Downsizing Doesn?t Have to Mean a Lack of Space

With new figures showing that the majority of households have a spare bedroom, it could be the right time to start thinking about downsizing. The lack of space in smaller properties can often put people off moving, but this doesn?t have to be the case.

Why Downsize?

Figures released from the Office for National Statistics show that 70% of households across England and Wales have one or more spare bedrooms. The study, using data from the 2011 census, highlights that there are eight million properties with at least two spare bedrooms. In order to meet the current demand for housing, we should be building 240,000 properties a year.

The release of these figures, and the obvious need for more people to be able to move into their own home, has led some campaigners to call on the government for help. One of these organisations is the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). They believe that there should be official help for those who want to downsize. This should include incentives and other financial packages which would encourage those with spare rooms to move to smaller properties, freeing up larger homes for new families.

Don?t Limit Your Space

Far from leading to you living in cramped conditions, downsizing could open up a whole new world. It doesn?t have to mean that you?ll be scrimping on space, but you might have to start thinking a bit differently about how you utilise space.

Some people who downsize will move from a house into an apartment, which could mean they now have no outdoor space of their own. For homeowners who?ve always been able to go out in the garden this can be a problem. However, the addition of a balcony complete with a wrought iron balcony railing could solve this issue.

Balconies can also be of benefit to those in smaller houses, which might lack the living space that homeowners have been used to. Building a balcony that can be accessed from the living area or a bedroom can create more useable space. They?re great to use in the summer months, but that doesn?t mean they can?t be of advantage in the colder weather as well. Simply by adding some patio heaters and fixing lights to the wrought iron balcony railing, you can use the area all year round.

If you?ve discounted downsizing before because of the lack of space, now might be the right time to reconsider your options. Thinking smaller doesn?t always mean making big compromises.