When it comes to buying a home, there’s a lot to consider. What’s your budget? What neighborhood do you want to live in? How many bedrooms do you need? But have you ever thought about the features of the home that might be a waste of space? Sure, some features may seem luxurious or convenient, but are they really necessary? Or do they end up just taking up valuable square footage that could be put to better use? Here are 12 home features that buyers say feel like wasted space.
Oversized Entryways: A Grand Waste of Space
While an oversized entryway might give off a grand first impression, many homebuyers view this as a waste of valuable floor space. An entryway should be welcoming, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be expansive. A well-organized, functional, and cozy entryway can make just as much of an impact. Remember, it’s not the size of the entryway that matters, it’s how you use it.
Moreover, maintaining such a large space can be a chore, especially when it’s mostly unused. A smaller and more practical entryway could instead be used to create additional storage or even extend the living room. A study conducted on home features even found that an oversized entryway does not significantly increase property value.
Extravagant Formal Dining Rooms: The Unused Gathering Place
Extravagant formal dining rooms can often feel like a relic of the past. In today’s fast-paced society, many families find it more convenient to eat in the kitchen or in front of the TV. Unless you host formal dinners frequently, this space might go unused for the majority of the year.
Many home buyers prefer an open floor plan where the kitchen, dining, and living spaces flow into one another. This not only creates a more casual and flexible dining experience but also makes the space more versatile for other uses. According to Southern Living, the trend is moving towards multi-use spaces over formal dining rooms.
The Traditional Living Room: A Space Forgotten
With the rise of open-concept floor plans, the traditional living room seems to be fading into the background. Many people favor a great room that combines the kitchen, dining, and living room into a single, versatile space. This doesn’t mean the living room has become obsolete, but that its role has shifted.
Instead of being a formal, rarely-used space, living rooms are evolving into more casual, everyday living spaces. If a home has both a family room and a living room, buyers often see the latter as an unnecessary duplication of space.
Gigantic Master Suites: Unnecessary Luxury or Wasted Space?
While a spacious master suite may seem like the ultimate luxury, it can also feel like a waste of space to some homebuyers. Do you really need a separate seating area or a private balcony in your bedroom? What about a gigantic walk-in closet? These features can be nice, but if you’re not going to use them, they’re just wasting space.
Instead, many homeowners prefer a smaller, cozier bedroom with a well-designed master bathroom and closet. The additional square footage can be used to enlarge other rooms or create an extra bedroom or office space.
Big Balconies: Outdoor Space Often Overlooked
While a large balcony might seem like a great feature, it often goes unused for a variety of reasons. Weather, privacy, and maintenance can all deter homeowners from utilizing this space. Balconies, especially those that are oversized, can also be expensive to maintain and repair.
Instead, many buyers prefer a smaller, more private outdoor space, like a courtyard or patio. These areas can provide the same benefits as a balcony, but often require less maintenance and offer more privacy.
Home Office Spaces: Outdated or Essential?
The need for a home office depends largely on your lifestyle. For those who work from home, it’s a must. However, for others, it can become a place to pile up junk or unused furniture. With the rise of laptops and tablets, many people can work from anywhere in their home, making a designated office space less necessary.
Instead, buyers often prefer a flexible space that can be used as a guest room, play room, or hobby room. If a home office is only used occasionally, it might make more sense to incorporate it into a multi-functional space.
A Second Kitchen or Butler’s Pantry: The Excess of Space and Utility
While a second kitchen or butler’s pantry might seem like a dream come true for some, it can also be seen as an unnecessary extravagance. Unless you’re regularly hosting large parties or family gatherings, this extra kitchen space will likely go unused most of the time.
Instead, many buyers prefer a larger, more functional main kitchen. With smart storage solutions and efficient design, one kitchen is often more than enough.
Excessively Large Walk-in Closets: A Fashionable Waste?
Walk-in closets are a great feature, but do they need to be as big as a bedroom? Unless you have an extensive clothing and accessory collection, probably not. In fact, a Fortune article pointed out the trend of shrinking homes and the need to utilize space more efficiently.
Instead, many buyers prefer a smaller, well-organized closet. Extra space can be used for a larger bedroom, bathroom, or even another closet in a different room.
The Game or Media Room: An Entertainment Excess
Game and media rooms can be fun, but they also take up a lot of space. Unless you’re a movie buff or love to host game nights, this space might not get used as much as you think. It might be more practical to have a multi-purpose room for casual living and entertaining.
Many buyers now prefer homes with flexible spaces that can be adapted to their changing needs. Remember, a room dedicated to one purpose only is useful only when it’s being used.
The Garden Tub: An Unsoaked Space in the Bathroom
Garden tubs can certainly add a touch of luxury to a bathroom, but they also take up a lot of space. And let’s be honest, how often do you actually take a bath? For many, showers are the go-to for daily hygiene, making the garden tub an aesthetic feature that might not be worth the space it consumes.
Instead, many homeowners prefer a large, walk-in shower with a bench and multiple showerheads. This can provide the same sense of luxury as a garden tub but is typically used more frequently.
The Breakfast Nook: A Redundant Eating Area
The concept of a breakfast nook can be quite charming. However, with many families opting for either a quick bite in the kitchen or a meal at the dining table, the breakfast nook often becomes an underutilized space.
Instead of a separate eating area, many homebuyers prefer an open-concept kitchen with a large island. This provides a casual dining space and also enhances the flow and functionality of the kitchen.
The Laundry Room: An Oversized Chore Zone?
While a spacious laundry room might seem like a great feature, it’s often more space than you actually need. Unless you’re planning on adding a lot of extra features like a folding table, hanging racks, and extensive storage, a small laundry room or closet is usually sufficient. After all, laundry isn’t an activity that requires a lot of space.
Instead, many homebuyers prefer to use the extra space for a mudroom or extra storage. This can make the home more functional and efficient, rather than dedicating a large area to a single task.
