A Puzzling and Unique Problem: Too Much Space
The USA is unique in how it uses space. Low-density development is the norm and requires most people to own a motorized vehicle to get to their job or to a store. Plenty of space between locations forces people to drive some distance to get from A to B. Single family housing developments, likewise, use lots of space to accommodate large rooms in multi-room houses. It’s harder to find a small new home than it is to find a small old home. Many families live in houses larger than they need, but they don’t realize this since they become accustomed to so much space. How is it, then, that larger families across the world live just as easily in smaller homes? Regardless of how small, all of their space serves a function. The energy of a room in a well-used house of any size is vibrant and full of purpose.
One reason families live in houses that are larger than necessary may be because Americans often lack a third place. Home, therefore, becomes the default hang-out spot. Without a third place, we understandably want home our home to foster the space and atmosphere necessary to fulfill us in whatever way a third place otherwise would. Cheaper housing construction (often of lower quality) also encourages larger home development. Whatever the cause, though, we Americans have become accustomed to it. So much so that many people cannot imagine having a smaller home. And nobody wants their kids to share rooms anymore, either.
The Difference Between Abundant Space That is Well-Used and Abundant Space That is Not
A large house that is well utilized is a happy, useful house. When every space in someone’s large home actually goes to use, whether it be due to a large family, lots of company, parties, or other indoor activities frequently employed, the energy of the place stays alive. This is because the energy of a room remains positive when it serves a purpose that benefits the family living there and/or anyone who visits.
On the other hand, a large house that is underutilized is simply a pain to clean and a strain on the utility bill. Having too big of a house probably means you won’t use some of the rooms very frequently. Those spaces then feel stale, stagnant, and void of life. Just because they are filled with stuff doesn’t mean they are useful if you don’t regularly use them or the stuff inside.
It is good to use all space appropriately and to the best of its function for your home. This way, we avoid having stale space sitting around unused and draining the home’s energy. My first single-family rental home had more bedrooms than my spouse and I needed. While they slept our occasional guests with a twin bed and blow-up mattress, they were otherwise unused. I didn’t care to be in there because the energy felt old, stale and irrelevant. I once completed a jigsaw puzzle in one room, but otherwise there was no reason to go there except to get a rarely-used item out of the closet or off the shelf. Besides opening and closing the blinds each day to maximize hallway light, the space simply didn’t serve a purpose.
Under-furnished, Nearly Empty Space vs. Space Used Solely for Storage
Does every part of your home serve a purpose? If you live in a large enough space that you have rooms you don’t regularly use, why is that? There are usually two scenarios. In one scenario, you ended up in a space larger than you need and you do not have extra possessions to fill it (besides minimal furniture). Picture a room that is unfurnished or sparsely furnished. In the second scenario, you do not use the extra space for living, but instead for storing possessions that you only occasionally use. In this case, you may think you need the extra space for your things, but much of that is clutter if it isn’t integrated into your daily lifestyle. You should then consider whether those possessions are worth keeping and whether it is worth using the room solely for storage. Is that the best use of your space?
When you live somewhere, it is considered your living space for a reason. We want to live in our home: eat, work, play, sleep. Inventory every space in your home and ask whether there is any room where none of those four broad activities regularly occur. If there is an area where no living human spends time, whether out of necessity or out of pleasure, then ask yourself why. If you relate to the second scenario listed above in which you use the space for storage, then you may need to address a clutter situation. Tackling clutter will powerfully elevate the energy of a room and, therefore, the atmosphere in your home.
Your situation may instead match the first scenario explained above. You simply do not need the space and have it unfurnished or only sparsely furnished. It may not be visually offensive, but simply empty and without purpose. Unused space, even when uncluttered, can create a stagnant energy that doesn’t benefit the atmosphere in your home. How can you integrate your life into that space to give it life? There are many purposes you could give a room, and you can be as elaborate as you want. But you don’t need to invest a lot of time and money. Simply consider how you would most like to use the space. Is there anything that you do or would like to do that you could do in that area?
How to Repurpose Unused Space
If you already fulfill all of your physical, vocational and recreational needs within the community and the primary parts of your home, you may be unsure of what to do with any extra space! Firstly, adding some personal design touches that reflect your personality and style may help make the space more inviting. Think of anything fun, edgy, or magnetic. You will be drawn to a room that looks more appealing. Once you’ve spruced it up as a sort of mini-haven, spend a few minutes there each day to meditate or focus on any intention for your life or for your day. In that way, you will use that space to create a positive energy that will transform it from an unused and vacant room to a living extension of your home. Instead of feeling like a mindless vacuum of underuse, the area will reflect your positive intentions and spirit.
Having too much space may sound like an unusual problem to the majority of people in the world. It also may sound a little surreal to urban Americans in larger metropolitan areas with inflated housing prices. But for people in rural and suburban America, especially in areas with more affordable housing and rampant new single-family home developments, the puzzling dilemma of having too much unused space is not uncommon. And far too often do people opt to acquire more possessions to fill it unnecessarily. Refrain from doing this. We should all understand the mental and physical burden of physical clutter. But if you did the work to clear actual clutter and the energy of a room remains stale, reclaim it! Make it a workout space with motivational vision boards, fun music, and a killer exercise regimen. Do anything you want so long as it brings you life.
Ask yourself how you could repurpose any underused space in order to most benefit your life, even if for just ten minutes a day. When you keep the energy in your home vibrant, every space will feel positive and comfortable.