What is the ideal amount of square footage for a family of 4?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who think as you get older you need less space are young and foolish. I was also that way. My house I just bought in my mid 50's as a trade up home is 6,100 square feet, the house across the street sold a few weeks ago to a couple early 50s that is 7,000 square feet. Your fifties and sixties you need the most square footage.

My kids are not 12, 17 and 18. All at once I am hitting the car phase. Right now three cars, one more to come, Hitting dating phase while still in playdate phase. Hitting phase where friends from college come visit and in-laws too old to drive home late stay over. If anything I should have got around 7,000 square feet with a three car garage instead of two.

I have the three kids in a 1,400 square foot house with a one car driveway up till two years ago. Coming up in next 15 years I will host college graduations, engagement showers, weddings, baby showers, meeting new inlaws and son-in-laws for first time. Folks judge. I need room. When kids are little none of that happens. Then you hit mid 70s or so and it starts to slow down as that phase is behind

+1

You can make 1400 square feet work, but why would you want to? Live a little

Because in 1400 square feet you
- can live in an urban neighborhood with lots of amenities, never have to drive in the soulsucking fat-making tin box on wheels, and see your neighbors regularly on foot
- have much less cleaning and maintenance and thus have more free time....

... to post on DCUM.

Hmm maybe I should re-evaluate my life choices

[Anonymous]

I live in a 975 sq ft home with a 500sq ft finished basement. We bought it from a family who happily raised their three kids to adulthood and since their youngest had just gone off to college, they wanted to downsize.

Years ago. This was the norm. The idea that you need 760-1000 sq ft per person is really only something that rich people think is necessary. Probably 95% of the world's population loves with much less space than that.

It is about values and priorities and philosophical approach to life and wants. It isn't about what people actually need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Folks who think as you get older you need less space are young and foolish. I was also that way. My house I just bought in my mid 50's as a trade up home is 6,100 square feet, the house across the street sold a few weeks ago to a couple early 50s that is 7,000 square feet. Your fifties and sixties you need the most square footage.

My kids are not 12, 17 and 18. All at once I am hitting the car phase. Right now three cars, one more to come, Hitting dating phase while still in playdate phase. Hitting phase where friends from college come visit and in-laws too old to drive home late stay over. If anything I should have got around 7,000 square feet with a three car garage instead of two.

I have the three kids in a 1,400 square foot house with a one car driveway up till two years ago. Coming up in next 15 years I will host college graduations, engagement showers, weddings, baby showers, meeting new inlaws and son-in-laws for first time. Folks judge. I need room. When kids are little none of that happens. Then you hit mid 70s or so and it starts to slow down as that phase is behind

Ugh. This level of consumption (four cars?!) and the “no, really, we need it and you do too” justifications are extremely off-putting. You don’t need that much space. What hole inside you are you trying to fill?

[Anonymous]

We live in a 2200 sf house but own a 7000 sf beach house for the summer. 2 adults, 1 kid, 1 dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who think as you get older you need less space are young and foolish. I was also that way. My house I just bought in my mid 50's as a trade up home is 6,100 square feet, the house across the street sold a few weeks ago to a couple early 50s that is 7,000 square feet. Your fifties and sixties you need the most square footage.

My kids are not 12, 17 and 18. All at once I am hitting the car phase. Right now three cars, one more to come, Hitting dating phase while still in playdate phase. Hitting phase where friends from college come visit and in-laws too old to drive home late stay over. If anything I should have got around 7,000 square feet with a three car garage instead of two.

I have the three kids in a 1,400 square foot house with a one car driveway up till two years ago. Coming up in next 15 years I will host college graduations, engagement showers, weddings, baby showers, meeting new inlaws and son-in-laws for first time. Folks judge. I need room. When kids are little none of that happens. Then you hit mid 70s or so and it starts to slow down as that phase is behind

Ugh. This level of consumption (four cars?!) and the “no, really, we need it and you do too” justifications are extremely off-putting. You don’t need that much space. What hole inside you are you trying to fill?

I'll do you one better:

We're a family of 3, 9000 square feet, 3 cars (all V8's, and usually only one of them driven daily). I researched people like you and you wanna know what I found (I know you don't want to hear it but I'm going to tell everyone all the same): you don't give a damn about the environment, sustainability etc. You just like feeling good about showing off how green you are.

