Never Too Small is a Youtube channel I discovered this year that is dedicated to small footprint living through innovative and creative uses of space. It has been so inspiring to see how these award-winning architects don’t allow size to compromise comfort, quality of life or beauty.
Jack Chen of Tsai Design is probably a favorite. He seems to have mastered concealed functionality, flexible furniture configuration and minimization of visual clutter. His use of greenery is well done and in his hands, a Murphy bed is actually a decent proposal. And that drop leaf table! Drools.
Naturally, creating a small footprint comes at a cost. As one commenter smartly shared, “never too small” doesn’t mean “never too expensive.”
Still, each story shows the viewer how to add sensitive and elegant changes to their own space and perhaps, consider a life that is happy to need less or can better accommodate more.
My faves, below:
Jack Chen
“Everything needs to be carefully considered. You’ve got to know your lifestyle, so what’s important for you.”
1. Small Grand Apartment
2. Type Street Apartment
Others
1. The Cairo Flat
2. 122 Roseneath St
3. The Warren
4. Southeast Apartment
Never Too Small also started a fascinating conversation about the current housing crisis, especially within cities. The solution? Curtail the trend of building bigger and further out and instead, focus on repurposing old buildings within a city nucleus to accommodate inevitable population surges. It’s an interesting reversal of the housing manifest destiny we’re used to, especially within states (TX) and countries (Canada) that have the space. I’m also excited to see how they solve the ‘noisy, smoking neighbors’ problem.
Tell me, would you live small? Which apartment was your favorite?