Making Every Square Foot Count: Creative Remodeling Solutions for Small Homes
Do you live in a small home?
Don’t have the cash saved up for a full-scale remodel?
With smart, mini makeover projects, you can maximize the square footage in your home without compromising on style.
Let's bring your
dream space to life.
Before you start daydreaming about paint colors and furniture, consider:
- Opening up your space: Look at the overall structure of your home. Are there lots of walls and separate rooms? In older homes, separate rooms for relaxing, dining, and sleeping were the norm, where today’s remodeling projects often call for open floor plans. Tightly compartmentalized rooms and hallways can make an already small home feel smaller, so consider opening at least some of the space if your budget allows.
- Creating zones: If you already have an open floor plan or will be creating one in your home renovation project, you can create visual separation of your space or “zones” for separate activities. For example, use varied flooring material or rugs to maintain the distinction between the living room and kitchen. Some homeowners even opt for a half wall to open up the space, but still keep them separate.
Small Projects with Big Design Impact
Want to create the illusion of a bigger floorplan in your home? There are a few options that can make your home feel larger, and give you the space you want to entertain or hang out with the family.
One option is to screen-in your porch or backyard deck. Not only will this make the space usable year-round, but it will give the illusion of added living space in your home. Add sheer drapes or curtains to your screens to give it a more polished look and provide privacy.
Use smart storage in the kitchen and living areas to maximize living space and hide clutter. Lots of items on the tables or countertops will make an already small space feel even more tight, so consider slide-out racks for spices, baking sheets, and other kitchen utilities. In the living areas, consider built-ins on the walls to help store books, movies, and even toys and extra blankets.
Let There Be Light
Finally, the biggest change you can make to a small space is maximizing natural light. In the kitchen or bathroom, consider adding a skylight to make the space feel brighter and larger. Also add paler paint colors on the walls that better reflect light, rather than dark colors that can make the walls feel like they’re closing in.
All Smiles from Start to Finish!
The hardest space to re-envision is usually the one you live in -- even for professional designers! Sometimes clients begin the design conversation by telling us, “I know there’s nothing you can do about this layout…” We prefer to begin with the assumption that there’s not much we can’t do.
Our local know-how ensures a smooth process. Although Ann Arbor is our home, we’ve been working with building officials in jurisdictions from Jackson to Livonia since 1989. You can be confident that your project will be designed right the first time and will meet local requirements.
Contact us today for home renovation in Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities! We can help you breathe new life into your space