Try doing an actual sustainably audit of your life.

Unless you:

-knit your own clothes
-are vegan
-grow your own food
- have no children

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who think as you get older you need less space are young and foolish. I was also that way. My house I just bought in my mid 50's as a trade up home is 6,100 square feet, the house across the street sold a few weeks ago to a couple early 50s that is 7,000 square feet. Your fifties and sixties you need the most square footage.

My kids are not 12, 17 and 18. All at once I am hitting the car phase. Right now three cars, one more to come, Hitting dating phase while still in playdate phase. Hitting phase where friends from college come visit and in-laws too old to drive home late stay over. If anything I should have got around 7,000 square feet with a three car garage instead of two.

I have the three kids in a 1,400 square foot house with a one car driveway up till two years ago. Coming up in next 15 years I will host college graduations, engagement showers, weddings, baby showers, meeting new inlaws and son-in-laws for first time. Folks judge. I need room. When kids are little none of that happens. Then you hit mid 70s or so and it starts to slow down as that phase is behind

If my son in law judged me for not having a 6,000 square foot house, I would question my own parenting. How did I raise a daughter who made such a poor choice in a husband?

She is speaking about her mother and father in law, who are now getting too old to drive at night.

No. She specifically says right there that she needs room because she will be meeting NEW in laws and son in laws for the first time and people judge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who think as you get older you need less space are young and foolish. I was also that way. My house I just bought in my mid 50's as a trade up home is 6,100 square feet, the house across the street sold a few weeks ago to a couple early 50s that is 7,000 square feet. Your fifties and sixties you need the most square footage.

My kids are not 12, 17 and 18. All at once I am hitting the car phase. Right now three cars, one more to come, Hitting dating phase while still in playdate phase. Hitting phase where friends from college come visit and in-laws too old to drive home late stay over. If anything I should have got around 7,000 square feet with a three car garage instead of two.

I have the three kids in a 1,400 square foot house with a one car driveway up till two years ago. Coming up in next 15 years I will host college graduations, engagement showers, weddings, baby showers, meeting new inlaws and son-in-laws for first time. Folks judge. I need room. When kids are little none of that happens. Then you hit mid 70s or so and it starts to slow down as that phase is behind

+1

You can make 1400 square feet work, but why would you want to? Live a little

Because in 1400 square feet you
- can live in an urban neighborhood with lots of amenities, never have to drive in the soulsucking fat-making tin box on wheels, and see your neighbors regularly on foot
- have much less cleaning and maintenance and thus have more free time....

... to post on DCUM.

Hmm maybe I should re-evaluate my life choices

The idea that suburbanites in 4000 sq ft homes don't get to see their neighbors on the reg is stupid. I live in the Clarksburg and my kids walk to their friends homes all the time. On our street alone, my 4th grader has 2 other classmates living on the same street who are often at our house or are playing on the front yard with my kid. Just last weekend, I walked across the street to have drinks with our friends/neighbors. Yesterday, I walked 2 doors down to return something I borrowed from my neighbor. We ended up chatting and drinking wine on her front porch. 2 weekends ago, our neighborhood pool across the street hosted a pool party and everyone in the neighborhood went and many of us walked back to my house to have a barbeque afterwards. This stuff didn't happen when I was living in DC in a 2 bedroom apartment. I also now have a house that is conducive to entertaining and hosting friends and neighbors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who think as you get older you need less space are young and foolish. I was also that way. My house I just bought in my mid 50's as a trade up home is 6,100 square feet, the house across the street sold a few weeks ago to a couple early 50s that is 7,000 square feet. Your fifties and sixties you need the most square footage.

My kids are not 12, 17 and 18. All at once I am hitting the car phase. Right now three cars, one more to come, Hitting dating phase while still in playdate phase. Hitting phase where friends from college come visit and in-laws too old to drive home late stay over. If anything I should have got around 7,000 square feet with a three car garage instead of two.

