How much space do I need in my house?
If you’re going to start looking at houses to buy, one of the first qualities you need to consider is how much space you want. Generally, people measure a home’s space by three metrics: square footage, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and the acreage of the lot on which the house sits. These numbers can vary widely, but when combined, they paint a really clear picture that can help you find the perfect house for your current and future needs. We break down what to consider when evaluating a home based on these metrics and how they play together.
How space is measured
To understand how a house’s space is measured, it’s best to start by defining the terms.
Bedrooms: Counting a home’s bedrooms might seem straightforward, but there are a few things you should know about what counts as a bedroom. For a room to count as a bedroom, it has to have at least 7 feet of horizontal distance, two forms of entry/exit (usually a window and a door), 7-foot ceilings and some sort of heating/cooling elements. Some states require a closet for a room to be considered a bedroom, but not all.
Bathrooms: A “full bathroom” is a washroom that includes a toilet, sink and shower or bathtub (or a shower/tub combination). You may also encounter a home with a half-bathroom or a powder room. Usually, this is a smaller bathroom that doesn’t have a shower or bathtub. If a home has two half bathrooms, the listing shouldn't combine them to list a full bathroom. Make sure you understand how many bathrooms are in a house and how they break down between full and half bathrooms by reading the property description.
Square footage: A home’s square footage is calculated by measuring the length and width of a room and multiplying the two measurements together. You repeat this process throughout all of the rooms and add the figures together to determine the total square footage. It’s important to consider a home’s number of rooms alongside the square footage to get a clear picture of how big a home is. Some homes have many smaller rooms while others will have a few bigger spaces. Both arrangements have pros and cons – it really depends upon what you need and want in a house.
Lot size: You should not only consider the size of the house you’re looking to buy, but also the size of the lot on which it sits. Sometimes lots are measured in square feet, and other times they’re measured by acreage. Regardless of the metrics used to measure, take some time to drive around and look at the lot size in the areas you’re considering. This can help you determine how much or how little land you want.
Current vs. future space needs
Now that you understand the metrics, it’s time to start thinking about how much space you need. A good way to get started is to think about your current living arrangement. Does everyone in your family who needs a bedroom have one? If not, you may want to consider homes with more bedrooms than you currently have. Is there a bathroom in your current space that often goes unused? Then maybe you could consider a home with one fewer.
Then, think beyond bedrooms and bathrooms and envision how you’d like to use your new house. If hosting meals for family holidays is important to you, then a larger kitchen and a dining room might be features to look for. If you have an active pet and kids who enjoy playing outside, then a fenced yard may be an important priority. When you think about your needs and your wants combined, a clear picture of how much space you really need can come into focus.
One pitfall homebuyers can fall into is not considering their future space needs when shopping for a home. If you plan to have children, have a significant other move in with you, care for older relatives or host guests, you may want to look for a home that’s a little bigger than your current needs. This can help make your home last longer for your family and keep you from having to move.
Finding the balance between space and affordability
Some people might say that bigger is always better – but that’s not the case when you’re shopping for a home. The goal should be to find a home that has enough space to make sense now and into the future while also fitting within your budget. After all, you don’t want to pay more in a mortgage and higher utility bills for space you don’t really use. This is where working with a Realtor comes into play. A licensed real estate professional can help you determine what parts of town would be affordable based on the size of a home you’re looking for.
They can also help you evaluate how well a house uses space. Some houses waste square footage because of poor design choices. Others have lower square footage but are much more functional for modern families. For example, Homes in United Housing’s neighborhood, Wolf River Bluffs, use universal design standards to maximize usable space and provide amenities that are both functional and affordable.
Ultimately, it’s your decision!
Whether you need a home with lots of space or a more compact economical house, it is your decision. Once you understand how space is measured and use our recommendations to determine your needs and wants in a space, you should be on your way to finding your dream home!