Historically speaking, my spaces have always been small. While I have no memories of it, I’m sure my first “crib” was modest in size. Knowing my family, they may have kept me in the drawer of a filing cabinet, but I’m sure I made the most of it. Growing up, my bedroom was not large, but it was my world. The same holds true of my first studio apartment, which was 569 square feet (I looked it up and am happy to report that Stratford Station Apartments in Englewood, Colorado, are still standing). Subsequent dwellings had slightly bigger footprints, and my first condo gave me almost  1,000 decadent square feet to run around in. My current home clocks in just shy of 1,250, and it is everything that I need.

Trends show that for many reasons, people are downsizing. In this issue, we bring you sanctuaries that perfectly define the sweetness of small. Phoenix Home & Garden delights in featuring homes of all shapes, sizes and aesthetics—and we always will. But what I frequently hear from readers is that what resonates are relatable, approachable homesteads. The stories on these pages provide takeaways that are realistic and achievable.

Every place I have called my own has been my castle. Whether you live on an estate or in a compound, on a suburban cul-de-sac, in an urban bungalow or a college dorm room, celebrate where you are. Make the most of what you have, and make it uniquely your own.

John Roark
Editor in chief

At one point during the design process we had more than a dozen potential covers for this issue. We whittled that number down to four finalists. Here’s a look at the runners-up.