Bigger doesn’t seem to be better anymore, as the homebuyer of today is increasingly looking for more practical and efficient space.

West Chester architect Richard Buchanan of Archer & Buchanan Architecture recently told Philly.com that “his customers are seeking smaller but still well-made homes and eschewing some of the grander affectations of the McMansion — like those double-height spaces.”

“We build a floor and add a bedroom and a bath over the family room, and everything makes sense,” he said, “because you’ve returned to a more traditional pattern of use between private sleeping quarters and more public spaces.”

Spending this year on home upgrades is projected to increase 3.8 percent to $120 billion, and the trend is toward putting that money into better-quality materials or better uses for spaces.

Read more about emerging home building trends on Philly.com here.