Home improvement sales are projected to increase from $349 billion (2018) to $465 billion (2022). Why? Most homeowners have home improvement in mind, and only 11% are looking to increase their property value.
That’s right, most homeowners renovate for their own benefit. After all, one of the best parts about owning your own home is having the freedom to customize it to your own needs and tastes!
What do you do if your house is on the smaller side? Small properties present unique challenges and leave many homeowners feeling limited and frustrated.
That’s why we’ve put together 9 house remodeling ideas for small homes. No matter your square footage, you deserve to live in the home of your dreams. Read on for inspiration!
1. Increase Kitchen Storage
Depending on how old your home is, the kitchen may not be as well-designed as it could be. As appliances and design preferences have changed over time, previous owners may have created a hodgepodge of storage and counter space that doesn’t maximize the room.
If your fridge was never recessed into the wall or cabinet areas, now’s your chance to make a change. Hire builders to construct custom cabinets that fit around your fridge so that dead floor space can hold pantry goods, dishes, and more.
2. Open Up Kitchen Storage
Are you looking for a more open, fluid layout? Do you have plenty of cabinets to hide away your food but not enough space to display your gorgeous dish set?
If so, it’s time to tear down some of those cabinets and replace them with open hanging shelves. If you’re fantastic at staying organized and combining function with design, these open shelves will look marvelous in your kitchen–and make the room feel bigger.
3. Play with Color
One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to remodel is to give everything a new coat of paint. We don’t just mean the walls. Cabinets and interior doors can also benefit from a change in color.
Before you break out the brushes, make sure you have a cohesive color scheme. Remember that lighter colors have a tendency to make rooms look larger and airier. Darker colors, on the other hand, can give even new construction a classic, old-world feel.
4. Liven Up Old Floors
Whether or not you realize it, your flooring makes a huge impact on the overall feel of a room. It may be underfoot but it takes up a huge amount of surface area and does attract attention.
Nowadays, many homeowners are swapping out carpeting for exposed wood. It’s easier to clean, more polished in appearance, and never goes out of style. However, it’s important to remember that you should refinish old hardwood floor if you want to keep your home looking fresh and well-maintained.
5. Transform Outdoor Space
Okay, so your house is on the small size. Why not increase your livable space by transforming your backyard into an oasis?
Ditch the grass and install a patio. Add a grill, comfortable chairs, a fire pit, and a table to create the indoor-outdoor lifestyle you’ve always wanted. Add solar or twinkle lighting and some native, easy-to-manage plants so that every evening spent in the backyard feels like a true staycation.
6. Turn a Nook Into a Home Office
Owners of small homes often feel like they’re outgrowing their space within a matter of years. This is especially the case for anyone who works from home and has grown weary of creating multi-purpose rooms–like a guestroom-turned-office.
Scrutinize your space. Look for a nook that currently serves no real purpose. Maybe it’s at the end of a hallway or under the staircase.
Wherever your nook is, let it fulfill its destiny of becoming a functional home office! U-shaped desks, hanging shelves, and nesting tables will all come in handy here.
7. Turn Your Bathroom Into a Home Spa
So your small home may not have a big enough bathroom for that whirlpool bathtub you’ve always wanted. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t create a spa-like feeling at home.
If all you’re working with is a stand-up shower, don’t sweat it. Replacing the tile floor with teak will create the illusion that you’re stepping into a sauna every morning.
Consider what you love most in a spa: do you prefer light and airy or dark and calming? If you lean towards light and airy, install new white tiles on the shower walls and bathroom floor. If you prefer dark and calming, give black tile a try.
8. Make Your Entryway a Mudroom
No matter how small your entryway is, you can learn to maximize that space.
On one side of the door, install a storage bench and four-eight hooks. Use the storage bench for off-season coats, backpacks, and other items that tend to clutter your front hall.
One the other side of the door, install built-in shelves for shoes, mail, keys–anything you might dump on the way in or grab on the way out.
9. Draw the Eye with Accent Walls
Creating an accent wall breathes new life into a previously boring, unnoticed area of a bedroom, living room, or dining room. It can make a room appear larger and change the entire dynamic and flow.
Pick a color or pattern that stands out in your existing decor. While you want your accent wall to pop, it still needs to look cohesive with the rest of the room. Paint, hang wallpaper, or decorate your accent wall with framed prints, trinkets, and other items that create texture and visual appeal.
No Size Too Small With These House Remodeling Ideas for Small Homes
Remodels aren’t just for medium-sized to bigger homes. With these house remodeling ideas for small homes, you can get in on the action no matter the square footage you’re working with.
Are you curious about the construction side of real estate? Take a look at our current projects and blog posts to learn more about innovative construction and design.
