The home building industry has been on the rise since 2011. According to a recent news release issued by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), house prices rose nearly 6 percent during 2012. The NAHB attributes this growth to the demand for multi-family homes, which saw a 273 percent gain between the fourth quarter of 2009 and 2012. On the other hand, the single-family market was at 44 percent of its average production in the fourth quarter of 2012; however, the NAHB expects the building of single-family homes to increase by 22 percent in 2013 and an additional 30 percent in 2014.
As single-family homes continue their growth, designers see a notable trend emerging: the rising demand for small house plans or homes of 1,800 square feet or smaller. Smaller homes offer affordability, energy efficiency, and the ability to fit onto smaller lots – all of which have proven increasingly appealing (and in some cases necessary) to homebuyers. Families are looking for small house plans to maintain lower mortgage and maintenance costs, scale down, live and realize the American dream without compromising quality.
Small House Plans: A Brief Timeline
For many homebuyers, pre-designed house plans are a convenient way to build a new dream home without the cost of paying a custom designer. Online house plan sales have revealed how home sizes are visibly shrinking over the past few decades.
The 1990s: About 28 percent of house plans sold during this decade were for homes between 2,001 and 2,500 square feet. The more considerable homes competition at 22 percent was house plans for dwellings between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet. Only about 4 percent of the stock home plans sold were for houses that were 1,500 square feet or less.
The 2000s: Plans for homes between 1,500 to 2,000 square feet and 2,001 and 2,500 square feet saw a dramatic drop during the new millennium's first decade, with a 20-23 percent decline in sales. On the other hand, plans for 1,500-square-foot and smaller dwellings rose by 9.4 percent.
2010 to present: Small house plan sales achieved near-record highs, as sales for homes under 1,500
Popular Small House Plan Styles
With its 1,800 to 2,000-square-foot dwellings, the current small-house movement is quite different from the mini-mansions home shoppers previously sought. Today's aspiring homeowners find that small home plans fit their budgets and need just as well (if not better) than purchasing a larger home. The most famous small home styles include:
Contemporary: Contemporary homes have a modern architectural design style that integrates large windows, asymmetrical shapes, open spaces, and creative roof lines. The appeal of current small house plans is to incorporate diverse building materials and features while minimizing costs and maximizing space.
Craftsman: Homebuyers show a renewed interest in the Craftsman-style home for the handcrafted appearance of its elements, such as glass, metalwork, and wood accents. These house plans provide a simpler alternative to other extravagant home styles, offering a blend of elegance and practicality.
Cottage: This house style is an update and upgrade of the old English countryside home. These tiny home plans use dormers, exterior stone accents, gabled roofs, and multi-paned windows.
How Demand for Small Homes Influences Design
Today's homeowners value efficiency and quality oversize and amenities. This leaves many builders confused about fitting the features clients seek into increasingly smaller spaces. Common solutions include:
Keep it square. By virtue, square forms are less expensive and simpler to construct because there are fewer jogs, more open spaces, smaller surface areas, and less complicated shapes.
Incorporating multi-purpose spaces. Many homeowners want a house in which they can stay put and grow. This means they seek house plans to accommodate their changing needs, from converting an extra bedroom into a nursery to keeping the golf clubs next to the car in the garage.
They were prioritizing natural light. Past home designs sometimes incorporate multiple windows along a wall for aesthetic effect. Today's homeowners recognize that one big window lets as much natural light but is less expensive to build.
They were going vertical. With inspiration from Europe's row houses, small house plans tend to build up instead of out, thus reducing the amount of property needed. Homeowners also maximize the vertical spaces for storage solutions, like using built-ins in bathrooms and kitchens.
They are planning outdoor rooms. The outdoor living room has replaced the extra entertainment room in many homes. Buyers often seek a covered patio or deck to dress up with plants, garden features, and outdoor furniture.
The rise in small house plans indicates more than just a design trend; it points to a more significant shift in how homeowners choose to live. As the housing market grows, it will be interesting to see where these changes lead.
