlike my friends with girls who have teens and adult daughters living at home for years.

Rubber Ducky

Sun, May 21 2023, 10:28 am

amother OP wrote:

I am confused. I am not a very high needs person. I bought a house a few years ago and thought what a great house for our family. We are 7 people - teens to 9 year old. 4 bedroom 3 bathroom...I feel crowded and constricted in my home.

Is this normal? What size home does a normal family of 7 live in?

Question for you: Do you have a space in your home where you can get away from the chaos? Where children can get away?

I assume that the house is poorly laid out, but the most cost effective solution that comes to mind is to convert the garage into living space. For example, maybe the laundry room should be there and the existing laundry room could be an alcove near the kitchen.

You need to look at the entire layout of your home and see how the spaces flow and inter-relate.

amother

Garnet

Sun, May 21 2023, 10:30 am

amother Carnation wrote:

Are you sure that is square ft? Ours is just over 2000sq FEET and we have six bedrooms on three floors. Also in U.K. where house measurements are ordinarily done in metres! Seven of us too but it does feel squishy so your 3000sqfeet does make sense.

My dh calculated it all so I'm not actually sure, but almost sure. We have a really big hallway now (I think 16sq ft) big downstairs toilet, under stairs storage, 5 decent sized bedrooms. Space upstairs for washing machine and dryer, and a bit extra on the side and front. 2 bathrooms upstairs, 1 is en suite and is large for an en suite. Our kitchen/diner is 31 sq feet, our main living room is very big, 3 rooms together but I don't know the measurements. Plus a small den which is only 5 sq feet I think. The loft space, and detached garage weren't included in that conclusion as far as I know. The garage has 2 areas, storage at the back and the larger front room houses my pesach kitchen, and gym stuff.
I may be getting confused with metres/feet lol. I do know that my house is now really big for the typical UK house.

Could I mean square meters?

amother

Sun, May 21 2023, 11:49 am

TY TY for the all the replies. Very much appreciate all the different perspectives and for people not blasting me as a nincompoop for complaining. I very much appreciate on some level the luxury of owning my own home. I am the type of person that hated seminary until the very last day - I could not get used to roommates. (I also never went to camp). I am not a bad / spoiled person (my house is far from luxurious) just someone that likes to have a lot of personal space.

Let me describe my house. It is not open concept. You walk in to a small entrance. TO the left is an office (not at all cozy). To the right is a small dining room. (really small. Just fits our dining table and that is it).

If you walk down the hall their is a living room to the left and then to the right a kitchen all in sort of one room with a barrier but not full wall to divide the two rooms. The kitchen is small. One sink.

Past the kitchen is a bathroom and past that a ridiculously small washer dryer room (I'd rather not have a room even I can't open the washer all the way).

Like many posters alluded to I'm really fine with small bedrooms - I can live with that.

It's the downstairs that I 'm trying to figure out.

Do I knock down the wall between the office and living room. Sure that would open up the space but then there goes my office. I need an office.

I love the idea of a sunroom.

I love the idea of finishing the garage even more than finishing the basement.

amother

Gladiolus

Sun, May 21 2023, 11:55 am

amother OP wrote:

If you walk down the hall their is a living room to the left and then to the right a kitchen all in sort of one room with a barrier but not full wall to divide the two rooms. The kitchen is small. One sink.

Past the kitchen is a bathroom and past that a ridiculously small washer dryer room (I'd rather not have a room even I can't open the washer all the way).

Like many posters alluded to I'm really fine with small bedrooms - I can live with that.

It's the downstairs that I 'm trying to figure out.

Do I knock down the wall between the office and living room. Sure that would open up the space but then there goes my office. I need an office.

I love the idea of a sunroom.

I love the idea of finishing the garage even more than finishing the basement.

You need to start pricing things out. A 2nd sink, maybe it's worth taking off the door to the laundry room? Finish the garage so it can become a living room and the existing living room would make a good playroom.

amother

Gardenia

Sun, May 21 2023, 11:56 am

amother OP wrote:

Then put your office into the garage or basement and open the wall between the office and the living room. The combined living and office space might be better suited for a dining room, and then the dining room can be a cozy living room. Or you can extend the kitchen into the current living room and have a open space idea of more living space into the current office.

amother

Tiffanyblue

Sun, May 21 2023, 12:15 pm

How does the size of the dining room compare to the living room? Would it help to switch the living room and dining room locations? And maybe knock down the wall to the office (or move it?)

Amarante

Sun, May 21 2023, 12:17 pm

Your issue is that the space is used very poorly and much of the square footage is wasted.

You have hallways plus small rooms with walls - walls and halls take up space - there is a reason why homes now generally have open floor plans because there is no wasted space.

The renovations you are contemplating are not inexpensive. I realize that in certain areas, homes are so expensive that it makes sense to spend lots of money to do structural remodeling but before doing that, you should at least check out what houses are available that might suit your family better - e.g the space is used more efficiently.

amother

Ghostwhite

Sun, May 21 2023, 12:55 pm

Your house sounds like a typical colonial. While colonials are very in demand, I find they often present this feeling of 'nowhere to go' as opposed to a split or bilevel that has living space on different floors. Some of these fixes sound great - put your office in the basement or garage and make the office a living room and the living room a den. It's great that you have a basement. I know many ppl with even less sq. footage without a basement.

ora_43

Sun, May 21 2023, 4:35 pm

Could you move the office to the dining room, knock down the wall between the living room and (current) office, and turn it into a combined living room/dining room? The table can be pushed against the wall when not in use to create more floor space.

Your complaints are reasonable. I have a smaller space but BH nicely laid out and it really does make a huge difference.

faigy34

Sun, May 21 2023, 4:50 pm

amother Cantaloupe wrote:

My sister was living in a studio apartment with her husband and baby.

On Y"T she had my 4 brothers staying there after they left she said I must find a new place. I brought in the chicken I brought in the horse I brought in the cow ect.. Now they all left my place is still cramped.

YOish is this Funny!! Rolling Laughter

amother

Dill

Sun, May 21 2023, 6:26 pm

Possibilities, not mutually exclusive:
Poor house layout with wasted space
Poor furniture layout
Too much furniture
Too much clutter
You got used to it
You're comparing yourself to people with even bigger houses.

When we moved into our current apartment it felt like a palace. After a while it didn't anymore.

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