Smaller Spaces
Small Is the New Big
The grandeur and opulence of consumer preferences during the boom times of the recent past have given way to desires for smaller, more functional areas that can be summed-up as “practicality without sacrifice.” Current home buyers are well aware that big comes with a price and have developed an increasing appetite for sensible designs with increasing utility.
It means that smaller footprints and footages are becoming the new normal. While many consumers are willing to forgo space, they are not equating this with having to forfeit functionality. Design creativity is requisite to adapt to this changing preference.
Think Spaces not Rooms
Paring nicely with the trend toward less square footage is the desire for “spaces” as opposed to “rooms.” Cordoned-off boxes are giving way to key functioning areas, driven by lifestyles that often mix family, work, and friends into the same arena.
The home continues to evolve from strict borders of tasks, to blended areas of purpose, allowing home buyers to maintain their lifestyle requirements in a world of ever-increasing complexity. Zones for entertaining, working, family activities and retreating, are the focal points important to today’s home buyers. These spaces need to be understood and incorporated into designs for maximum market appeal.
Those are great tips Pia Having sold two houses in my life, proper staging does make a HUGE difference. I liked your video a lot and the buttons across the top sure are cool additions. Loved your five radio shows on Staging and really look forward to seeing your Feng Shui for modern living.