Why smaller houses can make us happier episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 28, 2026 · 20 MIN

Why smaller houses can make us happier

from Post Reports · host The Washington Post

Houses in the United States keep getting bigger, but the people in bigger houses aren’t necessarily happier. Bigger homes often come with higher costs and more maintenance and can pull people further away from the places and relationships that matter. For some, choosing a smaller home can actually make life feel easier, more connected and more satisfying.Elahe Izadi speaks with climate coach Michael Coren about the joys that come with living in a smaller house and what to prioritize when deciding where to live. Today’s show was produced by Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Dennis Funk with help from Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 28, 2026

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Bigger houses are part of the American Dream. But research says that sizing up isn’t necessarily a good idea.

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Why smaller houses can make us happier

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