What these houses lack in square footage, they make up for in both sensibility and style. A few are truly tiny houses, but most are just modest homes that have been designed to help their homeowners live well within their means. These small yet efficient homes reveal everything that there is to love about downsizing—and there’s a lot. From home plans to design inspiration and beyond, this collection of Fine Homebuilding articles is full of smart ideas to get the most out of a home.

• 1
  
  Design

  Same Square Footage, but Bigger

  When converting this house on Martha's Vineyard from a two-family to a single-family, LDa Architecture & Interiors reworked the floor plan to make the home feel more spacious.

• 2
  

  Small-Home Harmony

  Tight space restrictions, unique cultural requirements, and the desire to age in place informed this compact, efficient design.

• 3
  
  Design

  The New Small House

  This book excerpt features 4 homes that represent essential design strategies for building comfortable small homes.

• 4
  
  Design

  The Smaller, The Better

  Architect Nir Pearlson designs a compact, sustainable home on the edge of an Oregon hamlet.

• 5
  
  Design

  Inspiring Ideas for Small Houses

  Inspiration for small houses and great ideas for living with less square footage

• 6
  

  5 Small Home Plans to Admire

  To help get the design of your small home right, check out these 5 small home plans to inspire the way you live.

• 7
  

  Small Houses are a Big Deal

  While there are plenty of really big houses being built (do 2.54 people really need five bedrooms and over 3,000 sq. ft.?), there's no missing that small houses are a…

• 8
  
  Design

  Little House in the City

  A compact home can feel roomy if the living space expands into the yard and the neighborhood around it.

• 9
  
  Design

  Downsizing Below Grade

  Lanefab Design/Build’s client downsized from an adjacent 1920s main house into this 750-sq.-ft. single-bedroom abode with detached garage. Both the house and the garage were designed around a large magnolia…

• 10
  
  Design

  Laneway House: Affordable First-Home Alternative

  A young family decides to build an architect-designed accessory dwelling unit on land owned by a relative instead of settling for a crowded condo.

• 11
  
  Design

  Small House, Built Right

  Think $50 per square foot and $50 a month for utilities are unattainable? Government-sponsored research proves otherwise.

• 12
  
  Design

  Downsizing From Suburbia to an Urban Bungalow

  Two sisters hire an architect to turn a dilapidated Craftsman house in the city into a cozy shared retirement home.

• 13
  
  Design

  Small Home in Eastern Oregon Suits Its Site

  This compact, panelized home takes its design inspiration from the vast Western landscape and local building traditions.

• 14
  
  Design

  Bringing in the Light

  This energy-efficient bungalow makes for a cozy — and warm — retreat.

• 15
  
  Design

  Mountaintop Treehouse

  This 440-sq.-ft. house shows that well-designed homes can be comfortable and inviting no matter what their size.

• 16
  
  Design

  Smart Storage for Small Spaces

  Add convenience and comfort to small kitchens and baths.

• 17
  
  Design

  Beautiful Small Bathrooms

  These five bathrooms prove that good things do indeed come in small packages.

• 18
  
  Design

  Compact Kitchens

  Smart design moves make these four small-house kitchens feel comfortable, not cramped.

• 19
  
  Design

  Texas Transformation

  This small 1940s bungalow was redesigned to create an open and comfortable contemporary home.

• 20
  
  Design

  Small-House Secrets

  This 800-sq.-ft. cottage uses 10 strategies for great comfort and style.

• 21
  
  Design

  A Modern Modular At Home in Minneapolis

  A small house on a small lot is the right choice for a growing family.

• 22
  
  Design

  7 Small Bathroom Layouts

  Learn some design secrets for remodeling a small bathroom floorplan layout without breaking the bank.

• 23
  
  Design

  Live Tall on a Small Footprint

  Two projects smaller than 1500 sq. ft. illustrate how to design a comfortable home with little impact on the site.

• 24
  
  Design

  Big Ideas for Small Houses

  Multiuse rooms, built-in furniture, and carefully orchestrated sightlines are just a few of the tools that can help you to get the most out of the space you have

• 25
  
  Design

  Smaller House, Better Investment

  Whether you’re planning for retirement or looking to live life to the fullest right now, buying a small house might be the best way to achieve both goals

• 26
  
  Design

  Small & Spacious

  Five ideas for making a pocket-size house feel like so much more.