Robert and I have been house hunting for over six months and we’ve finally found a place! But it’s not anything close to being the seven room apartment of my dreams, and I’m going to have to embrace the art of small space living in Europe like I’ve never embraced any aspect of European living before! (Except maybe the six weeks paid holiday.)
When I first moved to Denmark, I was shocked by the tiny apartments, and wondered how people managed to live in such small spaces. Fortunately, I’d found a 108 square meter property with awesome space, which had been renovated to a high standard, so I didn’t have to find out.
Merging Lives
Ever since Robert and I got together, we’ve been stuck in transition. First, we’d traveled back and forth, an hour each way, splitting our time between both of our places. Then, I sold my apartment by the skin of my teeth and moved to Aarhus. But we just sort of haphazardly merged belongings and never established a proper home together because our medium term plan was to move to England, and we totally gave that a try and failed. Then we’d searched, and searched, and searched, and searched some more for our dream property, and came up empty handed. You have no idea the number of places we’ve been to see that never even hit the blog because I didn’t want to bore you with our never-ending house hunting woes. It was killing us!
The thing is, small space living in modern Europe is the norm, so in reality there aren’t many seven room city centre properties to be found because most of them have been sub-divided. We’d talked about an urban homestead and were leaning in that direction, but ultimately, Robert has come around to my idea that we’re apartment people, not house people. And if we should buy anything, it should be a big apartment in the city centre.
The Magic Question
Recently, one late afternoon over an elderflower cocktail on the balcony, Robert and I asked each other the most obvious question… “why in the hell are we so set on moving anyway?”
Aarhus is the 2017 European Capital of Culture, and it really is a happening international city. We’ve even got a few Michelin stars knocking around! Staying in our current place is both the most and least obvious choice. On one hand, we own a paid off apartment in one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods. On the other hand, we’d both like more space and better neighbors, and I’d love a kitchen garden. However, we both enjoy our mortgage free city lifestyle, and we don’t relish the idea of Saturday mornings at the DIY store.
The prospect of taking on a mortgage and having to renovate two to three bathrooms, plus a kitchen, plus the additional expenses associated with running a bigger property inspired the conversation that has completely altered the direction of our lives, for now. On balance, moving to a bigger place would not be a lifestyle upgrade, and so, small space living it is!
Embracing Small Space Living in Europe
This all went down over Easter and we’re in the process of selling most of our furniture and severely editing our belongings because someday is now and we can’t continue to live amongst the shared clutter of our past lives.
We’ll be replacing most of our furniture with mid-century Danish designer furniture, installing a claw foot bathtub and a cool vintage style floor in our tiny bathroom, deciding what to do with the kitchen, and figuring out how to live as two adults, a teenager, a cat, and a business in three rooms totaling 86 square meters. Once that’s sorted out, we’ll have a fashionable (if small) place to live, plus a huge budget for travel, antique jewelry, tailor made clothes, designer handbags, and whatever else we decide.
It’s so not ideal. At this point in my life, I never thought I’d be content living in a three room apartment but after almost three years, we’re tired of living in a constant state of flux. We both feel so at peace since deciding to stay put and I’m excited to see what I can do with the place, and whether or not I can fully embrace the small space living in Europe lifestyle.
The Dream Lives On
We haven’t completely given up on upgrading. We have our eye on a specific building, which was initially built as a hotel in conjunction with the National Exposition of 1909, and later converted to posh apartments. If an apartment should ever open up in there, we’re prepared to pounce, but it could take years for that to happen.
In the meantime, staying here will allow me to get my freelance business established, and we’ll be able to save money at an insane rate, so that when an apartment does open up in that building, we’ll be able to grab it without any worries. Meanwhile, it’s not like we’ll be suffering.
Join me?
Come with me as I figure out small space living, and how to decorate in a Danish mid-century style we can both live with. Get ready for some pretty revealing before photos! It’s a far cry from my bohemian chick pad, but I’m excited to dive in and create a home in the place I thought I couldn’t wait to leave.
Follow me on Instagram, where I’ll be sharing photos from our furniture hunting expeditions :)
Rachel Mouton says
Oh, I love this so much! A small space seems so much more manageable :)
Sage says
Thank you, Rachel. We think so, too :)
momknowsbest15 says
I have noisy boys so a small space is not for me. Maybe when they move out.
Sage says
I wish our upstairs neighbors had that outlook. They’ve got two small boys and a drum set! Who does that in an apartment block? But if you want to live in the centre of a major city, you have to put up with quite a lot. It’s definitely not for everyone, but I’d go mad living in a Danish suburb.
