Big and extravagant homes might be beautiful to admire from afar, but how many homeowners really want the mortgage payment that comes with it plus spend their nights and weekends maintaining them – or incur huge expenses to have others do so for them? Below I explore some of the advantages and comforts offered by a smaller home floor plan as well as my “Top 5 Tips” to enhance your smaller space design.

The one-story home has slowly emerged as a trendy and attractive choice for a growing number of the American population. With no stairs to navigate in a one-story floor plan, people find several creative design options - including cozy Cape Cods, bungalows, ranches, artsy Craftsman, chic European, Mediterranean, comfortable Southern and country styles.

The most inconvenient aspect of two-story homes – especially for retirees – is stairs. Climbing staircases simply isn’t possible for many people. The alternative for these seniors: single-story house plans that are less than 2,000 square feet. They give aging homeowners freedom and mobility without limiting the home’s scope and style.

Stylish, versatile, and affordable, 1000–1500-square-foot home plans come with all the wonderful “big-home” elements that you can want – minus the huge price tag. From various architectural designs that feature open floor plans, vaulted and high ceilings, bonus spaces, and mudrooms, there’s everything to love about these smaller house plans.

Have you been hearing about the “tiny movement”? Want to learn about the differences between tiny houses and small homes, the benefits of each, and which option might be right for you? If you’ve been dreaming about a minimalist lifestyle, then a small or tiny house might just be your “right” next move.

Property is more expensive than ever. Homeowners are embracing challenging property lots as future sites for their dream homes. Narrow lot home designs pack full living, covered porches, and open floor plans onto lots as narrow as 20 feet. Get inspired and learn how to make small footprints work hard.

Taking a page from the carriage houses of the late 18th century that were later converted into rental rooms, workshops, and studios, today’s garage apartments are a step up in style, luxury, and efficiency. We look at these trendy and imaginative living spaces for college-age children, overnight guests, in-laws, and more.

Designing a loft space can be really tricky, as every square inch needs to have a purpose. To be successful, you need to plan ahead. With the right end goal in mind, you’ll be able to achieve a functional space that’s also very livable. Here’s how to do it.

Garages with loft spaces are one of the unsung heroes of the home world. Adding a loft to your garage, or revamping the existing space, is one of the best things you can do for your home’s overall value, but also for yourself.

As homeowners integrate garages into their design plans, they face a number of options for the structure – detached? attached? front-entry? rear-entry? side-entry? – that may fit their needs and wants. Here’s a look at the side-entry garage, its advantages, and why it may be right for your next home.