It’s official: new research shows we aren’t actually using much of the square footage in our homes — but we’re still paying for it. We pay to build or buy the space, heat and cool it, decorate it, and clean it. Why do we keep adding rooms no one uses? In this episode we dig into a study that pinpoints which rooms are most often underused, and we talk about what to prioritize instead of chasing bigger house size — even if you love entertaining. We also share a painting project that didn’t translate well to photos, and a months-long, somewhat heated disagreement we’ve been having about the beach house as summer winds down.
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WHAT’S NEW
That’s Embarrassing
- The photo above is from our half bathroom, taken for our second book, Lovable Livable Home. In person you can notice a pearlescent finish on the walls, but it’s nearly impossible to capture in that room with the available light.
- We used Benjamin Moore’s Pearlescent White Metallic Glaze over walls painted in Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray — the combination looks lovely in person, but it photographs subtly. We plan to post an Instagram Stories video later this week to show the finish in motion so you can see the effect more clearly.
Does Anyone Use Formal Spaces Anymore?
- We were prompted to think about formal rooms by a Curbed piece titled “Our Homes Don’t Need Formal Spaces,” written by Kate Wagner, who also wrote the piece about renovation fatigue we discussed recently.
- The study that started the conversation included a heatmap showing where people actually spend their time at home. The dining room barely registered — a single dot, not even at the table — which illustrates the point: formal dining rooms and other traditional formal spaces are frequently underused.
- If you’ve wondered whether your own home might be larger than necessary, we’ve explored that feeling before. We’ve reflected on our house size and how much space we really need in multiple episodes, including discussions about downsizing, tiny home living, and the financial motivations for owning less.
Relevant past episodes where we explore small-space living and downsizing include Episode #95 (where we admit our house might be bigger than necessary), Episode #106 (a conversation about the realities of downsizing), Episode #82 (an interview with Kevin and Mandy who live in a tiny home), and Episode #33 (a discussion with Dana Miller about downsizing to meet financial goals). These conversations highlight practical approaches to deciding what rooms and features really add value to daily life.
We’re Digging
- We enjoyed seeing Story Pirates perform live recently. If you like their podcast, their children’s book Stuck In The Stone Age is a fun pick with helpful tips for young writers and great storytelling energy.
- That other photo we used a couple of weeks ago to show Sherry’s favorite mascara is back to highlight the necklace many of you have asked about — hers is a 16″ chain with a small .10 stone set in white gold.
If you’re trying to find something we mentioned in a past episode but don’t remember which show notes to check, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve featured in the “We’re Digging” segment, as well as a Book Club page with every book recommendation from the podcast.
Finally, a big thank you to Smartstuff Furniture for sponsoring this episode. They’re running a Back To School event with up to 15% off retail prices and a giveaway where one listener can enter to win up to $5,000 in kid, baby, and teen furniture. The promotion runs through August 27th.
Thanks for listening — and for reading. We appreciate the feedback and love hearing which rooms you actually use every day versus the space that ends up collecting stuff.
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