Large Houses: Blessing or Burden? Your Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Size for Your Family 2026

Introduction: The Dream of a Big House - Is It Worth It?

In our Arab and Saudi culture, a large house is considered a symbol of success and social status. Many dream of a spacious villa of 500 square meters or more, with multiple rooms, large majlis halls, a garden, and perhaps a swimming pool. But the question we rarely ask ourselves: Is large space always a blessing? Or can it become a heavy burden?

In this comprehensive guide, we'll discuss a topic that isn't often addressed in our society: the hidden aspects of large spaces. We'll talk frankly about financial costs, social and psychological impacts, and help you choose the size that's truly suitable for your family, not the size society expects from you.

First: The Financial Shock - Construction Costs

Let's start with straightforward numbers. In 2025-2026, construction costs in Saudi Arabia have increased by 5-10% compared to the previous year. Here's the comparison:

Cost of Building a Large Villa (375 sqm)

If you decide to build a 375 square meter villa turnkey, you'll need a budget ranging from 562,000 to 937,000 Saudi Riyals. This means the price per square meter ranges from 1,500 to 2,500 Riyals depending on the finishing level.

Cost of Building an Apartment or Single Floor (200 sqm)

In contrast, building a single floor or apartment of 200 square meters will cost you between 200,000 to 350,000 Riyals. The difference? Savings of up to half a million Riyals or more!

What Does This Difference Mean?

The difference between building a 375 sqm villa and a 200 sqm apartment can reach 500,000 Riyals or more. This amount could be: a down payment for a second property as an investment, an education fund for your children, startup capital for a business, or retirement savings. The question: Are the extra rooms worth this difference?

Second: The Monthly Shock - Operating Costs

Construction cost is a one-time shock. But operating costs are a continuous monthly shock throughout your life in this house!

Electricity Bill: The Frightening Difference

In Saudi Arabia, air conditioners consume the largest part of the electricity bill, especially in summer. Here's a realistic comparison:

Small apartment (150-200 sqm) with 3-4 AC units: summer bill 300-600 Riyals monthly. Large villa (400-500 sqm) with 8-12 AC units: summer bill 1,500-3,500 Riyals monthly. Some huge villas reach 5,000 Riyals monthly in summer!

The annual difference in electricity bill alone can reach 20,000-30,000 Riyals. Over 20 years? An additional half million Riyals!

Water Bill

A large house means more bathrooms, larger tanks, and higher consumption. The difference can reach 200-400 Riyals monthly.

Maintenance Costs

Every additional square meter means: more paint when renovating, more tiles when changing, more AC units to maintain, longer plumbing to repair, more electrical systems to inspect. Estimated annual maintenance costs: Small apartment: 3,000-5,000 Riyals. Large villa: 10,000-20,000 Riyals.

Third: The Burden of Cleaning and Organization

This aspect isn't discussed much, but it directly affects your daily quality of life.

Small Apartment: Easy Management

A 150-200 sqm apartment can be cleaned by the housewife herself in 2-3 hours weekly. Daily tidying takes only 30 minutes. No need for a permanent housekeeper.

Large Villa: Need for Help

A 400-500 sqm villa requires tremendous cleaning effort. Most families are forced to hire a housekeeper. Housekeeper cost: 2,000-4,000 Riyals monthly. If you add residency, visa, and insurance costs: 30,000-50,000 additional Riyals annually!

Psychological Impact

The housewife in a large house often feels constant exhaustion. Even with a housekeeper, the responsibility of supervision remains. This affects her mental health and relationship with her family.

Fourth: The Social Aspect - Does a Large House Unite the Family?

Here we reach the most important and thought-provoking point: the relationship between house size and family cohesion.

The Strange Paradox

You might think a large house unites the family more because it provides space for everyone. But reality is often the exact opposite! In a large house, each family member isolates themselves in their wing or room. Father in his office, mother in her huge kitchen, and each child in their spacious room with their own TV. Family gatherings become rare because everyone is comfortable in their own space.

Small House Unites

In a small or medium apartment, the family is forced to gather in one living room. Children play under their parents' eyes. Conversations happen automatically because everyone is in the same space. This physical closeness creates emotional closeness.

Real Testimonies

Many families who moved from a small apartment to a large villa complain about the same thing: loss of family warmth that existed in the apartment. Children became strangers to each other. Family meals disappeared.

Fifth: The Empty Nest Phenomenon

This is one of the most important points many overlook when planning to build a large house.

The Recurring Scenario

You build a huge villa when your children are 5-15 years old. You design a room for each child, majlis for men and women, guest rooms, and an external annex. After 10-15 years: sons and daughters get married and leave one after another. You find yourself and your spouse alone in a 10-room house! This is what sociologists call Empty Nest Syndrome.

Psychological Burden

Elderly people in large empty houses suffer from loneliness and isolation. Empty rooms remind them of days when the house was full of life. Maintenance and cleaning become a heavy burden. Many are forced to sell the villa and move to a smaller apartment late in life!

The Smart Solution

Instead of building a huge house now, think about the future. Build a house suitable for your current family size with the possibility of expansion later if needed. Or invest the difference in another property your children can live in when they marry near you.

Sixth: How Many Rooms Does Your Family Actually Need?

Let's talk practical numbers about the appropriate number of rooms:

The Golden Rule

One master bedroom for parents. One room for every two children of the same gender (can be separated later when needed). One living room that gathers the family. One majlis for guests (can be multi-purpose). Kitchen and bathrooms as needed.

Family of 4 (couple + 2 children)

Actual need: 2-3 bedrooms. Suitable area: 150-200 square meters. This is completely sufficient and provides a comfortable life!

