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5 Small Homes Show Clever Space Planning
Look and learn – these small houses from across the globe will give you ample ideas and inspiration to make the most of a small space
There is no end to creativity and these petit homes show exactly that. By using clever space-saving solutions, multipurpose furniture pieces and light materials, these abodes demonstrate how to live big in a small house.
2. Location: United States
Size: 67 square metres (722 square feet); 1 bedroom studio
Interior design: Owner Kelly Wang, a senior merchant for women’s apparel
This small home has plenty of plants and an uninterrupted flow of light, which make the open floor plan feel more alive. The living area and the window seating are enhanced with light-toned furniture so that they don’t take up much visual space. To demarcate areas, Wang used a bookshelf to separate the living area from the kitchen, and the rug to separate it from the bedroom area. Since there isn’t enough space for bulky almirahs in the bedroom area, Wang’s boyfriend made her a mini wooden rack (second image) for her clothes and books, which she keeps next to her bed. She keeps changing its contents based on what she feels like wearing and reading.
Want to see what a hobbit home looks like?
Size: 67 square metres (722 square feet); 1 bedroom studio
Interior design: Owner Kelly Wang, a senior merchant for women’s apparel
This small home has plenty of plants and an uninterrupted flow of light, which make the open floor plan feel more alive. The living area and the window seating are enhanced with light-toned furniture so that they don’t take up much visual space. To demarcate areas, Wang used a bookshelf to separate the living area from the kitchen, and the rug to separate it from the bedroom area. Since there isn’t enough space for bulky almirahs in the bedroom area, Wang’s boyfriend made her a mini wooden rack (second image) for her clothes and books, which she keeps next to her bed. She keeps changing its contents based on what she feels like wearing and reading.
Want to see what a hobbit home looks like?
3. Location: United States
Size: 49 square metres (537 square feet) loft
Interior architects: Peter Suen, independent architect and professor, and Charles Irby of Icosa
To make their tiny 537-square-foot home feel more spacious, owners Donnie and Nicole Chiu-Wang sought the help of their friend Peter Suen, who teamed up with Charles Irby.
Together they came up with a multipurpose prefabricated loft. Its frame is made up of eight 1½-inch-thick precast concrete panels, with wood and glass spanning between them. The plan includes two beds (above and below), a stand-up desk, a dining table and plenty of storage. For meals, a dining table folds down next to a bench – an extra chair can be added to have meals together. A hidden closet next to the desk holds all of Donnie’s clothes. A custom steel-and-wood rolling ladder leads up to the bed. Along the ladder are closets, shelves and plastic bins hidden inside the structure that store clothes, hats, craft supplies, tennis equipment and more.
Watch the video of how this home came to be
Size: 49 square metres (537 square feet) loft
Interior architects: Peter Suen, independent architect and professor, and Charles Irby of Icosa
To make their tiny 537-square-foot home feel more spacious, owners Donnie and Nicole Chiu-Wang sought the help of their friend Peter Suen, who teamed up with Charles Irby.
Together they came up with a multipurpose prefabricated loft. Its frame is made up of eight 1½-inch-thick precast concrete panels, with wood and glass spanning between them. The plan includes two beds (above and below), a stand-up desk, a dining table and plenty of storage. For meals, a dining table folds down next to a bench – an extra chair can be added to have meals together. A hidden closet next to the desk holds all of Donnie’s clothes. A custom steel-and-wood rolling ladder leads up to the bed. Along the ladder are closets, shelves and plastic bins hidden inside the structure that store clothes, hats, craft supplies, tennis equipment and more.
Watch the video of how this home came to be
4. Location: India
Size: 43.6 square metres (470 square feet); living area and kitchen; 1 master bedroom; 1 guest-room-study-TV room; 1 bathroom
Interior architect: Sameer Balvally and Shilpa Jain Balvally, Studio Osmosis
In the centre of this home, a fully equipped, modular kitchen shares space with a tiny living area that flows into a bedroom. All bulky sofas were done away with, so as to create a sense of space. A neutral palette of beige, brown and grey was chosen to further open up the home. Translucent glass folding doors separate the bedroom from the rest of the home – these can be pulled back whenever required. The guest room also acts as a study or TV room. The bathroom door, storage space and wardrobe were specially designed as one unit to create a sense of uniformity.
See these small cottage designs
Size: 43.6 square metres (470 square feet); living area and kitchen; 1 master bedroom; 1 guest-room-study-TV room; 1 bathroom
Interior architect: Sameer Balvally and Shilpa Jain Balvally, Studio Osmosis
In the centre of this home, a fully equipped, modular kitchen shares space with a tiny living area that flows into a bedroom. All bulky sofas were done away with, so as to create a sense of space. A neutral palette of beige, brown and grey was chosen to further open up the home. Translucent glass folding doors separate the bedroom from the rest of the home – these can be pulled back whenever required. The guest room also acts as a study or TV room. The bathroom door, storage space and wardrobe were specially designed as one unit to create a sense of uniformity.
See these small cottage designs
5. Location: Australia
Size: 8 square metres (86 square feet)
Designer and builder: Emmet Blackwell of The Woodbutcher
This tiny house on wheels not only shows how to make the most of the small space available but also how to live sustainably. The mobile home accommodates a comfortable bed, a basic kitchen, a hot camp shower and a charging port. The structure is made from salvaged materials and recycled trash. The roof of the home doubles as a water catchment system. The multicoloured geodesic dome window was inspired by a similar window on another house in Australia – it gives a decorative touch to the house.
Next to the bed is a kitchen sink recycled and free, from Gumtree. The backsplash is made of a pressed-tin panel found in a pile of scrap in an alleyway in Melbourne. The interior walls are a combination of cypress, Oregon and cedar timbers, all whitewashed with natural milk paint.
See more of this modern, tiny house
Read more:
4 Indian Apartments That Make the Most of Less Space
Tell us:
Do you have a tiny house, too? Tell us how you’ve planned and decorated it, in Comments below.
Size: 8 square metres (86 square feet)
Designer and builder: Emmet Blackwell of The Woodbutcher
This tiny house on wheels not only shows how to make the most of the small space available but also how to live sustainably. The mobile home accommodates a comfortable bed, a basic kitchen, a hot camp shower and a charging port. The structure is made from salvaged materials and recycled trash. The roof of the home doubles as a water catchment system. The multicoloured geodesic dome window was inspired by a similar window on another house in Australia – it gives a decorative touch to the house.
Next to the bed is a kitchen sink recycled and free, from Gumtree. The backsplash is made of a pressed-tin panel found in a pile of scrap in an alleyway in Melbourne. The interior walls are a combination of cypress, Oregon and cedar timbers, all whitewashed with natural milk paint.
See more of this modern, tiny house
Read more:
4 Indian Apartments That Make the Most of Less Space
Tell us:
Do you have a tiny house, too? Tell us how you’ve planned and decorated it, in Comments below.
Size: 32 square metres (340 square feet); 1 bedroom studio
Interior design: Stephen Killcoyne, of Allen + Killcoyne Architects
This tiny house interior is full of plenty of space-saving ideas. To ensure a seamless flow of spaces, Killcoyne limited the palette to rift-cut oak floors, maple cabinets and white paint, which easily integrate with one another.
Here, a kitchen, a work area, a bedroom and a TV unit are all accommodated within an open-floor plan. The bed is tucked behind a louvred wooden partition that partially hides the sleeping area, while the kitchen occupies another corner, equipped with a few appliances and light wood cabinets.
Browse through images of cool tiny houses