Live Big in a Small House: 25 Tricks to Expand Your Space
Tiny home? Get more storage, better light and a feeling of spaciousness with these fantastic strategies for small-space living
Mitchell Parker
9 December 2014
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
Small houses can be cosy, but sometimes the walls can feel like they’re closing in. That’s why you have to do everything you can to stay sane in your home. We asked you all about your tricks for living in small spaces, and you came through with some great ones. If you have another one to add, let us know in the comments section below.
1. Add a fold-up table
This dining table folds onto the wall while folding chairs are hung above it, making an otherwise cramped kitchen feel more spacious.
This dining table folds onto the wall while folding chairs are hung above it, making an otherwise cramped kitchen feel more spacious.
lawrencearchitecture.com
2. Add storage under the stairs
Drawers, shelves, cabinets – don’t let the space under your stairs go to waste.
Drawers, shelves, cabinets – don’t let the space under your stairs go to waste.
3. Buy a king-sized bed
It might sound counterintuitive, but large, relaxing pieces such as a big bed, sofa or bathtub can make it seem like you have more space. Try splurging on the pieces that will help you to relax the most.
It might sound counterintuitive, but large, relaxing pieces such as a big bed, sofa or bathtub can make it seem like you have more space. Try splurging on the pieces that will help you to relax the most.
4. Install a skylight
Imagine how stuffy this room would feel without the skylights. More light gives the feeling of greater space, as does providing views to the outdoors.
Imagine how stuffy this room would feel without the skylights. More light gives the feeling of greater space, as does providing views to the outdoors.
5. Push out a wall
Got room to expand a bit? Try extending a room to gain more space. A little can go a long way. Or maybe you can gobble up unused space, like from a walkway that connects to the garage.
Got room to expand a bit? Try extending a room to gain more space. A little can go a long way. Or maybe you can gobble up unused space, like from a walkway that connects to the garage.
6. Include reflections
Sliding mirrored wardrobe doors and gloss or semi-gloss paint finishes help to toss light around and make rooms feel more expansive.
Sliding mirrored wardrobe doors and gloss or semi-gloss paint finishes help to toss light around and make rooms feel more expansive.
7. Borrow from your neighbours
Renting tools and other supplies from hardware stores is a good start, but do some research as to whether your local community has a lending scheme for power tools or appliances, such as leaf blowers, or discuss borrowing from and lending to your neighbours. Imagine the space you could save if you got rid of the things you use only sporadically.
Renting tools and other supplies from hardware stores is a good start, but do some research as to whether your local community has a lending scheme for power tools or appliances, such as leaf blowers, or discuss borrowing from and lending to your neighbours. Imagine the space you could save if you got rid of the things you use only sporadically.
8. Grow indoor plants
Bringing nature inside makes a space feel more open and brightens the mood. It works especially well in city apartments.
Bringing nature inside makes a space feel more open and brightens the mood. It works especially well in city apartments.
9. Add a roof window. The owner of this home used a roof window to bring more light in to an upstairs bedroom and added storage beneath the window.
10. Add a half door
Bringing in a fresh air and creating more connection to the outdoors with a stable door design increases the sense of space.
Bringing in a fresh air and creating more connection to the outdoors with a stable door design increases the sense of space.
11. Add a raised hearth
In small homes having plenty of seating for guests is a constant battle. One suggestion is to install a sturdy raised hearth around the fireplace. Place a few cushions on top and you have extra options when entertaining.
In small homes having plenty of seating for guests is a constant battle. One suggestion is to install a sturdy raised hearth around the fireplace. Place a few cushions on top and you have extra options when entertaining.
12. Add a kitchen peninsula
Be honest; how often do you use your formal dining room? Introducing a kitchen peninsula or island bench gives you more benchtop space and an extra surface for informal family meals. Then you can think about using the dining room more efficiently.
Be honest; how often do you use your formal dining room? Introducing a kitchen peninsula or island bench gives you more benchtop space and an extra surface for informal family meals. Then you can think about using the dining room more efficiently.
13. Add a modular sofa
It can offer more seating options than a standard sofa and armchair combination.
It can offer more seating options than a standard sofa and armchair combination.
14. Put a benchtop-height table in the kitchen
This works well in galley kitchens. It creates more workspace and with a few stools it can easily accommodate a small dinner party. Here’s a tip: if the stools have backs, keep the backs below bench height so they can be tucked out of the way.
This works well in galley kitchens. It creates more workspace and with a few stools it can easily accommodate a small dinner party. Here’s a tip: if the stools have backs, keep the backs below bench height so they can be tucked out of the way.
15. Add a deck or patio
If you can’t seem to find a centimetre more to squeeze out of your interior, try expanding your living space outside.
