Dear James: We are on a strict budget for our new home. It will have to be fairly small overall. What are some design tips for making the living space seem bigger than it actually is? —Kellie D. Dear Kellie: The modern trend in homebuilding is smaller houses. Building material costs are very high right now because of the pandemic. Efficiency is another reason for building a smaller house. Heat is lost through the walls and ceiling, so a smaller house has less outdoor surface area from which to lose heat. If you are familiar with some of Frank Lloyd Wright’s houses, you know there are many house-design features to make a house seem more spacious. By starting with a smaller house plan, you may free up your budget enough to splurge on interior features. Unless you have an unusually shaped lot, plan on building a square house. For a …