You don’t have to compromise on size to compromise on style. There are limitless smart design hacks to make even the smallest of houses become the envy of all the neighbours.

Let the Light In

Large windows and doors make a significant difference to small spaces. Product development specialist, David Little, said:

“A home can always seem larger by providing plenty of light, with large windows and doors connecting the interior and exterior living areas and maintaining sight lines throughout the living spaces.”
Space can be opened up and made an airy environment by having abundant glazing as it allows natural light to illuminate all the available space. You should think about placing windows in unconventional places, using skylights and narrow horizontal or vertical windows. Floor-to-ceiling stacking doors are not only great because they let plenty of light in, but also create a seamless flow between internal living and external spaces.

 

Common Group Areas

You should ensure your floorplan has common areas placed together in order to reduce wasted space in your house. The kitchen, living and dining areas can be alongside one another in an open-plan configuration. Therefore, there will be less unnecessary hallways and doorways, whilst also freeing up room for bedrooms and bathrooms.

Built-In Cabinetry

It is recommended you opt for tailor-made cabinets as they will fit precisely into the spare nooks and crannies of your house. They will also provide optimum storage and give all your possessions a place to live.
Built-in-cabinetry does not stop at wall-mounted selves and bookcases! You should talk to your builder about built-in spaces throughout the house, for kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms, as there are many clever storage solutions.

Look at placing storage drawers under beds in the bedrooms and overhead shelving above desks. Consider open shelving in the kitchen to save on room needed for opening and closing cupboard doors.

Ceiling Heights and Voids

Higher ceilings can make a small space seem significantly larger than it is. You should opt for at least a 2700mm height ceiling as older homes use a standard 2400mm. Consider modern architectural elements to maximise room. Voids (double-height spaces) can be used for entries or living spaces and wall cut-outs between living areas. We offer this as an inclusion in all our projects.

The Little Things

When space is precious it’s the little details that count. Make sure you carefully check your design to see whether standard doors can be replaced with sliding doors or bathrooms can become two-way with the addition of a second door.

There are many other questions to asked as well. Like, can the space below staircases be turned into a powder room or used for storage? Is there enough free space under the window to install a bench seat or daybed?

Ensure your spaces are flexible. For example, a study can easily be converted to a guest room and a wardrobe into a study nook.

It’s definitely worth making small changes to free up space within your house. After all, space is something you can never have too much of in a home.

Read more: Domain