If you can’t seem to find a centimetre more to squeeze out of your interior, try expanding your living space outside.
16. Add to-scale furniture
Before you bring any piece of furniture into your small home, always measure it to make sure it’s the right scale. Crowding a living room with oversized furniture is not the best use of space.
Before you bring any piece of furniture into your small home, always measure it to make sure it’s the right scale. Crowding a living room with oversized furniture is not the best use of space.
17. Use lighter paint colours
Once more, light is your design friend, so using light-hued paints will open your house up and reflect light better.
Once more, light is your design friend, so using light-hued paints will open your house up and reflect light better.
18. Go outside
Take advantage of public parks, bushwalk tracks, libraries, coffee shops and other community spaces and you won’t feel so boxed in.
Take advantage of public parks, bushwalk tracks, libraries, coffee shops and other community spaces and you won’t feel so boxed in.
19. Include a loft
Look up in your roof. See any precious space you could use? A loft bed could free up floor space for a desk, a sitting area, storage or even another bed.
Look up in your roof. See any precious space you could use? A loft bed could free up floor space for a desk, a sitting area, storage or even another bed.
20. Add storage all the way to the ceiling
In modest spaces, vertical storage is vital not only for keeping all your things out of the way, but for sending the eye upward to make the room appear larger.
In modest spaces, vertical storage is vital not only for keeping all your things out of the way, but for sending the eye upward to make the room appear larger.
21. Add nesting tables.
The trick with small homes is finding ways to add furniture pieces that do double duty, or that can be moved out of the way and hidden quickly and easily. Three-in-one nesting side tables are a great option.
The trick with small homes is finding ways to add furniture pieces that do double duty, or that can be moved out of the way and hidden quickly and easily. Three-in-one nesting side tables are a great option.
22. Install garage shelves
The garage is one area where you can go overboard with shelving and storage. It will get clutter out of your interiors and confine the visual mess to a space that’s expected to be less aesthetically appealing.
The garage is one area where you can go overboard with shelving and storage. It will get clutter out of your interiors and confine the visual mess to a space that’s expected to be less aesthetically appealing.
23. Add storage ottomans
When space is a luxury, every nook and cranny counts. Storage ottomans are great for quickly getting toys, magazines and electronic items out of view.
When space is a luxury, every nook and cranny counts. Storage ottomans are great for quickly getting toys, magazines and electronic items out of view.
24. Add a floating bench seat
Taking advantage of floor space is key in a small house. This homeowner used a floating bench seat in her kitchen to make room for her dogs’ beds.
Taking advantage of floor space is key in a small house. This homeowner used a floating bench seat in her kitchen to make room for her dogs’ beds.
25. Knock down a non-load-bearing wall
Opening up your living space will help it to flow better and feel more spacious. It will also get you thinking about how rooms can do double duty.
YOUR TURN
Tell us how you live big in a tiny home and upload a high resolution photo in the Comments section below.
Opening up your living space will help it to flow better and feel more spacious. It will also get you thinking about how rooms can do double duty.
YOUR TURN
Tell us how you live big in a tiny home and upload a high resolution photo in the Comments section below.
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I really appreciated this article, thanks Houzz. I often wonder why the
bed in my motor home could not be found somewhere and put to use in my
small house. The bed in the motor home is a real bed, always in down
position but also can be lifted up to reveal full size storage
compartment at least 12" deep. I really use that space for many kinds
of items. Given the wave of downsizing happening today, I believe a bed
like this would fill needs of lots of home owners.
I have a small house and have several of these fixes. There was a large storage closet under the stairs when I moved in. I added a counter height butcher block work station under a kitchen window. ( Martha Stewart ! -12 years old acquired from K -Mart and still in great condition ) I installed sola tubes in one bathroom and in the dining room which was the only dark room. ( due to only N and W exposures )I painted most of the rooms ivory or a buff tinged with a little pink and all white woodwork. But the entry hall is persimmon, the dining room is " fresh nasturtium"-a very rich orange, and one bathroom and the guest bedroom are a bright coral. All of the rooms are quite small but every room has a minimum of 3 windows and several have 4 windows. This limits wall space but maximizes light. There was already a beautiful 8' by 3.5' mirror in the entry hall which makes the living room seem larger. There are floor to ceiling French doors in the living room which are a rather tiny but evidently still standard size made for older cottage style houses. My 1600 sq ft. feels bigger because there is so much light and I have a green yard with trees seen from every window. Even this small house and yard is a lot to maintain for an older person. I am happy that it is not larger. it still works for guests because it has 3 bedrooms and more than one bath. By American standards it is small. I do know that in most other places it would be considered quite a bit of space.