11 home renovation ideas for small houses

With clever home renovation ideas, you can make your tiny sanctuary look and feel more spacious. Here are some ways you can make the most out of a small house:

1. Pick an open floor plan

The simplest way to make a small house feel bigger is by opting for an open floor plan. This refers to a house where the kitchen, dining, and living areas are not separated by interior walls. This encourages a free flow of light and air, making the entire house feel open and spacious.

To create an open floor plan, you may need to tear down some interior walls. If the wall is load-bearing, which means it supports the structural elements above it, then it must be replaced with a support beam.

Keep in mind that you need to enlist the help of a building designer or draftsman for these structural changes. They can find ways to reconfigure your space while making sure it stays structurally sound. They can also figure out the most efficient floor plan so that your house can feel as open and airy as possible.

2. Try broken-plan living

A wide-open floor plan may feel spacious, but it can also compromise privacy. This is especially inconvenient if you want to use part of the space as a study nook or a home office. In this case, you can go for a broken-plan living room.

In a broken-plan living room, you can divide the room using movable furnishings like bookshelves or room dividers. Building a half-wall is also a clever idea. These elements demarcate spaces without interrupting the flow of air and natural light throughout the space.

3. Choose light and neutral colours

White, beige, and light grey reflect natural light and create a more spacious and open feel. Paint walls in these colours to make rooms look and feel more spacious. It’s also better to go for light-coloured tiles or wood stains for your flooring.

In case you want to take it a step further, go for paint or wall coverings with glossy surfaces. These reflect more light compared to those with a matt finish, making rooms appear even brighter.

4. Maximise built-in storage

Having plenty of clutter around the house makes it feel cramped and small. Keep things organised by adding plenty of built-in storage.

In your living room, you can add a combination of cabinets and open shelving. Use the open shelves to display books, knickknacks, figurines, and other items that show off your personality.

As for bathrooms, it’s best to go for floating fixtures and vanities. These free up floor space and make your bathroom feel more modern and spacious.

Kitchen cabinets shouldn’t be left behind in your home renovation project, either. Maximise storage by adding plenty of cabinets and drawers. If you have a tiny kitchen, open shelves can keep it from feeling cramped while giving you space to store pots, pans, plates, and bowls.

5. Brighten up the space with mirrors

One of the best-known ways to make small spaces larger is by hanging mirrors strategically around the house. Just like light-coloured paint, mirrors reflect natural and artificial light, giving spaces a more open and airy feel.

When you’re adding a mirror to your bathroom, go for a flat and frameless design. This type of mirror will give your bathroom a clean and minimalist look.

Meanwhile, if you’re adding a mirror to your living room or bedroom, pick one with a unique frame or shape. That way, your mirror can also be an eye-catching design feature.

6. Careful with your choice of furniture

Furniture takes up the most space inside the house, so it’s important to choose them carefully. Consider installing furnishings that can fold up when not in use, such as a murphy bed or desk. This will free up floor space and make your house feel bigger. Look for a dining table that folds and expands if you need additional space, as well.

Aside from folding furniture, consider multifunctional furniture, as well. These include ottomans that double as coffee tables, beds with built-in storage underneath, or sofa beds.

Keep in mind that the design of the furniture matters. Light, solid colours make spaces look larger. Meanwhile, furniture pieces with big, bold patterns can feel distracting and busy when placed inside a small house. If you still want to give your house a fun pop of colour, you can add throw pillows in delightful shades.

7. Connect indoor and outdoor living areas

To make a small house look bigger instantly, try creating indoor-outdoor living areas. You can achieve this by opening up your living room to the lawn or a patio using floor-to-ceiling sliding doors or bifold doors. Not only will the huge glass doors let in plenty of natural light, but they will also let in a cool breeze when they’re open.

8. Use space under the stairs

Most small houses have two or three floors connected by a set of stairs. Make this space more functional by turning it into storage, a reading nook, a mini indoor garden, a mini bar, or even a tiny powder room.

9. Make use of the wall space

Since you have a limited floor area, make the most out of your wall space. Try using a peg board for storing tools, art materials, and accessories. Mounting your TV on the wall also saves a lot of space.

10. Opt for pocket doors

A pocket door or cavity slider is a type of door that slides into a wall. That allows them to take up a lot less space compared to traditional swinging doors. If you don’t want your doors banging on furniture or accessories, this would be a perfect solution.

11. Try a vaulted ceiling

A vaulted ceiling refers to any ceiling that slopes up to the roof. If you live in a bungalow, going for a vaulted ceiling can make the entire house feel bigger. Meanwhile, if you live in a two-story or three-story home, a vaulted ceiling can make the uppermost floor feel spacious and airy.

Live large in a small space

Having a small house doesn’t mean you have to compromise on space. As long as you maximise each square foot, you can make your house a comfortable place to live.