In America, home of the Super Big Gulp, living smaller isn't something we think of as a goal. To Laura Fenton, living smaller is a mindset more than the amount of square feet involved. We talk about pairing back to what is essential, how downsizing can be liberating, the cleverness of a studio space, playing an endless game of Tetris, accumulating things just because you have the space, living in a small space keeps you honest, what a smaller life might look like and the rewards of it, taking the pressure off, being in a small space during the pandemic, the joy of making things work, not being beholden to others' expectations, balance of space and comfort, the large size of modern homes, urban density, smaller homes being the more sustainable option (in every way), it's not a sad thing to live in a small space, living well in a small space without deprivations, the homes in her book came sans stylists or props (that's really how they live), the cost of living smaller, a one-time big (expensive) purchase may save money in the long run, the craziness of smaller appliances costing more, seeing the long view, shopping second had for smaller spaces (because older furniture was made at a smaller scale), Apartment Therapy, sharing experiences, looking at life differently, useful/purposeful gifts, the satisfaction of giving items away to someone who'll enjoy them, pretend to move if you need motivation to declutter, changing the energy of your home by decluttering and/or inviting people over, curiosity of small space living, not filling space, living small is a daily practice, ongoing editing, changing one thing can change everything, if your home is feeling small now (after surviving lockdown) give it a purge, it may be the stuff, not the space, looking at the Why, the bunk bed book.

You can find Laura at http://www.laura-fenton.com/  https://twitter.com/lauraafenton  https://www.instagram.com/laura.alice.fenton

You can find her book here: https://bookshop.org/books/the-little-book-of-living-small/9781423652533?aid=11990&listref=a-sassy-little-podcast-tbr

Episode recorded on 03/26/21

Episode released on 04/28/21

For more information on the podcast or its host, please visit sassylittlepodcast.com. There, you will find links to social media and an opportunity to become a member of the podcast community. We are on Twitter and Instagram @SassyLittlePod and Facebook @SassyLittlePodcast.

Thanks for listening! If you like this sassy little podcast, please subscribe to it, rate it and review it, and tell your friends about it. Become a patron on Patreon. Cheers!

Full episodes are available to paid subscribers of A Sassy Little Substack. Subscriptions start at $5/mo or $40/yr. For more information, visit A Sassy Little Substack.

The podcast is written, produced and edited by Sandra Ann Miller.  If you are interested in becoming a guest, please visit the Contact page at SassyLittlePodcast.com.

Music: Shower Beer by GG Riggs