I have the three kids in a 1,400 square foot house with a one car driveway up till two years ago. Coming up in next 15 years I will host college graduations, engagement showers, weddings, baby showers, meeting new inlaws and son-in-laws for first time. Folks judge. I need room. When kids are little none of that happens. Then you hit mid 70s or so and it starts to slow down as that phase is behind

+1

You can make 1400 square feet work, but why would you want to? Live a little

Because in 1400 square feet you
- can live in an urban neighborhood with lots of amenities, never have to drive in the soulsucking fat-making tin box on wheels, and see your neighbors regularly on foot
- have much less cleaning and maintenance and thus have more free time....

... to post on DCUM.

Hmm maybe I should re-evaluate my life choices

The idea that suburbanites in 4000 sq ft homes don't get to see their neighbors on the reg is stupid. I live in the Clarksburg and my kids walk to their friends homes all the time. On our street alone, my 4th grader has 2 other classmates living on the same street who are often at our house or are playing on the front yard with my kid. Just last weekend, I walked across the street to have drinks with our friends/neighbors. Yesterday, I walked 2 doors down to return something I borrowed from my neighbor. We ended up chatting and drinking wine on her front porch. 2 weekends ago, our neighborhood pool across the street hosted a pool party and everyone in the neighborhood went and many of us walked back to my house to have a barbeque afterwards. This stuff didn't happen when I was living in DC in a 2 bedroom apartment. I also now have a house that is conducive to entertaining and hosting friends and neighbors.

Don’t bother. The “DC is best because neighbors!” crowd is perpetually head in the sand about this stuff. I spent 10 years in DC and 5 in the suburbs. The suburbs have a much better sense of community, for all the reasons you list. Plus none of my neighbors here has passed out drunk or my lawn or stabbed their spouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks who think as you get older you need less space are young and foolish. I was also that way. My house I just bought in my mid 50's as a trade up home is 6,100 square feet, the house across the street sold a few weeks ago to a couple early 50s that is 7,000 square feet. Your fifties and sixties you need the most square footage.

My kids are not 12, 17 and 18. All at once I am hitting the car phase. Right now three cars, one more to come, Hitting dating phase while still in playdate phase. Hitting phase where friends from college come visit and in-laws too old to drive home late stay over. If anything I should have got around 7,000 square feet with a three car garage instead of two.

I have the three kids in a 1,400 square foot house with a one car driveway up till two years ago. Coming up in next 15 years I will host college graduations, engagement showers, weddings, baby showers, meeting new inlaws and son-in-laws for first time. Folks judge. I need room. When kids are little none of that happens. Then you hit mid 70s or so and it starts to slow down as that phase is behind

Ugh. This level of consumption (four cars?!) and the “no, really, we need it and you do too” justifications are extremely off-putting. You don’t need that much space. What hole inside you are you trying to fill?

I'll do you one better:

We're a family of 3, 9000 square feet, 3 cars (all V8's, and usually only one of them driven daily). I researched people like you and you wanna know what I found (I know you don't want to hear it but I'm going to tell everyone all the same): you don't give a damn about the environment, sustainability etc. You just like feeling good about showing off how green you are.

Try doing an actual sustainably audit of your life.

Unless you:

-knit your own clothes
-are vegan
-grow your own food
- have no children

Not talking about environmental impact, just greed, materialism, and insecurity.

[Anonymous]

interesting. after reading these responses it seems what is ideal to one person can be different than it is to another. what a strange concept

[Anonymous]

We live in about 2300 which includes the basement. My kids are still little, but it seems like plenty of space. It's not luxurious by any means, but it's completely functional and works for us.

[Anonymous]

I have 3 kids in a 2500 sq foot house.
4 bedrooms, finished basement, two car garage, large yard.
I think we have enough room.

Honestly idk whether the basement is included in the 2500 or not.

[Anonymous]

We're a family of 4, both under 10, with 999 sq ft fully above grade and another 999 as a finished walk-out basement. (Two baths with neither a master.) No garage. For us, it's the perfect size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're a family of 4, both under 10, with 999 sq ft fully above grade and another 999 as a finished walk-out basement. (Two baths with neither a master.) No garage. For us, it's the perfect size.

*both children under 10*

[Anonymous]

2400 spread across 3 floors (including basement) is more than enough for our family of 4.