I thought I loved being a minimalist. Then, my family moved from a 500-square-foot apartment to a 1,700-square-foot house.
Making a small apartment work
The woman and her husband bought an apartment in Kyiv in 2017, happy to have a family home of their own. With little seating around the table, she sometimes served guests in shifts.
After their son was born, toys, diapers and baby equipment took up the apartment’s remaining space. The family shared one bedroom, and making room for daily life became a regular puzzle.
A move after war escalated
Spending so much time indoors left her feeling isolated, and she began wishing for a larger home. Before the family could work out what to do, the war in Ukraine escalated in 2022.
They made the decision to relocate to Canada. After years of apartment living, the thought of cleaning a much bigger home initially felt exhausting, but her view soon changed.
More room, new routines
The house offered a basement guest area and a table that could seat larger groups. It also provided storage for seasonal decorations, and bulk grocery shopping became easier.
She eventually wanted space for large boxes of frozen food. With more room available, she no longer felt as restricted about buying household items or bringing home things her family wanted.
A changing idea of minimalism
In Kyiv, she had often turned down her husband’s requests for a kitchen gadget or a large toy truck for their son because the apartment had no room for extras. She took pride in keeping the home uncluttered.
In Canada, she came to see the change as more than being able to shop and store more. The additional space let the family breathe and grow, while she continued to value the intentionality and gratitude learned in their smaller home.
Key points
- The family left its Kyiv apartment after the war in Ukraine escalated in 2022.
- A basement guest area and larger dining table made hosting easier.
- More storage changed how the family handled groceries, decorations and household items.
- She still cherishes the intentionality and gratitude she learned from living small.