Not Ready to Downsize? There’s a Passion-Driven Alternative

It used to be thought that when people retired and the children had left the nest, it was time to downsize their family home and move into smaller, easier houses, condos or apartments. to manage. But times have changed; Many retirees have decided that now is the time to enjoy the home they worked so hard to build, and even improve it to make room for new dreams. Here is a new alternative to reducing dimensions: fun sizing.

What is fun sizing?

Fun Sizing, as AD calls it, is a housing trend focused on individual goals, so it will look a little different for everyone. The general idea is that a significant life change allows you to think about what you want and adapt the design of your home to improve the way you and your family live. There is an increasingly popular idea that the second or third act of life can be lively and exciting, with people using retirement to explore their passions and share their homes with friends and family, rather than reduce it and reduce it.

This trend isn’t limited to empty nesters. Many people find that big life changes are opportunities to create something new for their home. So we spoke with a real estate professional and a real-life simulation expert to inspire you to adapt your home to help you make the most of your life, no matter what stage you’re in.

Why Fun Sizes Are Getting Bigger

Josh Myler, a real estate agent, has years of experience helping his clients use their homes to live well.

“Fun sizing has been around for a long time,” he says. “I’ve been selling real estate in Los Angeles for 20 years and I can’t remember a year where I haven’t helped a client fun size. … Life changes, like empty nests, divorces, career changes, moves, etc., are constant. Sometimes I feel like I’m in the life change business. How people respond to change in the context of their shelter can be scary for some, but for many, it’s about having fun and making the most of the new chapter in their lives.”

COVID (a major change in all of our lives!) has also impacted this trend. As more people stay home, many have decided to take the amenities they enjoyed on vacation and incorporate them into their homes to make their daily routine more fun by adding wellness rooms or upgrading their outdoor spaces for entertaining.

How to start having fun sizing

Although fun sizing may seem like it requires a complete renovation, it doesn’t have to be. Treat any change as an opportunity to have more fun! For some people, it’s as simple as renovating old children’s bedrooms to make them more user-friendly for the various guests who might come to visit or rearranging an unused space to create a reading nook with items you already own.

Or, in the case of Melissa Panszi Riebe, creator/owner of A D’Zine, it looked like redesigning her home to accommodate her second-act career.

“When I decided to change careers later in life and become a full-time jewelry designer and small business owner, the idea of ​​an extra spare bedroom as a studio became more real, and the transformation took place,” she says.

So she moved her teenage children to their own floor and created a space dedicated to her creative activities.

And this playful size pays off for Panszi Riebe: “I like having my office at home for many reasons, including practical and financial ones,” she explains. “I like being able to work whenever I want and for as short or as long a time as I want. It’s great to have my own creative space. I also like that my family can see me at work. They see the process and not just the result… It’s my happy space that I can create at home. I hope the positive energy spreads throughout the house. »

If a renovation or adaptation of the existing space isn’t an option, moving can be a great opportunity to think outside the box and create a fun “game room,” as Myler puts it.

“A friend of mine just showed me his house, which they are currently finishing,” he says. “The husband is a motorcycle enthusiast. They had a room that was to become a secondary playroom for their children. Instead, they designed it as a sophisticated man cave, with a wall of lockers for his many motorcycle helmets (which was incredibly cool) and a wall with a built-in bench, atop which they posed one of his precious motorcycles. Playrooms are not just for children! »

And if you’re moving, don’t forget to calculate the square footage of your home. Myler understands that financial goals aren’t the only thing people think about when searching for their dream home.

“I have more and more clients who are reaching retirement age and are basing their decisions more on proximity to shopping, restaurants and other fun amenities than on the future ROI profile of the property,” he says. “For me, what’s really rewarding is being able to help my clients understand what fun really means to them right now, and then guide them on how to incorporate more of it into their family lives.”

Remember, life can be big, no matter what stage you’re in. So embrace your space and create a home that fits your goals. If a big change will add more joy to your life, hold on tight! And if it doesn’t? Create your own fun-sized reason!