8 Reasons Big Houses Are Out Of Style (Explained)

Big houses used to be very popular back in the day. These houses were trendy because homeowners wanted upmarket amenities and huge interior spaces with lots of room for different activities.

In addition, big houses are a symbol of status and wealth, which used to matter a lot in the past decades.

In recent years, big houses are becoming less popular with more and more people opting for smaller houses. So what’s causing this trend?

In this article, we’ll be discussing the reasons big houses are out of style. Let’s get to it!

1. More People Are Becoming Economically Conscious

This is probably one of the main reasons why big houses are going out of style.

In general, big houses are quite expensive to purchase. A large house with at least 5 bedrooms, some extra amenities on top of the basic ones, and a sprawling outdoor space can easily set you back by $1 million and many large houses can cost more than this.

Depending on the area, big houses can cost anywhere between $1 million and $100 million.

On top of them being expensive to purchase, big houses are also very expensive to maintain. More often than not, you’d have to hire professionals just to help you with the upkeep of a large house and this can cost a lot.

A bigger house also means higher utility bills because there’s bigger space and more rooms to heat or cool, plus there are more appliances to power. Big houses have more lighting fixtures, appliances, and electronics, which can quickly drive up your utility bills.

While big houses are nice, one major drawback to living in them is that the heating, cooling, and electricity costs can be quite expensive. But, thes are necessary so that you consistently get a comfortable temperature throughout the entire house.

With the rising cost of housing in many areas and the ongoing recession, more people are now becoming economically conscious. This results in them cutting expenses as much as they can and this includes opting for smaller homes.

By opting for a smaller house, they spend less money on everything – from the purchase of the house itself to property taxes and mortgage.

Smaller houses are generally more affordable to purchase. They’re also cheaper and easier to maintain, plus heating, cooling, and utility costs for these houses are significantly lower compared to big houses.

In fact, this is why many people are even switching to tiny and micro homes. With lower upkeep costs and a small space to maintain, these houses are becoming trendy nowadays.

2. More People Want a Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Lifestyle

This is another main reason why big houses are out of style – more and more people are choosing to be more environmentally friendly.

In general, big houses have a negative impact on the environment. These houses require more resources and materials to build, and manufacturing and transporting these materials leave a lot of carbon footprint.

Additionally, big houses use more energy for heating and cooling, which makes them a big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

With the realization that natural resources are becoming limited, more people are choosing to live a sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle. And a huge part of this is choosing smaller houses over big ones.

Smaller houses typically require fewer resources to build and maintain. They also use less energy for heating and cooling, which can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Additionally, smaller houses often encourage people to live a more minimalist lifestyle by reducing clutter and choosing to have fewer possessions. This helps reduce waste.

Overall, choosing to live in a smaller house over a big house is an environmentally conscious decision that many people are gravitating towards.

3. Households are Decreasing in Size

The average household size has significantly decreased in the past decades. Back in the day, it was quite common for extended families to live together in one house. This meant that grandparents, parents, and children used to share the same living space.

Another reason why households are decreasing in size is the decline in the birth rate. In the past, many families had as many as 4 to 6 children, while families nowadays are choosing to have less. Some people are even choosing not to have any children.

The decline in the birth rate is due to several reasons. One of which is that many people are choosing to delay or forgo parenthood. Some people want to focus on their careers and personal goals rather than have children. Other people have financial concerns.

In addition, people have more access to birth control which makes it easier for them to plan their pregnancies or avoid being pregnant altogether.

Since households are getting smaller with fewer people living together, there’s not a lot of demand for big houses.

Having a smaller household eliminates the need for a big house since people don’t need that many rooms and that much space.

4. People Have Busier Lives

A lot of people nowadays are leading busier lives than ever before. They have longer work hours and more demanding schedules, not to mention a busy social calendar to keep up with or hobbies to pursue.

With people becoming busier, they are opting for smaller houses rather than big ones.

Smaller houses are easier to maintain and require less upkeep, which makes them perfect if you have a busy life.

Big houses require a lot of time and effort to maintain so smaller houses are ideal if you have a hectic schedule and not a lot of free time.

5. More and More People are Traveling

In recent years, there has been a trend towards increasing travel worldwide. More people are taking trips both within their country and abroad.

This can be attributed to the fact that most jobs offer a lot of flexibility nowadays thanks to technology. More and more jobs are becoming remote, and this gives people more opportunities to travel since they can work from anywhere as long as they have a laptop and reliable internet connection.

With more and more people traveling, there’s a decreasing demand for big houses. People don’t need big houses when they’re not often at home anyway.

In addition, more people are also opting for tiny mobile houses. This way, they can travel with their houses in tow. This helps them save money on accommodations and be in the comfort of their homes even if they’re on the road.

6. The Population is Aging

The aging population is another reason why big houses are going out of style nowadays.

With the current population aging, a lot of people have to deal with health issues and limited mobility. This makes big houses more difficult for them to clean and maintain.

7. Home Design Trends Have Changed

Another reason why big houses are going out of style is the continuous changes in architectural styles and design preferences.

Most big houses come in traditional styles, which were quite trendy in the past decades.

With newer and more modern architectural styles coming out, many people are drawn to more minimalist designs over large and elaborate homes. 

Small houses typically come in simple designs that were created with form, function, and aesthetics in mind, which makes them very popular with most people nowadays.

8. People’s Lifestyles and Priorities Have Changed

Back in the day, big houses were often seen as a symbol of wealth and social status. If you had a big house, it meant that you were economically doing well compared to other people.

Because of this, big houses were widely popular. People had the impression that they’d be admired and respected more if they had a big house so they strived and worked hard to afford these houses. The more they had, the better it was for their social status.

In recent years, people’s lifestyles and priorities have changed. Nowadays, younger generations value life experiences and forming social connections more than material possessions, including home ownership.

What most people strive for today is having a great work-life balance and being able to travel and see the world and experience different things in life.

Instead of buying large houses that are expensive and difficult to maintain, many people are using their money to buy plane tickets and hotel accommodations so they can experience other cultures. Some people are using their money to spend more time with friends and family.

Final Thoughts

Both big houses and small houses have their pros and cons.

While it’s true that big houses are going out of style and smaller houses are becoming more trendy, it ultimately depends on your lifestyle, needs, preferences, and budget whether a big house or a small house is ideal for you.

Sources:

Are Big Houses Out Of Style?

Why Do People Buy Big Homes? 5 Disadvantages Of Having A Big House

6 Big Reasons Why The Tiny House Movement Is On The Rise