1. Make spaces multipurpose.
In small-home design, every square inch — and its function — matters. Minimize wasted space by ditching the formal dining room, living room and foyer in favor of spaces you’ll spend time in. Reduce the size of your primary bedroom (but give the closet a boost) and create unpretentious multipurpose rooms, such as a guestroom that doubles as a workout space or home office.
2. Get creative with islands.
A movable island is a smart way to bring much-needed counter and seating space to a compact kitchen. A salvaged sideboard or butcher block also may save you some bucks over new cabinetry. Look for one with wheels for added portability.
3. Look up.
Tall windows and high ceilings help any room live large, no matter the footprint. The importance of good natural light in any size home can’t be overstated.
4. Don’t underestimate any area.
Embrace overlooked spaces, like the area along the base of a staircase, as an opportunity to add function or style — or both, as in the case of this freestanding soapstone stove.
5. Consolidate necessities.
When it comes to household operations, every home needs certain essentials — HVAC, water heater, laundry, etc. — to function fully. In a smaller-scale home, think about how you can consolidate these necessities into a multipurpose room to maximize your living space.
6. Shop appliances strategically.
Take Tip 5 a bit further with the appliances you choose. For instance, on-demand tankless water heaters save space, money and natural resources by supplying hot water instantly and only as needed, and a stackable washer and dryer (or a W/D combo unit) can take you from a laundry room to a laundry closet, shaving a ton of space.
7. Open a different door.
Steer clear of door swing. The area required to open a door fully can eat into your square footage. Barn doors, or their more privacy-conducive cousin, pocket doors, will increase your usable wall space.
8. Build in storage.
Boost your storage wherever possible. Go vertical – often there’s a lot of storage space to gain overhead. Built-ins are your best friend. Incorporate them anywhere and everywhere they make sense, like beneath open staircases, a window seat in a kitchen or bedroom or a built-in dresser between the floor and a low pitch of a second-story bedroom. Or, alternatively, build in your beds with pullout storage beneath.
