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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / The beauty in small spaces.

The beauty in small spaces.

July 23, 2014 · 23 Comments
Filed Under: inspiration, Los Angeles, our home, simple living

kitchen maggie whitley

I’ve been a renter for ten years now, renting apartments & homes all over the country.

It all started after high-school graduation. I spent four years at Central Michigan University (2003-2007; where Zack and I met/fell in love) renting dorm rooms, an apartment, and then a house just off-campus. After that I lived in Lansing, MI for almost a year (2007-2008). Zack and I were married June 2008 and shortly after that we moved to Detroit, MI where we lived for a year (2008-2009). We then moved to Minneapolis, MN for three years (2009-2012). And now we’re to the present: living in Los Angeles, CA for almost two years (since 2012).

bathroom maggie whitley

Most of the places we’ve called “home” have been small and perfect for a him & her. For two years we lived in a very generous-sized house in Minneapolis complete with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a backyard, patio and private driveway. At 26-years-old we felt like we hit the rental jackpot.

But towards the end of our time in that large house Zack and I traveled to Tanzania, Africa with Compassion International (truly one of the most life-changing events I’ve ever experienced) — we came home, and pretty much everything about our lives changed.

The amount of space we live in…

The number of physical “things” we own…

The answer to a 14-month prayer of growing our family: your womb is full…

The yard-less yard… (This one is still hard.)

All of these things were suddenly not as they’d once been.

kitchen maggie whitley

When we decided to move from Minneapolis to Los Angeles the size of our home may have shrunk nearly 75%, but our hearts grew immeasurably.

Living in a small space has been really hard for me at times. It’s even hard for me to write that out! :) But it’s allowed me to look deep and hard at what I consider most important in this life…

I don’t share often enough about the struggles that come with living in a small space, but I’m inspired to change that.

Because as I’ve learned: where there are struggles there is also beauty.

accessories maggie whitley

We were not created to be defined by the size of our homes or the number of adventures we’ve been on. We are not defined by how much gorgeous sunlight pours in our windows, or the thick never-ending grass that grows off our patio, or by having a (unachievable) large social media imprint.

There is so much beauty, even in the small spaces of our home, and the best way to find it is to know the asnwers to these questions:

– what is your purpose for this season of life?

– what changes do you need to make so you feel satisfied with the everyday?

– what internal changes would help you feel more confident with where you are right now?

– are you giving your most important people first priority?

From there, however life sorts itself out (in a way that feels totally natural to you), is what you need to be doing. Don’t worry about what your neighbor is doing or what their life looks like.

When all think alike, then no one is thinking, –Walter Lippman

If you’re going to worry, worry you’re missing out because you can’t stop your mind/eyes from wandering elsewhere.

It’s perfectly wonderful to be different, to be brave, to be dancing to your own life beat. And that’s something living in a small rental has taught me.

to be continued…

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23 Comments
Filed Under: inspiration, Los Angeles, our home, simple living

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Comments

  1. Haley says

    July 23, 2014 at 7:48 am

    Thanks so much for sharing! I always love the reminder that it’s okay to live in a small place with a family. We’ve been house hunting lately and I’m often finding my first reaction being “this is too small” or “we need more room” because other people in my life are living in larger places. While looking at a house that is maybe considered a little small (its still 2x as big as our 1 br apartment), our realtor told us the previous family lived there with 5 kids. It reminded me that it isn’t about finding the biggest house, but finding a place that is good for our family. The small living spaces forces us to be closer and to be more creative with the space we have.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 23, 2014 at 4:26 pm

      You are right on with the perspectives you’ve shared in your comment. Most often outside influences tell us something is too small/big/wrong/scary, when really these outside influencers opinions don’t have that much weight anyway. Thank you so much for sharing what you did :)

      Reply
  2. Tiffany Day says

    July 23, 2014 at 10:56 am

    Oh Maggie – i absolutely love this perspective! You have shared your heart and struggles with such grace – I really admire that! I love the questions too!

    It feels so amazing to find peace with whatever season you are in and to know its OK to make the changes you need to.

    Blessing you today!
    xo

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 23, 2014 at 4:26 pm

      Thank you Tiffany ♥

      Reply
  3. Ashley Ditto says

    July 23, 2014 at 5:07 pm

    Maggie- this really inpsired me. We lived in an apartment for 6 years, and brought our 2 babies home there. It was small, but it was magical. You are so right. Thank you for being so transparent, up front and honest- I NEEDED this!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 23, 2014 at 6:17 pm

      XO — I really enjoyed writing this :)

      Reply
  4. Andrea Worley says

    July 23, 2014 at 8:17 pm

    I really loved this post. When we lived in Minneapolis we lived in a townhome that was our first home we bought. Then when I got laid off from my job we lost our home because of that. We rented an apartment for 4 years. it was hard going from a home to a small 950 sq ft apartment. Then we had our first child still living in that small apartment. At times it was really hard, But during that time God taught me so much about contentment and his perspective on things. Looking back now I cherish those years, and it makes me even more thankful that 4 years later we’re once again God’s provided a home for us.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 24, 2014 at 1:28 pm

      Our current apartment is 600 sq ft. It doesn’t take long for it to feel super tiny, so I try to keep things put away. I also go through cupboards and closets and weed out anything that doesn’t belong there OR could be donated. Those two things help so much :)

      Reply
  5. Jennifer says

    July 24, 2014 at 5:47 am

    We have been renting for about 4 years now and always a small space, it comes with the territory for the areas we have wanted to live. I also struggle with living in such a small space, but we make the best of it! To us the area we live in is more important than the space we live in, and it really makes us keep only the ‘things’ we absolutely love.

