Let’s be honest, we don’t always live in a small house by choice. Many of us dream of grand entryways, spacious living areas and uncluttered kitchen spaces. Perhaps the house that once served a single person now accommodates an entire family. But rest assured that living in a small home doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice comfort or functionality.
Living comfortably in a small home is all about intention. Small changes can have the biggest impact such as optimising your storage solutions, integrating multi-purpose furniture, carefully considering your design aesthetic and getting rid of excess things.
If you are living in a small house and are unsure how to maximise space then we have you covered. Here’s everything you need to know to get you started.
Open-Plan Spaces
One of the best ways that you can maximise space in your home is by adopting an open-plan design. By creating a sense of openness and flow, your home is guaranteed to feel larger. You will find that in opening your interior, you enjoy an increase in natural light which contributes to a more comfortable living space.
Enhance Natural Light
The lighting in your space can have a huge impact on whether it feels open and airy or dark and small. By making changes to allow natural light to flow through, your home will instantly feel more spacious. If you are making structural changes, you could choose an open-plan layout. You could also change your window solution, incorporating larger panes that let more light in. Or, for simple cosmetic changes, you could look to add mirrors within the space. They will amplify light around the room and create a larger-looking space.
Multi-Purpose Furniture
If you are living in a small house, one of the best choices you can make is in choosing multi-functional furniture. Consider a kitchen island that doubles up as a dining table, a sofa that doubles up as a bed, or a dining table that can be extended as needed. These small changes will have a big impact on functionality and your comfort levels.
Smart Storage Solutions
Small spaces require smart design. And that’s where strategic storage becomes a necessity. If you are unable to reduce clutter by getting rid of unwanted items, your attention should turn to storage. Consider gas lift beds or seats that have hidden storage underneath, built-in under-stair cupboards, coffee tables with drawers underneath. You could even incorporate more shelving within the home to maximise floor space. Smart storage is about getting creative with the space that you have.
Utilise Height
You may not have the luxury of floor space in your home but that doesn’t mean you don’t have height. Think tall shelving units, high cabinets, wall-mounted storage solutions, hanging pots and pans in your kitchen. And by utilising the height of your space, you’ll draw eyes upwards which will make the room feel taller and more spacious.
Outdoor Spaces
Often, we focus too much on the interior of our house and not the exterior. A small home doesn’t mean a small garden. If you have any outdoor space, you can utilise it. Aside from making your exterior an extension of your home by utilising it as a living space, you could also incorporate storage solutions. Consider adding a shed or outhouse for extra storage, freeing up space internally.
Design Aesthetics
The aesthetics of your home can have a huge impact on whether it seems airy and spacious or compact and cluttered. A well-designed small house can be as comfortable, functional and appealing as a larger home. Finding the right colour palette can transform your space. The solution to a spacious home isn’t always white, pale colours. It’s about finding the right tones and textures to match both your hard and soft furnishings. Consider how the light flows around your home and tailor your colour palette accordingly.
A common solution if you are looking to create a more spacious home is by opting for a minimalist design. In this aesthetic, every item in your home has a purpose. By achieving a sleek, clutter-free environment, you can create the illusion that your home is bigger than it is. Consider clean lines and simple shapes, such as vertical wall materials like slatted wood or striped wall patterns, opt for furniture solutions that serve multiple purposes, and avoid overloading your house with decorative items.
How an Architect Can Aid Your Efforts
Unless you are an expert in architecture and home DIY, taking on the task of maximising space in your small home can be a daunting feat. But rest assured that you don’t have to do it alone. Ensure that you achieve optimal results by enlisting the help of an Architect. They are skilled at utilising every inch of your space to create functional, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing designs.
From structural upgrades to cosmetic design changes, architects are there to support throughout your entire project. They’ll work alongside you to understand your goals for the space before drawing up detailed plans that bring your vision to life.
They look at every element of your space from the positioning of the windows to the flow of natural light, the size of your furniture to the colour of your aesthetic and much, much more. Prioritising both comfort and functionality, they’ll help you to maximise space without compromise.
Want to Find Out More?
The team at BY Projects Architecture know the importance of maximising space in small houses and work with homeowners just like you to create bespoke solutions. If you are ready to learn more, get in touch with our friendly team. Let’s talk about your wants, your needs and your budget to achieve significant results.
Get started today by calling us on 03 9663 8331, emailing us at projects@byarchitecture.com.au or completing our online enquiry form today. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
I highly recommmend the team at BY Architecture.
Barbara, Howard and the team designed a wonderful extension to my late 1960s Melbourne home, ran the tender process to find me a builder, and superintended the build contract.
The design process that Barbara took me through was comprehensive, well-considered and highly collaborative, and the resulting extension and renovation was incredibly well-tailored to my specific needs and desires.
