How big is it?

Sometimes, size is all that matters. Or size is just on our minds: Large, sizeable, double, triple, manageable, flexible, a good size, bigger than expected…how we describe houses and the spaces associated with them relies on the reader doing a fair bit of interpreting. How big is big?

One person’s large, is another person’s average, whilst someone else’s ‘good size’ is just ‘cosy’. It’s true of a few aspects regarding property details - I’m sure plenty of people have read the description of ‘beautiful’ decor and raised their eyebrows or questioned the use of ‘full of character.’ However, the question of size is the most common.

Too big, too small?

For some people, when it comes to size, they want the Goldilocks house - not too big, not too small, just right. It can be surprising how often people change their minds when they find a home that isn’t the exact size they were looking for but they realise something else was more important. 

It can be worth taking some time to think about what you need the space for. Are you actually really locked in on the need for a big living room? Or could a smaller sitting room and a study in practice work better for you? 

Measuring up.

Our own perceptions can also be off and we think a room is smaller than it is. How furniture is used, the height of ceilings, and the position and size of windows can all affect our perception of the size of a room. With this in mind, it can be helpful to have not just the measurements of your rooms - but the measurement of your furniture too. The square footage of a dining room might be the same as your current one but the layout is different and being able to measure out where your dining table would fit can give you a different view of a room. 

Another point of measuring up is to actually compare your size to others - if you’ve got a 3 bedroom house with a sitting room, dining room and a detached garage, maybe get some floorplans for similar homes and compare them to yours. If you have your home valued, ask the valuer if they think your kitchen is average or your garden small - this can again help give you a sense of perspective.

Seeing is believing.

We might be able to offer all sorts of videos and virtual viewings or 3D tours of houses, but going by how many people when viewing a house say ‘oh - it’s bigger than I thought,’ or ‘It looked like the garden was bigger’; I think it’s clear that where possible you should always go to physically view a house. It can even be that the room doesn’t look bigger, but it feels bigger. It also gives you an idea - you notice how big the built-in storage is, meaning you might not need the extra furniture. 

Keeping an open mind and being prepared to consider alternatives can often lead to some  revelations about your preferences. You might also be surprised what you can do with some thoughtful decoration and some clever arrangement to maximise the rooms and space you have. 

Is size all important when it comes to space? Or is it more what you do with it?