Do you have big dreams for a small home? If you’re remodeling a space that leaves a little to be desired when it comes to square footage, there are ways to maximize that space to its greatest potential. From bringing in natural light to getting strategic about storage, here are the best ways to give tiny living a boost.
Volume
Everybody starts the conversation about space in regards to square footage, but that’s just a two-dimensional calculation. When it comes to the feel of space, the volume is often more important to make a space feel bigger. A larger footprint with low ceilings will always feel smaller than a smaller footprint with tall ceilings. If you don’t have the luxury of tall ceilings, fake it by drawing your eye up with a different texture, material, or color on the ceiling.
LET LIGHT IN
The biggie. Whenever you think a place feels great, it almost always has beautiful natural light dancing around it. Extra large windows not only bring more light in, but they also play with your sense of scale in a space. Invest in the highest quality operable windows you can afford and make sure they’re made of natural materials. In a small space you are going to engage with the windows often. Make sure they open easily, and open big to let in a nice breeze. Tall casement windows are a favorite of ours for bringing the eye upwards and allowing the window to swing out of the way when open.
BORROW LIGHT AND VIEWS FROM OTHER ROOMS
Walls help you organize rooms and delineate different functions in a space, but walls also visually stop you from seeing very far and cut off natural light. These two things can inevitably make a place feel smaller. Bring in views and light through interior windows or glass on doors. If privacy is a concern, there are many options–like sight-obscuring glass and shades–to help control this.
FEWER WALLS
When trying to play up the volume of a space and let as much light in as possible, fewer interior walls really help make a difference. Not every function has to have a specific room. Maybe your dining area can double as a place to catch up on work emails without having to create a separate space for an office. Considering an open floor plan can help make a space feel bigger.
DON’T FORGET COZY TOUCHES
Even with the removal of walls where possible, we still believe in making cozy nooks. Especially with an open smaller floor plan, having the option to retreat to a spot that feels less exposed actually helps a place feel larger.
MAKE IT BIG WHERE YOU SPEND MOST OF YOUR TIME
Love to cook? Let the kitchen take up a lot of square footage. How about entertaining? Maybe a great lounge area for friends and family to gather is most important. Whatever you choose, going smaller doesn’t mean you have to wave the shrink wand equally across every space. It means you get to layout the puzzle pieces. If all you need is a bed in your bedroom, have that space take up less real estate and dedicate more volume to the spaces you spend more time in.
Storage and built ins
Everyone talks about this when they are living smaller. Adding built-ins and storage are imperative to managing your stuff, supporting daily functions, and letting your place breathe without a lot of visual clutter. What type of storage you create is just as important. For example, create a place to easily corral small appliances so they don’t have to live on the counter. Do you use a blow dryer everyday? Create a drawer with an outlet to avoid a daily space battle with your vanity counter. Don’t forget to balance out specialized storage and built ins, with a couple of catch all closets. It’s nice to have a room (albeit small) to toss a few awkwardly shaped items into as needed.
Edited materials with a little dose of fun
Repeating a few materials throughout a home helps a space flow easily and feel calm. Visually you won’t feel jarred with new materials in every room or feel like you’re in a showroom. On the flip side, small spaces also really benefit from personality and fun, especially in unexpected places. Think about a bold statement wall in the entry, colorful tile on the bathroom floor, or a crazy built in. Go for it and let your personal style come through.
Grab the outdoors
This is our favorite. Porches, patios, and balconies all help you live larger and happier by connecting you and your rooms to the outside. You can add a lot of square footage without a lot of added expense by carving out small outdoor rooms.
Long story short, living small doesn’t mean you can’t think big. If you’re building new or planning a renovation, an architect can help make the most of square footage constraints. Making a few of the above adjustments is a great start to living large in a tiny home.
Long story short, living small doesn’t mean you can’t think big. If you’re building new or planning a renovation, an architect can help make the most of square footage constraints. Making a few of the above adjustments is a great start to living large in a tiny home.
