However, the majority of the town consists of chain restaurants, lots of Walmarts, shopping centers, and thousands of housing communities – all in a varying shade of beige. It’s as if someone poured 5 different cans of the colors of beige over the town and called it a day.

I came across the Yankee Barn Homes through Tiny House Plans the other day and thought they were just exquisite. Though not exactly tiny, the carriage houses (basically a garage with a living area above) are on the small-ish size if you count only the living space, around 1,100 square feet.

I love spending time outdoors when the weather warms up. Although my patio’s footprint isn’t much larger than a walk-in closet (about 9 feet long by 3 1/2 feet deep), I’ve managed to design a perfect hang-out for two.

I know first hand that most apartments rarely reach 1,000 square feet. The norm is usually 600 – 800 square feet. For growing families in urban areas, the small space can seem uninhabitable.

The more I read about housing market news (the bubble returning, investors snatching up affordable houses, etc.), the more I think living in a tiny or small house might be my future.