Six Months of Small Living at the Poplar Cottage
THE POPLAR COTTAGE
We’re six months into living small at the Poplar Cottage, and I’m here to say it’s been wonderful…and challenging, too ;) At just 1,000sf, this little cottage has given us the gift of simpler living, fewer things to manage, and more togetherness as a family of five. It’s surprised us in the best ways! But…five people living in 1,000sf means there are some very real pinch points. Today we’re sharing it all - the good, the bad, and lessons learned from six months of small living at the Poplar Cottage. Let’s get into it…
You may remember that when we first began the Poplar Cottage renovation back in 2020, our plan was modest: a quick nine-month-ish cosmetic remodel, then rent it out. But old houses love to humble us. What started as new cabinets and fresh paint turned into lifting the entire house eight feet into the air, pouring a proper foundation, tearing off the roof, and finishing a second story. With help from a contractor, we nearly doubled the size from ~575sf to just over 1,000sf.
Meanwhile, our family life was moving just as quickly. After selling the Farmhouse, we plopped mattresses on the floor at the Hill House (the fixer we bought in 2023), and promised ourselves we wouldn’t touch it until Poplar was done. And mostly, we stuck to that.
By this spring, though, we couldn’t wait any longer and started demo at the Hill House. The nearly-finished Poplar Cottage became our landing pad, and at a full 1,000 square feet - double her original size - she’s been both a great home and a great teacher. Six months in, we’ve realized that small living isn’t just about square footage. It’s about rhythm, stuff, and mindset. Here’s what’s stood out for our family…
Layout is Everything
When we’re talking small living, every inch counts and how a home is arranged makes all the difference. Rooms can (and should!) do double-duty. The dining room is also the sitting room and where our family does homework, plays board game, and gathers over morning coffee. The upstairs living room is the biggest room in the house and does double duty as a spot to work out, fold laundry, work, play with friends, and watch Friday night movies. Even single inch of this house gets used every single day! We’ve also learned to keep the traffic flow clear, resist cramming in extra furniture, and let awkward corners or leftover space serve a purpose (like the office nook behind the couch).
The cottage often surprises us by feeling larger than her square footage, which is the best compliment you can give a small home, I think :)
Storage Helps, But Less Stuff Helps More
Yes, we’ve tucked storage everywhere we can: under-bed drawers, built-in benches, shoe shelves in the mudroom. But the real key to small living has been editing what we own. Ruthlessly. Again and again.
And here’s the truth: it’s freeing. We don’t miss what’s gone. Instead, we’ve kept the pieces we use and love, and our days feel lighter for it. With fewer things to manage, our home feels easier to live in. Less really is more. And I hope that even when we move back into the Hill House (which is double the size at 2,000sf), we remember this very valuable lesson.
Pinch Points Happen
The hardest part? Bedrooms. We only have two so our three kids all share one, which works most of the time but sometimes leaves us wishing for an extra door to close. Still, it’s been surprisingly sweet watching our 12, 9, and 8 year old share, adapt, and make small accommodations for each other. It’s not perfect, but it’s working, and that’s really all we can ask for.
Outdoor Space Saves the Day
Our front patio has become an extension of the house: scooters, rollerblades, chalk murals, and the occasional dance show. I’m hunting for an outdoor table (may the Facebook Marketplace gods hear me) so we can eat outside more often, but even without it, the patio is a daily lifesaver. Of course when the weather turns colder, the kids will use it less, but it’s still a huge win when you’re living small.
The Hardest Part Isn’t the House
If we’re being honest, the most challenging thing hasn’t been the square footage, it’s the feeling of being in transition. For two years now we’ve been dreaming of living in a renovated Hill House, but we’re still in the messy middle of that journey. I think I underestimated just how much living in a temporary space can feel unsettling at times. But that’s not on the cottage - it’s just part of this limbo we’re in on the way to “home”.
Less to Clean, Less to Heat, Less to Furnish
One of the biggest (and happiest) surprises about living small has been how much easier (and cheaper!) life feels. There’s simply less to manage - less to clean, less to heat and cool, and less to furnish. Vacuuming the whole house takes minutes. Bills are lower, decorating costs less, and we’re more intentional about what comes through the door. All of that adds up to a lifestyle that feels lighter, simpler, and more sustainable - a welcome shift in a season where we’ve been juggling a lot.
Six Months In, Our Takeaway
If I was going to sum it up into a bullet points, here’s what small living has taught us:
Less stuff = more peace
Clutter creeps fast, so stay on top of it!!!
Multi-use spaces are magic
Small homes foster connection. We’re together more, and that’s mostly a gift!
You adapt. What felt small at first now feels normal.
Small-space living isn’t always easy - winter gear is surely going to test us! - but it’s been more rewarding than we imagined. The Poplar Cottage is exactly what we needed - a place to slow down, simplify, and reset while we reimagine our next home. We’re deeply grateful for this season of small living and all it’s taught us! And we’re also ready for what’s next - a more permanent home, a little more breathing room, and a house is exactly what we’ve been looking for.
xx
