Believe it or not, we’ve been in our new house for over six months. Half a year of living smaller, spending more time outdoors, and testing whether our goals for downsizing really hold up in everyday life. This update covers what worked, what surprised us, and the main challenges we still manage. It’s detailed because downsizing touches so many parts of life — from daily routines to finances — and we want to give a clear picture of what it actually looks like.
To Recap, Why Did We Move?
We moved from Virginia to Florida to simplify our lives and spend more time outside. For years we’d been working on owning less and making space for experiences over things. Downsizing promised fewer maintenance tasks, lower ongoing costs, and more of our time free for family, outdoor activities, and just enjoying our days rather than managing stuff.
We went from a 3,150 sq ft home, a beach house, and a duplex down to one 1,400 sq ft home. Our previous home had 14 rooms and about 10 closets; the new house has six rooms and 2.5 closets (one houses the HVAC). We also sent everything we kept in one 16′ moving pod to Florida. It was a huge logistical and emotional effort — especially during a pandemic — but the result has been deeply satisfying for our family.
We wanted a warmer, walkable location near the beach so that outdoor living would be a natural part of our routine. That shift — choosing place and pace as much as a smaller footprint — has been as important as the square footage change itself.
Spoiler: the goals of “living with less” and “being outside more” are checked off. Everything since the move has reinforced how right this choice feels for our family — even if the decision required intense work and tough choices.
Having Less Space
We worried that less space would feel cramped, especially with remote work and at-home schooling added to the mix. But the reality has been that function matters more than square footage. We have a place to sleep, cook, work, and relax — even if those rooms are smaller. Because each spot is purposeful, we don’t miss the extra empty rooms we used to have.
Layout made a big difference. A few tips that helped our smaller home feel comfortable:
- Make shared rooms the largest: Designate the two biggest areas for family use, not private bedrooms.
- Separate shared spaces: Having family rooms on different levels or opposite ends reduces noise and the feeling of being on top of each other.
- Place bedrooms apart: Keeping the master suite separated from kids’ rooms preserves quiet and privacy.
We also gain a lot of usable “room” from generous outdoor areas like a wide front porch and an upstairs deck, which function as extensions of our living space and support flexible work and play.
Spending More Time Outside
Moving to a warmer, walkable neighborhood has been transformative. The beach is a three-minute walk, and there are trails, parks, and sidewalks for daily activity. Walking, biking, paddleboarding, and family evening strolls have become regular habits. Outdoor life has helped us meet neighbors, build community, and maintain healthier routines — benefits that feel especially important during a pandemic.
Owning Less Stuff
One surprising benefit: we rarely lose things anymore. Because we packed, unpacked, and placed everything intentionally, we remember where items live. Fewer storage zones also mean fewer places things can hide. In our old house, cleaning supplies and games were scattered across rooms; now they each have a single logical home. That clarity has led to a more organized, calmer daily life.
A smaller footprint also makes us more deliberate about purchases: if something new must be brought in, something else often has to go out.
Spending Less Money
Financial benefits were a major driver for downsizing. Paying for utilities, landscaping, and gas across multiple properties had added up. Consolidating into one smaller house dramatically reduced those ongoing expenses.
Utilities
Going from roughly 7,000 sq ft across four properties to 1,400 sq ft in one home cut our utility burden substantially. From heating and cooling to water and internet, that consolidation saves about $7,750 per year on those bills alone.
Landscaping
We also eliminated the costly upkeep of multiple big yards. Across our previous properties we spent about $3,750 a year on lawn care. Our current lot is small and mostly natural groundcover, so ongoing lawn services are essentially zero. Even after some one-time landscaping and tree work, the annual savings are substantial.
Gas
Because our new neighborhood is highly walkable, daily errands require far fewer drives. We also stopped the regular long trips between multiple properties. In 2019 we spent over $3,250 on gas and tolls; in the last six months here we’ve spent just $310, which annualizes to roughly $620 and suggests savings near $2,600 a year. Altogether, utilities, landscaping, and transportation reductions bring our approximate annual savings to about $12,600.
A Quick Money Disclaimer
Downsizing didn’t lower every expense: food costs in our new area are higher and property tax rates differ, so not every line item is cheaper. Still, overall savings have been dramatic because of the scale of consolidation we made.
So, What Are The Challenges Of Downsizing?
There are two ongoing challenges — not deal-breakers, but realities that require daily attention and planning.
#1. Bulk Storage Space Is Nonexistent
Without a garage, attic, or large shed, there’s no place to temporarily dump projects or hold furniture you plan to refinish. That means you need to decide fast: keep, donate, sell, or recycle. It’s inconvenient at times, but it also prevents accumulation and forces useful decisions. We do store tools and some supplies in a small shed, and we plan around renovations by staging deliveries carefully, just as people do in city apartments with limited space.
#2. It’s Constant Upkeep
Downsizing is not a one-time purge — it’s ongoing maintenance. We practice “immediate processing”: new items must find a home right away. Mail, donations, and purchases are handled promptly instead of being stashed. That daily attention takes minutes but keeps clutter from returning and supports the minimalist habits that make living small enjoyable and efficient.
We’re even planning to add a small detached guest studio that could double as a quiet workspace and include extra storage. That will give us flexibility without returning to the days of multiple oversized storage zones.
In summary, downsizing has been overwhelmingly positive for our family. The smaller, well-used spaces invite more connection and activity, and none of our rooms go unused. A year ago we thought 1,400 sq ft might be too small; now it feels just about right. The decision required hard work, but the payoff — simpler routines, more outdoor time, and significant ongoing savings — has made it worth every effort.