Forget impressive floor plans: Small-space living is the future

I live in a 58-square-metre apartment in Toorak, and I love it.

My husband and I both work from home, and sometimes it’s chaotic.

He’ll be on a video call in the dining room while I work at a makeshift desk in the bedroom.

It’s tight, but at least no one’s shouting down a hallway to ask what’s for dinner. And believe me, I know what that’s like.

We previously bought a three-bedroom house in the suburbs, thinking more space was the dream.

Instead, it became another full-time job: cleaning unused rooms, mowing lawns, buying furniture just to fill space. More space just meant more work.

Downsizing was intentional – we travel often, and it gave us the leeway to lock up and leave, with a place that’s far easier to short-term rent while we’re away.

We lost space but gained freedom. And when I catch myself whining about space, I think of my late grandparents raising six kids in the Philippines in something even smaller, and quickly shut up. Perspective helps.

Somewhere along the way, Australians were convinced that “making it” means chasing more square meterage – another bedroom, a media room, a playroom no one plays in, a “formal” dining room that gets used twice a year.

But here’s the thing: bigger isn’t always better.

Take Adrienne Hearn, who lives with her schnauzer Pedro in a 55-square-metre inner-Melbourne townhouse. She could have upsized, but didn’t.

“My first consideration was not to tie myself to two-minute noodles for the foreseeable future,” Hearn says. “The townhouse just worked – central location, a tiny bit of dirt, no body corporate, and good light.

With a background in architecture and project development, Hearn is one of many stories featured in Neometro’s new book, City Living, where she calls out the myths of big-house living.

“I completely reject the idea of the McMansion and wasted space,” Hearn says.

“I’ve seen many large rooms that feel soulless, and grand features that function poorly. A small, well-designed space can perform better than a badly designed big one. Size doesn’t translate to liveability.”

What she’s found instead is what she calls the “ease of less”.

“This house gives me less to worry about – it costs less and consumes less of my energy and attention,” Hearn adds.

“As the late architect Mies van der Rohe said, ‘God is in the details,’ and that’s what I see here. Every space feels considered and purposeful.”

And her advice for those who still believe more space is the answer?

“I’d encourage people to think about how they’re actually going to live in their home, rather than succumb to the checklist of conventional rooms,” Hearn says. “A space that fulfils your own priorities – even with functions sharing a room – will enrich your life far more than that dusty space you thought you needed but rarely use.”

On Sydney’s northern beaches, Alex Johnson and Joel Taylor are preparing to put small-scale living to the test as they start their family.

While many might upsize before a baby arrives, they’re staying put in their 60-square-metre apartment, soon to be home to three.

“It’s easy to assume we’ll outgrow apartment living,” Johnson says. “But expectations around family space are overstated.

“Small-scale living isn’t just a temporary phase – it can be intentional and fulfilling, making you more conscious about how you use space, what you genuinely need, and what adds value to daily life.”

Rejecting the idea that small living is just a stepping stone until you “graduate” to something bigger, the couple point out that big homes aren’t always enviable.

“People in larger homes often envy how smaller spaces keep clutter in check,” Johnson says. “Less room makes you selective, while big homes usually store things that don’t add value.”

Their professional backgrounds certainly help. Johnson runs Knot Studio, and Taylor is the joiner behind Taylor Made.

Together, they gave their compact apartment much TLC, making every centimetre earn its keep.

“We’ve maximised functionality with clever solutions,” Taylor says.

“Cabinetry extends to full ceiling height for hidden storage, while banquette seating makes the most of the dining wall. All our appliances are integrated, so the design stays clean and uncluttered.”

With its location, good bones and thoughtful transformation, it’s clear why the couple chose this apartment as the right fit – not just for now, but for the family life ahead.

“Media rooms, spare bedrooms, sprawling footprints – they might look impressive on a floor plan, but they don’t guarantee a life well lived,” Taylor adds.

“For some of us, enough really is enough.”