Home Downsizing 5 Years Later: What Changed and Why

In November 2020 we published a post titled “What’s It Like To Downsize” after living in our smaller home for six months. That original piece covered the immediate upsides—owning less, saving money—and the early challenges like paring down and finding smart storage solutions. Now, more than 4.5 years later, we have new perspective on the long-term experience of living in a smaller home. Below are the lessons that felt most meaningful after nearly five years of downsized life.

A quick summary of the move and why we did it:

We moved from a 3,150 sq. ft. suburban home in Richmond, Virginia to a 1,400 sq. ft. house a few blocks from the Gulf of Mexico.
Our current home has six rooms total and just one bathroom.
The new lot is roughly one-tenth the size of our previous yard and we no longer have a garage, attic, or basement—though we do have a pool, hot tub, and a firepit.
We prioritized a walkable location so we could easily walk to shops, restaurants, and the beach.
Our family mantra became: “live with less and be outside more” (or more casually, “spend less time cleaning and more time in the pool”).

After 4.5 years, we still feel downsizing was the right decision. The daily demands of homeownership—maintenance, renovations, furnishing, and cleaning—take far less time, money, and energy than before. That reduction has given us more time for family, hobbies, and outdoor life, and created better work-life balance. Financially it’s also been advantageous: operating a smaller home in a milder climate is easier and less costly to heat and cool.

We’ve now lived in this home longer than several of our previous ones. That longevity has helped us settle into the lifestyle, tweak our routines, and accept the tradeoffs that come with a smaller footprint.

Sunken firepit area in larger backyard next to pool

After living here for almost five years, two insights stand out that might seem contradictory but are both true:

It’s easy to forget you downsized.
It’s easy to be reminded you downsized.

Both observations are more about the mental side of downsizing than the logistics. We see the same patterns in other families who moved from larger homes to smaller ones—especially people who did it to simplify or live closer to the coast.

Forgetting You Downsized

Most days it’s easy to forget that we once thought we needed a lot more space. Over time the 1,400 sq. ft. layout and routines have become normal. What felt like a big lifestyle change now feels routine and unremarkable—the transition recedes into the background.

John Sitting In Kitchen Sitting Area With Two Loveseats

We highlight this “forgettableness” for two reasons:

1. Transitions Are Temporary

If you’re facing downsizing, either by choice or necessity, remember that the hardest part is often the adjustment. Like starting college or having a baby, the early months or years are the most challenging. For us the pruning process felt manageable, but it still took a couple of years to refine furniture layouts and to add storage solutions that fit our needs, such as bespoke closets and cabinets. Once those systems were in place, storage became intuitive and the daily friction eased.

Mattress on the floor of an empty bedroom

So yes, the transition requires time and patience, but it usually isn’t permanent. You will adapt and establish new norms that feel natural.

2. It Was the Right Move for Us

The fact that downsizing now feels normal reassures us that we made the right decision. We still host guests—our pool and proximity to the beach are popular—and we spend far more time outdoors together. Weekly cleaning takes us about 30 minutes as a family, because with less square footage everyone pitches in and the payoff is immediate.

Dog Making John And Sherry Laugh On King Size Bed With White Bedding

We do feel space limitations sometimes, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Constraints force creativity and help us avoid mindless accumulation. For example, instead of storing large Halloween props in a crawl space, we found smaller, foldable decorations that fit a basket indoors—cycling the joy of the holiday without clutter. These small pivots let us keep what we love without undermining the benefits of a smaller home.

Skeletons On Front Porch Posed In Different Positions

There is a certain peace in being able to say “nope, it won’t fit” and move on without a long internal debate. Over time, the positives of our smaller home—less upkeep, more free time, and fewer things to manage—outweigh the occasional desire for more storage or a larger entertaining space.

Being Reminded You Downsized

Even though we mostly forget we downsized, we’re reminded of it in little moments. Those reminders aren’t negative; they’re simply part of living in a community where home sizes vary widely.

Multistory homes on street with palm trees

Sometimes the reminder comes in conversation—when someone says they could never live without a guest room or a double garage. Other times it’s practical: visiting a friend with multiple closets or a huge laundry room highlights the difference. That momentary comparison is normal and doesn’t mean we regret our choice.

Small Ikea Kitchen With Mauve Cabinets And Seating Area With Terrazzo Coffee Table

Comparison is a universal part of homeownership—whether your house is big or small. When you see a grander home or a luxurious feature, it can trigger a fleeting desire. If those feelings are passing, they don’t necessarily indicate dissatisfaction. But if you find yourself repeatedly longing for more space, that’s worth examining before making a downsizing move.

For us, touring larger homes is enjoyable and clarifying. We appreciate the design and craftsmanship, then return to our cozy house with renewed confidence that the tradeoffs we made align with our goals: living with less to free up time, money, and energy for what we value most—family, friends, hobbies, and nature.

John and Son Walking Into Fancy Open House

One practical tip: choose a neighborhood that matches your temperament. We enjoy standing out as one of the original cottages in our area, but if you’re prone to house-size envy, a neighborhood where homes are more similar might make downsizing easier emotionally.

Would We Still Choose Downsizing?

Yes—unequivocally. After nearly five years the choice feels even more right. Early on we focused on logistics and finances, but with time the mental benefits—the calm, the clarity, and the extra time—have become clearer. Downsizing has become part of how we live, not just a short-lived experiment.

We’re grateful for how normal this lifestyle feels and how easy it is to brush off occasional temptations. Simplifying has become somewhat addictive in the best way: it lets us focus on the life we want rather than the things we own.