Michelle Gwynn Jones says
Its amazing when you go from a big space to a small one and realize how much of your crap you never needed.
Sage says
I’d already pared down my belongings when I moved abroad, and again when I moved in with Robert. It’s totally changed my buying habits so that I buy very few, but expensive things like jewelry and designer bags. I’ve become so much more deliberate in choosing what to buy, and I suspect, it will only become more so now that we’ve decided not to upgrade our living space.
Trish Delgado says
I live in a small three bedroom apartment in the states, and have two young children. It’s not ideal but it is all we can find in our budget for now. We try to make the most of our space with clever storage hacks and we are always going through everyones belonging and tossing out the old, broken, unused and non fitting things in an attempt to keep the clutter at bay.
Sage says
I wish we had three bedrooms! In Europe, a three room apartment is a bathroom, a kitchen, and three rooms. Our dining table is actually in the hallway! Having so little space, and no closets really makes us look critically at what we own. I’m definitely going to have to look for some of those clever storage hacks you’ve mentioned :)
Amy Jones says
Ive never had the experience of living in small bedrooms, but i imagine myself backpacking in Europe and i KNOW ill get to a hostel sometime, Im sure itll be a fun and different experience.
Sage says
Fortunately, our rooms aren’t small, there just aren’t enough of them. Hostels… oh, dear! I LIVE in Europe and you couldn’t pay me to stay in a hostel. Some experiences are best avoided.
Sarh S says
While I know I couldn’t manage to keep a large mansion organized and clean, I really don’t think I could manage living in a small space! We have a 1200 sqft two bedroom and yes, while there are five of us living here… we don’t have room for anything or at least not for my hobbies and the boys screaming… there would be no way to block out that noise in a smaller space. Maybe once the kids grow up and move out.
Sage says
I didn’t think I could either, but moving to Europe has given me a completely different perspective. To some extent, you have to do as the locals do, or else you’re going to have a frustrating life. That said I don’t know how our upstairs neighbors manage in the same amount of space as we have with two screeching boys, it’s loud enough down here, I can’t imagine what it sounds like IN their apartment.
Gwendolyn Mulholland says
It is amazing how much stuff you get to fill a larger space. We recently moved from 900 square feet to almost 1500 and we are quickly filling it up. The thought of going make down to that small of a size again seems daunting. However, the thought of no mortgage payment is always a good thing. Enjoy your travels.
Sage says
Thanks, Gwendolyn. As much as I loved the idea of having seven rooms, I wasn’t looking forward to the expense of furnishing them!
Leettle House In KY (@LeettleBaby) says
I look forward to seeing pictures! I have always wanted to “downgrade” to a smaller living space, even with 3 children. At least at my house, it seems like there is so muc unused space.
Sage says
Thanks :)
It seemed kind of silly to be upgrading when my stepson will be off to university in a few years. We’d both like a bigger place, but I think our view of our needs will change once we’re two with occasional house guests instead of three. If an apartment does open up in the posh building, five rooms could be plenty in a few years time.
Elizabeth O. says
Sometimes, plans aren’t meant to come true yet, because better things are happening at the moment. It’s nice to stay put and just be happy where you are if it’s doing wonders for your family. I hope everything goes well!
Sage says
I think you’re right, Elizabeth. Thank you.
Becca Wilson says
Small spaces can be tough. My family of five lives literally in the upstairs of a duplex. It’s pretty cramped at times but we make it work! I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Sage says
Wow! Looks like I have nothing to complain about :-)
Kari Ann says
I always watch tiny house hunters on TV and wonder if I can do it. I definitely could live without all the clutter.
Sage says
Living in a small spaces has made me look ruthlessly at every item I own and justify its place in my life. This has been both eye-opening and liberating.
Erica Bodker says
OH wow, I’m not sure I could handle it. But I’ve never been to Europe before but you make it sound so vintage and amazing. Not to mention living in a smaller space and being so close with my spouse. Good luck on the new journey of yours :)
Sage says
Thanks, Erica :) It is pretty cosy living so close to my husband, though sometimes, I wouldn’t mind a bit more privacy. Europe has taken some getting used to, but after almost six years, I’m mostly ok with it, and the travel opportunities can’t be beat!
Marvelous Mommy says
I would love to live in Europe! But I’m not sure if I could handle the small spaces! Selling off old furniture and making room for new, unique furniture is always fun though!