    Reply
  6. Amanda says

    July 24, 2014 at 7:47 pm

    I LOVE this post. Everything about it.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 24, 2014 at 8:41 pm

      OH, thank you so much for the encouragement :)

      Reply
  7. Kristin says

    July 25, 2014 at 11:04 am

    I’ve learned even the opposite can be true. I’ve been married almost 15 years now, with 4 kids. We built our dream home and it honestly overwhelms me on most days. The space is definitely a blessing with 4 kids, but the weight of trying to keep up with the size of this house can be crushing at times. We lived in a tiny apartment when we were building our home and I loved it because it was so easy to maintain. It’s funny because the more kids you have, the more space you need, but the less time you have to keep up with more space. Ha!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 25, 2014 at 1:19 pm

      That’s so brave of you to share such honest words. I enjoy a smaller place to call home, however I’d really love to be blessed with some sort of outside patio/yard. And yes, children = time! :)

      Reply
  8. Anna says

    July 25, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    Love. Just shared about the exact same thing basically on my blog. We live in a 440ish sq ft. apt in San Francisco…with a 13 month old. And we are ok with bringing #2 home here also. It’s small. And when it gets messy I kinda want to poke my eyes out BUT…I love that those who I love the most are so close to me. I love that I can clean my whole house in like 45 minutes. It’s that comparison thing that gets you every time. You see that nice large…or heck, even average size house that other people have and you think you’ve fallen short for being where you should be…or that you DESERVE more even. Blak. God has blessed me and my family so very richly and I desire to never throw His gifts back at him…even my itty bitty postage stamp apt. So yeah…thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  9. Laura Radniecki says

    July 29, 2014 at 9:51 am

    I love this post.

    We rented for years, and bought our first home 2 years ago. It’s plenty big for just the two of us, but even then, I feel tempted to compare to other’s spaces.

    In my quest to be more intentional this year [my 2014 word of the year is Intentional], I’ve been seeing my home through a new paradigm. Daily, I look at our landscaping, our little yard, our first floor and our unfinished basement which might always stay that way, and I am so grateful.

    I also loved your reply to another comment above, where you talk about going through your cupboards and closets often to remove anything unnecessary or that’s not serving you. I’ve been doing that often for the last few years and it’s amazing how cleansing the act of giving things away can be.

    Blessings to you as you embrace your life in your little but perfect place in CA!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 29, 2014 at 3:57 pm

      Your comment is so warm. Thank you Laura! :)

      Reply
  10. Shelia says

    September 9, 2014 at 9:43 am

    You are so wise & insightful! I don’t think at your age I was this mature. I & my husband ( we’re in our 60’s) live in @900 sq ft. I never thought at this age I would be living small. Your perspective is greatly needed today!!
    I know God provided a way for me to own this building & I should never begrudge His Perfect Gifts!! My plan however was never to be living here past 2 yr (it’s been 17). I know God’s plan is always greater than my own, for he knows best the one’s who trust Him! It’s not so much my battle of what everyone else has as battling what I haven’t achieved!
    Many prayers coming your way with your “new” little one & continued success!!!!

    Reply
  11. christine says

    March 24, 2015 at 11:30 am

    I love this post so much, I cant wait to hear more about your journey. Since last summer when I started my whole journey to a more simple life, I can not imagine my life any other way. I have learned so much and have learned to appreciate smaller things as well as the importance of people and things in my life.

    Reply

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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maggiewhitley

JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

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Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
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#womenintheword #wearethehomemakers #scripture #dailyintheword #titus2woman #healthylifestyle #mentalhealth #anxiety #anxietyawareness
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A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
How do you play in the winter? // We had a really How do you play in the winter? // We had a really great time visiting family in northern Michigan. On my blog I share a few ways we played outside, plus I describe a memorable childhood game ❄️☃️. Did you play it as a kiddo?
We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

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It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are turning. The tea is calm. 🖤☕️🧺📖
Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the fu It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the furniture as we took the tree down Tuesday midday. Def one of my fav things to do.🎄👋🏻 We made it through our first week back to school since mid-December! It was rough to begin but ended with high fives. ⭐️✏️This morning I zoomed with a mama friend and I’m impressed with the many topics we covered. Sisterhood is sooooo necessary! ☕️👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼

Just a few cheery memories from my week! How about you?
Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activiti Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activities. I finished my last book moments before 2020 ended, which brought my started list to a close. Small joys add up to big joys ;)

What are you reading this year? Currently?

How many books are you planning to read? What’s your goal?

I’ll share what’s on my list for 2021 soon as I received some nice titles at Christmas. 📖✨🤍
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