Believe it or not, we’ve lived in our new house for over six months now. Half a year. That felt like a good milestone to review the goals that motivated our move and downsizing, highlight what met or exceeded our expectations, and outline the biggest challenges we’ve faced along the way.
This recap is long and detailed because there’s a lot to cover. While many of the specifics pertain to our situation, the realities of downsizing described here should offer a useful window into what you might expect if you decide to do the same. Yes, it includes money details and a chart—because we love charts.
To Recap, Why Did We Move?
We explained our reasons for moving from Virginia to Florida in more detail in an earlier post, but the short version is that we wanted to “live with less and be outside more.” For years we’d been working toward owning fewer things, and the practical benefits of downsizing—spending less on unused space, reducing time spent on cleaning and maintenance, and freeing up time for life—appealed strongly to us.
We moved from a 3,150 square foot home in Richmond, VA to a 1,400 square foot home in Florida, and we also sold our beach house and duplex rental properties in Cape Charles, VA. In other words, we went from four larger properties (the duplex counts as two) down to a single, much smaller home.
Our previous house had 14 rooms and around 10 closets; the new house has six rooms and 2.5 closets (one contains the HVAC system and takes up a lot of space). The old house also included a full-sized walk-up attic, a large shed, and a two-car garage—spaces that were often filled with items we rarely used and eventually donated during the downsizing process.
We could have downsized without moving states, but to meet the “be outside more” goal we wanted to live in a warmer, beach-adjacent, more walkable location. That led us to Florida after many trips and some family campaigning from our kids (Costa Rica made them big fans of warm weather and beaches). The move has checked both boxes: we’re living with less and spending far more time outdoors.
Spoiler: those goals have been achieved. The change hasn’t been easy—paring down so drastically felt like training for an Olympic event—but it has been worth every difficult step. We wake up grateful every day, and even our dog seems ecstatic with his new sun-soaked routines.
We fit most of our possessions into a single 16′ pod that we sent down to Florida. Downsizing required intentional, sometimes grueling work—sorting, donating, selling, and organizing—but coming out the other side has felt amazing. If you’re in the messy middle right now, know that the effort can be transformative.
If you want specific tips for paring down, organizing, and managing a smaller home, we’ve documented plenty of resources like podcasts and posts about our process, what we kept, kitchen storage solutions, and how we maximized storage in a smaller footprint.
Having Less Space
Spending time in our 1,800 square foot beach house last summer gave us confidence about living in a smaller full-time home. The pandemic introduced new variables—working and schooling from home and cooking in a compact kitchen—but despite those curveballs we haven’t felt overly constrained. As long as each function (sleeping, cooking, working, lounging) has a designated place, the square footage matters far less than having a room or spot for each activity.
We also aren’t as “on top of each other” as we feared, in large part thanks to the house layout: the family room is on a separate level and the kids’ bedrooms are on the opposite side of the house. That separation gives sound barriers and privacy that a single-level, open-concept house might not provide—important when everyone is working and learning from home.
Three layout tips we’ve found helpful for small-home living:
- Designate the two largest rooms as shared family spaces. In our house the upstairs family room and the kitchen/dining/sitting area serve the household best when they’re communal instead of private bedrooms.
- Keep those two main family spaces apart. Having shared spaces in different areas prevents everyone from feeling clustered and reduces sound transfer, so kids can watch upstairs while adults work downstairs.
- Place bedrooms on opposite ends of the house when possible. This offers privacy and quieter sleep spaces while still keeping everyone on the same floor.
Generous outdoor rooms—like our wide front porch and upstairs deck—extend our living area and make the house feel larger. I often take calls or work from the deck and it’s the best “office view” I’ve had.
Spending More Time Outside
Choosing a climate and neighborhood that encourage outdoor living has profoundly improved our daily routines. We’re a three-minute walk from the beach and surrounded by trails and paths that lead to parks, shops, and restaurants. Those easy outdoor options have turned walking, running, paddleboarding, biking, and family walks into regular habits.
The outdoor lifestyle has also helped us meet neighbors and make friends in ways we didn’t expect, which has been especially valuable during a time when safe, outdoor interaction matters a lot for health and sanity.