The tender process was similarly well-run, and we ended up choosing a builder that Barbara had worked with many times before and recommended. The recommendation was a great one and the entire build ran very smoothly, with the many quirks arising in a typical renovation being dealt with intelligently and with no fuss.
During the entire time I worked with them, Barbara and her team went over-and-above to keep me happy. As a result of their attention to detail and their focus on customer service, they ensured that what can often be a stressful time was actually a pleasure. I cannot thank them enough and would work with them again in a heartbeat.
Barbara, Howard and the team designed a wonderful extension to my late 1960s Melbourne home, ran the tender process to find me a builder, and superintended the build contract.
The design process that Barbara took me through was comprehensive, well-considered and highly collaborative, and the resulting extension and renovation was incredibly well-tailored to my specific needs and desires.
The tender process was similarly well-run, and we ended up choosing a builder that Barbara had worked with many times before and recommended. The recommendation was a great one and the entire build ran very smoothly, with the many quirks arising in a typical renovation being dealt with intelligently and with no fuss.
During the entire time I worked with them, Barbara and her team went over-and-above to keep me happy. As a result of their attention to detail and their focus on customer service, they ensured that what can often be a stressful time was actually a pleasure. I cannot thank them enough and would work with them again in a heartbeat.
Barbara is very friendly and easy to work with. Thank you for the great advices.
Response from the owner 23:14 17 Jun 24
thank you Arik. Happy to be helpful 
Barbara and the BY Projects team were fantastic to work with for our knockdown-rebuild. We had no idea what we were doing or getting ourselves in for, and through every stage of the process Barbara explained everything and was supportive and transparent.
She drew plans for a beautiful house for us which fulfilled everything we wanted while adding such flair and style that we never could have imagined ourselves.
I was so glad to have her and her team on my side throughout the build process, as we would have struggled to advocate for ourselves (or even notice) mistakes or defects by the builder.
Overall, we just couldn’t be happier with the final result.
She drew plans for a beautiful house for us which fulfilled everything we wanted while adding such flair and style that we never could have imagined ourselves.
I was so glad to have her and her team on my side throughout the build process, as we would have struggled to advocate for ourselves (or even notice) mistakes or defects by the builder.
Overall, we just couldn’t be happier with the final result.
Response from the owner 06:53 31 May 24
Thank you for your enthusiasm Emily. And thank you for trusting us with your dream Home. It's been a pleasure working with you and your family, and we trust you will enjoy your home for the years to come. 
We recently had the pleasure of carrying out a renovation for Barbara and BY Projects Architecture.
The project ran very smoothly from receiving the plans, to handover day.
Barbara pays very close attention to detail and takes great pride in her work.
We look forward to working with BY again on future projects.
The project ran very smoothly from receiving the plans, to handover day.
Barbara pays very close attention to detail and takes great pride in her work.
We look forward to working with BY again on future projects.
Response from the owner 22:11 30 Mar 21
Thank you Koray. It was a pleasure working with AMCON Homes, we look forward to working with you again in the future. 
Barbara provided excellent professional advice regarding Town planning and approval process by the Council. She went out of her way to find the right information and help me. Will surely use their services again when necessary.
I would highly recommend them.
I would highly recommend them.
Response from the owner 01:37 16 Feb 21
Thank you Jarardhan. We do hope you find a more suitable site soon to build your dream homeBarbara 
We were in a very difficult position after a VCAT rejection. Barbara came into our project and reimagined what was possible with our property. Going from a house with three shops with significantly reduced value to a development with two town houses, a cafe and all able to be subdivided into three separate properties. Barbara was positive, enthusiastic, charming at planning meeting and all in all kept us positive and hopeful. Barbara went through the whole process with us and I would say went above and beyond what would generally be expected. She worked well with our development team, working out strategies for planning challenges. We are very thankful for her time and energy.
We engaged Barbara and her team many times over many years for our Building Development Projects, including Multi Residential, Child Care and Mixed Use. Most recently for a couple of houses in Port Melbourne with complex Heritage Overlay requirements.
Barbara worked with us closely to ensure all design requirements were achieved to exceed market expectations. All permit requirements were managed in a professional and timely manner, and all processes were met on time and on budget.
The finished buildings were outstanding and the realized sales well above market expectations.
We highly recommend BY Projects Architecture for their Design sense and construction experience.
Barbara worked with us closely to ensure all design requirements were achieved to exceed market expectations. All permit requirements were managed in a professional and timely manner, and all processes were met on time and on budget.
The finished buildings were outstanding and the realized sales well above market expectations.
We highly recommend BY Projects Architecture for their Design sense and construction experience.
I have worked with Barbara and the team at BY Projects on a number of projects now. Its hard to think how you could get better value for money. They are great architects - that goes without saying. But its the extra mile they go to on your behalf in order to secure the very best for you that makes all the difference. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them for your next project.
Response from the owner 06:02 24 May 19
Thank you Virginia for your kind words. It is always a pleasure working with you. 
