Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1: The Mess We Got Ourselves Into Chapter 2: Let’s Get Back to Reality Chapter 3: The Emotional Advantages of a Small House Chapter 4: The Practical Advantages of a Small House Chapter 5: Tips For Living With Less Space THE KITCHEN: THE BATHROOMS & LINEN CLOSET: BEDROOMS: THE LIVING AREA: CLOSETS: GUEST ROOM: THE GARAGE: Closing Comments Author Bio Publisher Introduction There was a time not so terribly long ago that families were larger than they are today, but lived in houses less than half the size we see dotting the neighborhoods of America. Families with as many as eight and nine children lived in houses less than 1,000 square feet in size! But then came the 1980s. Our country had forgotten the struggles of war, families were earning two incomes thanks to the women’s movement and greed for bigger and better became the norm. Even hair was big! Houses were not immune from America’s fixation on big, either. In spite of record-high interest rates, houses went from an average of 1,000-1,700 square feet to 2,500 square feet and up! The need for big is still just about everywhere you look. Big drinks, super-sized fast-food meals, big television sets and big houses…society has spent the last few decades obsessed with BIG. The big house obsession, however, is waning. The reduction in the size of houses being built and those that are selling best, stems from a number of reasons. The reasons for the decline in the size of houses American families prefer is the focus of this book. So as you read, ask yourself if you and your family are ready to take the plunge from too big to just right.