As architect and author, Katie Hutchison indicates in her book The New Small House, micro-based living is a trend that is continuing to build momentum. Those looking to downsize are living large in a small space by combining smart, economical, and environmentally friendly living in elegantly designed homes.
Baby Boomers continue to age and they have increased the demand for downsizing and a migration to micro-based living.
Downsizing
According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Baby Boomers are a burgeoning market. Many home builders have an increased interest in designing products that appeal to customers age 55 or older and the NAHB forecasts that the share of these households will grow every year through 2019 when the 55+ category is projected to account for nearly 45% of all U.S. households.
Home accessibility for an aging population and efficient and flexible use of space are primary design home considerations according to the American Institute of Architects.
Urban Living
Cities have sprawled further away from city centers causing commuters to spend an exorbitant amount of time in commute traffic. Surbanites are rethinking their living situation and trading in cars for subways. Moving back into the city, however, often means living in smaller spaces. Empty-nesters, however, need less space and moving back into the cities provides closer cultural and employment opportunities. Other new city dwellers are attracted to the social aspects of a thriving, pedestrian-friendly and diverse community.
Although Baby Boomer demands are currently a substantial reason for the increase in micro-based trending, millennial buyers will represent the largest group of homebuyers by year end and they also gravitate toward smaller units closer to the urban core.Micro living seems to be midway between dorm life at one end of the spectrum and retirement home life at the other.
Scale It
Wherever you are in your home space life cycle, making the most use of tight spaces is a paramount goal. Popular space saving projects include ones that focus on enhanced organization, such as building new shelving units.
Placing a flat screen television on the wall also optimizes the square footage within a smaller dwelling. To safely affix your shelving or a flat screen television to the wall, ensure you’re anchoring the heavy object to a wall stud. Use the Zircon MultiScanner™ i520 to quickly and easily find studs and joists. For more information, visit our resources blog, like us on Facebook, or follow us @zircontools.
Hint! Make sure to use a brand new battery with an extended expiration date for the best results with your Zircon MultiScanner™ stud finder. Get more tips here.
References:
