This is going to be a tricky one…but stay with me…

We’ve already started talking about the idea of compact or ‘tiny’ living and how there are some great examples of how to do it well out there.. If you haven’t seen those yet jump back for a minute and have a look at An Intro to Compact Living, Compact Living vs. My living Space and Hacks for Living in a Tiny Space … I promise they’re not long and super easy reads!

Right, now we’re back and all caught up let’s be frank…

First of all ‘Compact Living’ is not going to suit everyone. I’ve got to hazard a guess and say most people are forced into it. One great example is your room in university halls - but they are intentionally designed to work for what you typically need.

Following this idea let’s jump straight into the pro’s and con’s for the people that are considering downsizing...

1. You will have let go of some ‘stuff’.. BUT hey, it was just ‘stuff’

Tell me now how many things/stuff/bits/bobs do you just have for no real reason? All things that are taking up space and gathering dust rather than a purpose - even if that purpose is simply that you like it?

I had a big storage cupboard of participation certificates + school drawings, which then became GCSE art work, A-Level exam pieces and finally a million cardboard models and my major uni project…

In the end it gets a bit ridiculous and you can’t just store stuff forever. For me the best option is to take a good picture of things you like but don’t really want anymore… Then you have the memory trigger but have saved a lot of space!

2. You will find the space can get cluttered easily… BUT a small space means less cleaning overall anyway!

This is a real one we struggle with. It feels like we don’t have a lot of stuff but as soon as you leave a couple of things out on the sides to me, it feels like the walls are closing in on me!

My tip is to only have the furniture and surfaces that you actually need. Everything should have its home and surfaces should be as clear as possible.

We chose to have a plant or decorative item on the surfaces but should aim to leave clear other than that! It’s about getting into the habit of returning an item we use back to its ‘home’ - something I think we all struggle with at times!

Even if you haven’t mastered this quite yet, your space is compact and it doesn’t take long to clean top to bottom anyway!

3. You won’t be having a lot of guests round… BUT you will have a cosy intimate space that is uniquely yours!

Now this may be the worst thing for some people, but nowadays we have so much access to cheap hotels/Airbnbs and external activities/public spaces it really shouldn’t be..

If it is one of your priorities to be hosting 16+ dinner parties around the table then maybe it’s not a great idea for you (especially in rainy England)…

But if you’re like me (let’s be honest here) and don’t actively plan on anyone stay with you more than a weekend then it’s fine! When it comes to a few friends visiting for a couple of days - that’s where we look at the design of the space. In our room alone we have comfortably sleep 4 people (1x double bed + 1x Sofa bed) and if needs must theres a sofa in the living room…

The reality of these scenarios is that you shouldn’t design your space for the few weekends that you need to accommodate others, rather what you will enjoy coming home to everyday!

By now you’ve noticed I’ve been a bit cheeky with the title as all these points can become both pros and cons somewhere along your compact living journey…

It’s all about figuring out what works well for you, what your priorities are for the space and how you function day to day.

You can find some of the processes that really helped us get to this stage at the Minimalism + Lifestyle section… They can help you tackle how to go through your things, what to do with them and how we can start to organise and give a ‘home’ to the things we enjoy!