Sage says
I love the thrill of the vintage hunt! I’m totally back in my element with this project :)
Chantal says
Living in a small space can definitely be challenging but it sounds like the two of you have a great attitude! I love that you will be installing a claw foot tub! It is on my wish list to have someday!
Sage says
The benefits totally outweigh the sacrifices. City centre, claw footed tub, mid-century Danish-designed furniture, what’s not to love?
Jessica says
I’d love to live in a small space as long as its in Europe!
Sage says
It can be a lot of fun… once you work out the kinks ; -)
Shannon P says
House hunters gives me a sneak peek into the small living, but the life experiences can’t be beat!
Sage says
We were asked to go on House Hunters International when we were still planning to move, but decided it wasn’t for us. It sure is a fun show to watch though.
Rosey says
I think having the mortgage paid off is a great perk for opting to stay. ;) We looked at so so so may places before settling. I loved the home we had though, when we did decide to purchase it.
Sage says
I could be a LOT worse :-) I think if we’d absolutely fallen in love with a place like the little urban homestead that was being sub-divided, we’d have been very happy there and wouldn’t have looked back, but it’s hard for us to go from mortgage free to having a mortgage again if we can’t see the lifestyle value in the move.
Terri Ramsey Beavers says
I think you are going to do just fine living in a small space. I downsized a couple of years ago and while it’s a struggle sometimes, I really like not having to clean a big home any more.
Sage says
Not having a lot of space to clean is definitely an upside! We were planning to hire cleaning help if we bought a bigger place, but it seems silly to do that here, so even more money saved :-)
MrsTee says
What a wonderful adventure to redesign your living space like this! I have gone from small to larger and I’m honestly not sure I could take on the challenge to go back…I do miss the intimacy of a smaller space though.
Sage says
I’m having a lot of fun with it! I’m seeing potential I never knew was here :-)
Yona Williams says
I don’t think we even have any seven-room apartments where I live. I was just thinking the other day how small our apartment feels with all of the accumulated belongings we have between us. It’s good to hear that the two of you have settled on how you’re going to approach your living situation. I like the idea of saving money and splurging on other things.
Sage says
I think big apartments are mostly a major city thing. Aarhus is Denmark’s second largest city, and it would be difficult to find a seven room apartment outside of here, Copenhagen, and maybe one or two other cities in Denmark.
Kati says
I think you’ll be just fine in a smaller space! Actually, for me what you describe as a small one, is pretty big – I’ve lived in much much smaller apartments (my “record” is 28 square meters total for two people – crazy!). :) I guess when you’re born and living your whole life in Europe you’re more used to this :D
Sage says
One of the things that struck me most when I first moved here was how small everything is! I haven’t visited the US in five years or so, and I’m sure I’d be shocked at how big everything is over there :-)
But 28 square meters for two? That’s gotta be a record!
Katie says
Hmm… a small space could work for us without kids, but with two kids? Probably not! It would be easier in upkeep and maintenance, though, and if it saves you money, that’s a good thing!
Sage says
Our upstairs neighbors have two kids and I wish they’d move to a bigger space! They’re forever making noise and leaving their scooters, etc. in the common areas. That’s the downside of apartment living, but the upsides are pretty great, especially without a mortgage!
hautebeautyguide says
I love small living. We moved a few years back from a 6000sqft house to a 1100sqft and I am so happy. I could totally go smaller but the husband could never handle it.
Laurie says
I don’t know if I could handle living in a small space. Maybe when the kids grow up and move out it could be nice then.
Psychic Nest says
I love small spaces because they make me feel safe and cozy. I think European apartments would be perfect for me (after reading your description about them). I hope you find the place you are looking for!
Zaria
Jenn Peters says
We’ve actually been considering downgrading to a smaller place. I love having a house, but I really want to focus on getting other things off the ground, and freeing up that capital would do wonders! Good luck to you :)
mskathykenny says
If you had asked me years ago, I wouldn’t know how to live in a small space. Now, I think I’m learning already the value of minimizing things that you own and just sticking with the things that you really like.
Kristin @ Camels & Chocolate says
My husband and I first lived together in a tiny attic room with a slanted ceiling in downtown Aarhus—we weren’t even dating then! We were in an eight-room flat with other journalism students, and our room only fit an IKEA wardrobe, small desk and futon. Those were the days =)
Sage says
I bet Aarhus was a great place to be a student!
I wish I could find an eight room apartment, it seems that most of them have been subdivided now. However, I’d like slightly bigger rooms than the one you described : -)