Part 25 of 31 Things Americans Should Think About Before Moving Abroad: Home Design Differences
- Darien Wilson
- May 3
- 4 min read
Updated: May 22
What to Expect When Your Texas-Sized Expectations Meet European Spaces
If you are an American in the sandwich years thinking about moving abroad—and you are planning on packing a big ol’ shipping container—you might want to downsize your expectations.
I am Darien, an American who moved to the Netherlands, and this is Part 25 of my 31-part series: 31 Things Americans Should Consider When Planning a Move Abroad.
Today’s topic? Home design differences, and why your familiar lifestyle might need to shift when you cross international borders.
Why American Homes Don’t Translate Well Abroad
Homes in the United States are, on average, much larger than homes in most other parts of the world. If you are planning an international move, carefully consider what to bring, and what to leave behind.
Let me share a few personal examples that highlight the real-life impact of home design differences for this American abroad.
Closet Shock and Furniture Failures
In the Netherlands—one of the most densely-populated countries on Earth—houses are small. A few examples:
No built-in closets. Most people buy small wardrobes and have little additional space for storing clothes.
It is not uncommon for the bedrooms to be upstairs, with the only bathroom being downstairs.
Kitchens are often small with little counter space for appliances, virtually no pantry space, and tiny refrigerators, as it is customary to buy smaller quantities of groceries more frequently than Americans do.
So depending on where you move, your beloved California king-sized bed might not fit in the smaller bedrooms abroad, much less go up the stairs.
Narrow, twisting staircases that make it nearly impossible to move large furniture upstairs. Thus, movers in the Netherlands often use exterior lifts to bring furniture in through a window. So while large beds are available, they are often two twin mattresses pushed together. This makes them easier to move, but they are not U.S. standard sizes. That meant we had to buy new bedding, although we were able to keep our old duvets.
Your Appliances May Be Useless
Here’s another key adjustment: appliances and electronics.
Most American appliances won’t work abroad because they have a different plug shape and voltage. So your toaster, blender, and hairdryer are unlikely to work in your new home abroad. I was sad to part with a lifetime of accumulated appliances, but letting go of things is part of moving abroad.
Rental Surprises: Missing Floors and Light Fixtures
In the Netherlands, most homes come with a kitchen, but don’t be surprised if your rental is missing:
Flooring
Light fixtures
Window coverings
If you want a home with flooring, search for one that is "upholstered." Houses without flooring are called "shells," and they do tend to be less expensive.
In Germany, it’s not unusual to install your own kitchen. Yes, really.
Shipping Container or Suitcase?
For many families, it makes more sense to pare down to the essentials and buy what you need locally.
We did ship a container, but we were selective. About half of our container contained these personal belongings, among others:
Kitchen items (dishes, cutlery, pots and pans, a few gadgets)
Sentimental belongings
Important documents
Artwork
Clothes (why I wish we had brought fewer clothes)
One nice leather armchair
Our big TV
Some office supplies (we work from home)
We also shipped our vehicle. Total cost in 2021, from the Denver metro area to the Netherlands, including packing and unpacking. was about $10,500. Your mileage may vary!
Since our container traveled by sea, we lived without it for weeks. In our suitcases, we packed:
Clothes
One pillow per person
A small kitchen knife and flexible cutting board
Kitchen cutlery and a few utensils
Scissors
Important papers
For the first three weeks, we were in an AirB&B. Then for about 6 weeks, while we were in a rental but waiting for our shipping container to arrive, we slept on a mattress on the floor under a borrowed blanket. Our Dutch neighbors generously lent us folding chairs so we would not have to eat while sitting on the floor.
Since we moved in 2021, supply chain issues made it really challenging to re-stock our household goods. We also found it surprisingly difficult to figure out which stores carried which items.
Since our rental property only had a two year maximum lease, we knew we would have to move soon. This made it challenging to buy furniture, since we didn't know what our next house would look like.
Home Design Differences Are an Adjustment for Many Americans Abroad—But You’ll Adapt
Moving abroad means accepting new norms, including how homes are built and lived in. It can be frustrating at first, especially when you are used to more space and more storage. Everyday American things like garage door openers, walk-in closets, and giant refrigerators (and maybe even an additional refrigerator and/or freezer) accommodate very different lifestyles than those lived by people in much of the rest of the world.
But in time, some of those differences might become preferences. Smaller spaces can mean lower utility bills. Less furniture means less clutter to clean and maintain. A smaller yard—or no yard—means more free time.
Final Thought
Many Americans abroad find that they strongly prefer living in smaller spaces with less stuff, because the trade-off is often more free time, along with better access to amenities like public transit and third places where they can hang out outside the house. While you may have an initial period of adjustment, eventually, your new home abroad will feel like home—and you might even prefer it.
Did you find this helpful? Are you planning a move abroad? Work with me to make your move from a place of clarity and organization.
© 2025 Darien Wilson All Rights Reserved
Comments