Owning Less Stuff
We’d been paring down for years, so the advantages of owning less weren’t a surprise, but one pleasant outcome here is that we rarely lose items. Having packed, unpacked, and organized everything means we know where things are, and with fewer storage nooks there are fewer places for things to hide.
In our previous home items were spread across many rooms and closets. Here, cleaning supplies are under the kitchen sink, games live in the family room, and similar items are grouped logically. Having fewer cabinets and closets forced us to be purposeful about what we keep and where it goes, which has improved organization and reduced clutter.
Spending Less Money
Money was an important motivator. Between maintaining four properties and furnishing and renovating multiple homes, our bills had ballooned. Downsizing dramatically cut recurring costs. I crunched numbers across utilities, landscaping, and gas to quantify the difference.
Utilities
We went from covering heating, cooling, water, lights, and internet for roughly 7,000 square feet across multiple properties to the same services for a single 1,400 square foot home. The savings are significant; just the three utility categories we tracked projected to save about $7,750 per year.
Landscaping
Our previous property maintenance included mowing, seeding, fertilizing, irrigating, mulching, and leaf blowing across nearly an acre and additional yards at other properties. That added up to about $3,750 annually. Here in Florida we have a much smaller lot with native plantings and pine needle ground cover, so ongoing lawn service costs are essentially zero. Even including initial plantings and tree trimming, the difference is substantial.
Combining lawn-care savings with utility reductions brings us to roughly $11,500 in annual savings, and even after accounting for startup landscaping costs here, the net difference is still large—around $10,000 per year by our rough estimate.
Gas
Because we chose a walkable neighborhood close to shops and the beach, our driving has decreased substantially. Eliminating frequent trips between multiple properties also cut long-distance driving and tolls. In 2019 we spent over $3,250 on gas and tolls; in the last six months we’ve only spent $310 on gas. Projected annually, that’s about $620—roughly a $2,600 annual savings.
Together, utilities, landscaping, and reduced driving add up to about $12,600 in annual savings—approximately $126,000 over ten years. That’s a rough estimate and your results will vary depending on your starting point and location.
A Quick Money Disclaimer
Downsizing doesn’t lower every cost. Food prices, local property tax rates, HOA fees, and other expenses can increase depending on where you move. We still pay property taxes and also spend more on groceries here than we did near Aldi. Overall we save a lot, but it’s not universally cheaper in every category.
So, What Are The Challenges Of Downsizing?
There are two main challenges we’ve experienced. Neither is a deal-breaker, but both require ongoing attention and lifestyle adjustments.
#1. Bulk Storage Space Is Nonexistent
Without extra rooms, attic, or garage, there’s no casual place to dump projects, furniture to refinish, or donation piles. Our previous home’s garage, attic, and shed acted as holding zones; here we have a small shed and limited attic access, so anything that remains must be used, donated, or returned quickly. That constraint forces thoughtful choices about purchases and keeps clutter from accumulating, but it does mean we can’t rely on a “dump and deal with later” approach.
We store tools and leftover project materials in the small shed, but it fills quickly. The upside is that this limitation keeps us honest about what we keep and buy; the downside is the need for quicker decisions and creative planning when tackling big projects.
#2 – It’s Constant Upkeep
Downsizing isn’t a one-time event. It requires daily “immediate processing” of new items—mail, donations, purchases—because there’s nowhere to stash things to deal with later. That ongoing habit prevents large cleanups but does demand discipline. It also significantly reduces impulse purchases and unnecessary decor because bringing items into the house requires a deliberate decision.
We’ve adapted habits like keeping a donations bag in the car and dropping it off during errands rather than letting items accumulate at home. That habit keeps clutter low and makes the process of staying organized much easier in the long run.
We’re planning a small detached guest studio in the backyard that will double as a workspace and include a closet for extra storage. That will address some needs for a quieter work spot or extra storage without reverting to the sprawling footprint we left behind.
In summary, downsizing has been overwhelmingly positive for our family. There’s virtually no wasted space here—every square foot gets used—and the shift has encouraged healthier outdoor habits, lower recurring costs, and a simpler daily life. A year ago we would have said 1,400 square feet and one bathroom sounded too small, but after six months it feels about perfect for where we are right now—even during an unusual year like 2020.