The Little Book of Living Small

by Laura Fenton, Weston Wells (Photographer)

Overview

The Little Book of Living Small offers practical, everyday advice for managing a tight footprint. It features twelve case study homes in which style-savvy, small-space dwellers (from singles to families of four) open their doors and share their design secrets. Stylistically these homes range from urban to rural, minimalist to bohemian, with the unifying thread that they are all real homes of 1,200 square feet or less and offer clever solutions for you to use in your own home. Highly engaging with lists, tips, and actionable advice, The Little Book of Living Small shows readers how to make the most of limited square footage—with grace and style—and serves as the cheerleader readers need to help themselves feel satisfied and proud of their choice to live with less.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781423652540
Publisher:	Smith, Gibbs Publisher
Publication date:	01/07/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	268
File size:	55 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Laura Fenton is the lifestyle director at Parents magazine. With more than fifteen years of experience, her work has appeared in major publications including Better Homes&Gardens, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, and on leading home websites including Remodelista.com, HGTV.com, ElleDecor.com, HouseBeautiful.com, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Through her writing she has explored the topic of living small for more than a decade. She lives small with her husband, a photographer, and their son in Jackson Heights, Queens, in New York.

Table of Contents

Foreword ix

Introduction 1

Case Studies 9

Solutions 159

Downsize & Declutter 161

Furnish 165

Renovate 169

Sleep 175

Cook & Eat 181

Bathe 187

Work 191

Play 195

Store 199

Committing to Tiny 203

Further Reading 208

Resources 209

Featured Architects, Builders, and Designers 212

Acknowledgments 213

What People are Saying About This

Remodelista

“A captivating new book.”

Editorial Reviews

Apartment-dwellers, take note!

House Beautiful - Hadley Keller

A triumphant celebration of small spaces that frames living small as a prospect that's both exciting and eminently practical. Much more than an opportunity to gawk at the tiny places folks call home, this book gives readers an honest look at how to thrive―with confidence and conviction―no matter the constraints of square footage. Ultimately we see how a choice to live small is less about what we might lose and more about we can gain―for ourselves and for our planet.

Reading My Tea Leaves Blog and Author of Simple Matters: Living with Less and Ending Up with More - Erin Boyle

I love this book – If you’re living with limited square footage, as lots of us are, this book highlights how families happily live in small spaces ….

A Baby on Board

Most of us have heard the phrase "less is more," popularized by minimalist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. In her new book, The Little Book of Living Small, author Laura Fenton not only makes a case for that but also shares practical advice for how to pare down in a way that still allows for a personalized, aesthetically pleasing and comfortable environment. Whether you are contemplating downsizing, looking to simplify your lifestyle, or find the environmental and financial benefits of small-space living appealing, this book has a wealth of inspiration to help you find your way.

Country Sampler

The writing is fun and not the least bit didactic. For anyone considering small space living, this is a great place to start for ideas and information.

San Francisco Book Review

[Laura Fenton has] been living small―690-square feet to be exact―for years (with a four-and-a-half-year-old no less!) and just released a book yesterday, The Little Book of Living Small, which feels like an anthology of all things small―and is full of some serious tiny house eye candy. Even if you aren’t limited by your square footage, you can still use these strategies for a less clutter, more stylish space.

Apartment Therapy - Danielle Blundell

While the thought of downsizing possessions can make many nervous, including me, Laura Fenton’s new book ‘The Little Book of Living Small‘ … have slowly quieted my anxiety about a smaller home lifestyle.

MyFixItUpLife - Theresa

It’s not about what you ‘give up’ to go small, but rather strategic solutions and thoughtful consideration over every corner of your space. The Little Book of Living Small offers an unfiltered and inspiring peek into real small spaces that may just give you the push you need to scale down your own home.

Real Simple - Stephanie Sisco

A captivating new book.

Remodelista