Family of 6 (couple + 4 children)

Actual need: 3-4 bedrooms. Suitable area: 200-280 square meters.

Family of 8 (couple + 6 children)

Actual need: 4-5 bedrooms. Suitable area: 280-350 square meters.

Important Note

These areas may seem small compared to what we're used to in Saudi Arabia, but they are global standards for comfortable living. In Europe, Japan, and Korea, very happy families live in smaller spaces!

Seventh: Ideal Room Sizes

If you decide to build, here are the sizes recommended by engineers and architects:

Master Bedroom

Ideal size: 20-25 square meters (4×5 or 5×5). Includes: bed, wardrobe, vanity, and comfortable movement space. Attached bathroom: additional 5-8 square meters. Note: The smaller the bedroom, the more intimate and better for sleep!

Children's Bedrooms

Ideal size: 16-20 square meters (4×4 or 4×5). Sufficient for a bed, study desk, wardrobe, and small play space.

Living Room

Ideal size: 25-35 square meters. This is enough for a large sofa, TV, coffee table, and movement space.

Majlis

Ideal size: 25-35 square meters (5×6 or 5×7). Huge majlis (8×10 for example) often look empty and cold!

Kitchen

Ideal size: 15-24 square meters (4×5 or 4×6). Includes space for cooking, storage, and a small table for quick breakfast.

Bathrooms

Main bathroom: 6-8 square meters (2×3 or 2.5×3). Guest bathrooms: 4-5 square meters.

Eighth: When Is a Large House Appropriate?

After all this discussion, is a large house always bad? Of course not! There are cases where a large house is a logical choice:

Extended Families

If you plan to live with your parents or one of your siblings, large space is necessary to provide privacy for everyone.

Working from Home

If your work requires a home office or receiving clients, you'll need additional separate space.

Frequent Hospitality

If your lifestyle requires frequently hosting guests (events, large family gatherings), additional space is justified.

Comfortable Financial Ability

If your budget allows building and operating a large house without financial pressure, and you have a housekeeper, large space is an acceptable option.

Long-term Investment

If you view the property as an investment and plan to rent or sell it later, large space may be more attractive in the market.

Ninth: Comprehensive Comparison Table

Here's a quick comparison between a medium apartment and a large villa:

Initial Cost

200 sqm apartment costs 250,000-400,000 Riyals, while 400 sqm villa costs 600,000-1,000,000 Riyals. The difference reaches 600,000 Riyals!

Annual Electricity Bill

Apartment: 3,000-6,000 Riyals. Villa: 12,000-30,000 Riyals. The difference reaches 24,000 Riyals annually!

Annual Maintenance Costs

Apartment: 3,000-5,000 Riyals. Villa: 10,000-20,000 Riyals.

Housekeeper Cost

Apartment: Not necessary (0 Riyals). Villa: Necessary (30,000-50,000 Riyals annually).

Weekly Cleaning Time

Apartment: 2-3 hours. Villa: 8-12 hours (or permanent housekeeper).

Family Gathering

Apartment: Natural and frequent. Villa: Requires effort and planning.

Total Over 20 Years

The total cost difference between apartment and villa can reach 1.5-2 million Riyals!

Tenth: Golden Tips for Choosing the Right Size

Before Buying or Building

Calculate your current family size and your expectations for the next ten years. Honestly assess your financial ability: can you afford the monthly operating costs? Think about your lifestyle: do you host many guests? Do you work from home? Visit houses of different sizes and compare how you feel in them.

During Design

Focus on design quality, not quantity of space. Smart design makes 200 sqm look and function better than poorly designed 400 sqm. Save on space and invest in finishing quality. Choose flexible designs that can be modified in the future.

After Moving In

If you discover your house is larger than your need, consider renting part of it, or converting a room to an office or small business, or hosting relatives to live with you. Don't remain a prisoner of space that doesn't suit you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a small apartment suitable for a Saudi family?

Yes! A family of 4-5 members can live in complete comfort in a 180-220 sqm apartment if it's well designed. What matters most is design quality, not space quantity.

How many bedrooms does my child need?

A child doesn't need an independent room before age 8-10. Before that, sharing a room with siblings is socially and psychologically beneficial!

Is a large house a better investment?

Not always! Small and medium apartments are easier to rent and faster to sell because the buyer pool is larger. Large villas may stay on the market for months.

How do I deal with societal pressure to build a large house?

Remember that you will live in this house and pay its bills, not society! Make your decision based on your actual needs and financial capabilities, not others' expectations.

What if I bought a large house and discovered it's bigger than my need?

You can rent part of it as a separate apartment, or convert a room to an office or small business, or sell it and move to a more suitable size. Don't remain a prisoner of space that doesn't suit you!

Does small space mean compromising comfort?

Not at all! Smart design, utilizing vertical spaces, and multi-purpose furniture can make small space very comfortable. Visit Japanese or Swedish apartments to see how they live comfortably in small spaces!

Conclusion: Choose with Logic, Not Emotion

A large house isn't bad, and a small house isn't always good. The key is choosing the size appropriate for your actual needs, financial capabilities, and lifestyle.

Before you decide, ask yourself: How many hours will I spend cleaning this house? What will the electricity bill be? Will I need a housekeeper? Will this space unite my family or disperse it? What will happen when my children grow up and leave?

If you answer these questions honestly, you'll find that the suitable size is probably smaller than you imagined. And this isn't a compromise, it's wisdom!

In the end, happiness isn't measured in square meters. A happy, cohesive family in a 180 sqm apartment is much better than a scattered family in a 600 sqm villa!