Hubs, Occy and I live in a one-story home that’s roughly 1300 square feet. I couldn’t imagine living in a bigger space a) because I can’t imagine having to clean a bigger space, b) dwelling in a small space prevents the accumulation of “stuff” because, truly, there is no place to put it and c) I love the nest-like, cosiness of itty bitty living. Oh, and, our utility bills are itty bitty, too.
1. If you have to have a hallway (Robert is not a fan), enrich the pass-thru experience with bookcases, niches, photos, mirrors, art object, skylights or textures. Photo from Marilyn Weigner Associates, Inc.
2. Don’t close off rooms from each other unless you have to. Remove doors or knock down non-structural walls if you can.
3. Consider partial separations between rooms – arches, interior windows, half-walls, curtained spaces, interior columns, etc – to increase functionality. Photo from Landmark Builders, Inc.
4. Arrange the furniture in your home around your real-life activities rather than adhering to the rules of preconceived rooms. Look for the centers of action, then shape spaces around them.
5. If a door is necessary, but its “swing” takes up too much space or conflicts with something else, consider a sliding pocket door. Photo from Renovation Headquarters.
6. Include connections to the outdoors via windows, skylights, glass doors.
7. Build outdoor rooms that are just as livable as indoor rooms. Patios, decks, picnic tables, outdoor showers can all enhance an outdoor space. Photo from This Old House.
8. Plan lighting to create pools of light as opposed to uniform lighting, but be sure to make illumination appropriate to the tasks that take place in each room – office, cooking, etc.
9. Make use of non-room spaces such as window seats, sleeping alcoves, built-in benches and recessed shelves. Photo from ApartmentTherapy.
