How to Live Big in Less Than 30 Square Metres
Feeling the love for your compact home happens with a combination of great design and the right mindset
For a small home to be really enjoyable to live in, good design is essential. When every square metre is under pressure, incorporating practical, space-efficient features will help what room there is to function well.
That said, enjoying small-space living also requires the right mindset and approach. From thinking carefully about what possessions you need, to maintaining a disciplined approach to tidiness, how you behave and think about your tiny home is almost as significant as how it’s equipped.
That said, enjoying small-space living also requires the right mindset and approach. From thinking carefully about what possessions you need, to maintaining a disciplined approach to tidiness, how you behave and think about your tiny home is almost as significant as how it’s equipped.
Knock out the ceiling
This is about boosting the sense of space and, potentially, using space in the roof apex creatively. This clever portable home measures just 27 sq m. Removing the ceiling has given it a feeling of airiness and openness, while a shelf fitted at the very top of the wall makes use of the vertical space.
Browse 10 small but perfectly formed kitchens
This is about boosting the sense of space and, potentially, using space in the roof apex creatively. This clever portable home measures just 27 sq m. Removing the ceiling has given it a feeling of airiness and openness, while a shelf fitted at the very top of the wall makes use of the vertical space.
Browse 10 small but perfectly formed kitchens
This off-grid bothy on a Scottish farm, which measures 28 sq m internally, employs the high-ceilinged approach. It’s made up of four eco pods, each with a distinctive pyramid roof and roof light.
The bothy’s pyramid roofs create a feeling of loftiness inside and help to make a compact arrangement feel more open, and consequently more enjoyable to use.
Tour the whole of this inventive little property
Tour the whole of this inventive little property
Max space with a mezzanine
Making more of the vertical space in a tiny home is a good way to take the pressure off floor space, and often key to creating an enjoyable place to live.
Overall roof height will dictate how tall your mezzanine can be, but even shallow spaces can work well as bedrooms or storage.
Get expert advice about adding a mezzanine floor to your home
Making more of the vertical space in a tiny home is a good way to take the pressure off floor space, and often key to creating an enjoyable place to live.
Overall roof height will dictate how tall your mezzanine can be, but even shallow spaces can work well as bedrooms or storage.
Get expert advice about adding a mezzanine floor to your home
Raise the floor
Raising a section of floor in a compact home can deliver several benefits. It helps to mark out and zone each functional area within an open-plan layout, and there’s space beneath the raised section for storage of furniture or other possessions.
Raising a section of floor in a compact home can deliver several benefits. It helps to mark out and zone each functional area within an open-plan layout, and there’s space beneath the raised section for storage of furniture or other possessions.
In this photo, you can see that a sofa, which also pulls out further to become a bed, is one of the things tucked into that clever raised space.
See more photos of this project
See more photos of this project
Just add mirrors
It’s the oldest trick in the book, but fitting a large mirror into a small spot creates the impression of a lot more space. In a very compact room, a mirror can cheaply and quickly make the difference between it feeling claustrophobic and being enjoyable to use.
Fitting mirror as a splashback is a smart trick to consider for a small kitchen.
It’s the oldest trick in the book, but fitting a large mirror into a small spot creates the impression of a lot more space. In a very compact room, a mirror can cheaply and quickly make the difference between it feeling claustrophobic and being enjoyable to use.
Fitting mirror as a splashback is a smart trick to consider for a small kitchen.
The Small-space Philosophy…
Splash out on marvellous materials
Your home may be small, but make it really special and a joy to be in by investing in its fabric. Why not splash out on luxe materials? When purchased in small quantities, they become more affordable.
This kitchen on a houseboat points the way. Its worktop and upstand are made from marble, a luxurious material that elevates this mini space into an enjoyable place to cook.
Splash out on marvellous materials
Your home may be small, but make it really special and a joy to be in by investing in its fabric. Why not splash out on luxe materials? When purchased in small quantities, they become more affordable.
This kitchen on a houseboat points the way. Its worktop and upstand are made from marble, a luxurious material that elevates this mini space into an enjoyable place to cook.
Invest in quality kit
Don’t let the dimensions of your home dictate the size and quality of the appliances and technology you fit into it. Scaling down your fridge or hob can lead to misery at every mealtime. So when it comes to the appliances you use every day, aim to make space for well-proportioned versions, so you can still happily cook and entertain, even when floor space is limited.
This converted shipping container has a Smeg fridge and full-size Rayburn range cooker.
Take a closer look at this impressive shipping container conversion
Don’t let the dimensions of your home dictate the size and quality of the appliances and technology you fit into it. Scaling down your fridge or hob can lead to misery at every mealtime. So when it comes to the appliances you use every day, aim to make space for well-proportioned versions, so you can still happily cook and entertain, even when floor space is limited.
This converted shipping container has a Smeg fridge and full-size Rayburn range cooker.
Take a closer look at this impressive shipping container conversion
Buy fewer but finer
Living successfully in a small home demands discipline around acquiring stuff. There simply isn’t space to store lots of things, so it’s important to keep possessions to a minimum if the space is to remain functional.
Instead of snapping up new pieces, why not shift the emphasis away from quantity and towards quality by buying fewer but better-made items. Cherish each piece you own, but make sure it earns its place in your home, too.
Living successfully in a small home demands discipline around acquiring stuff. There simply isn’t space to store lots of things, so it’s important to keep possessions to a minimum if the space is to remain functional.
Instead of snapping up new pieces, why not shift the emphasis away from quantity and towards quality by buying fewer but better-made items. Cherish each piece you own, but make sure it earns its place in your home, too.
Create a space for everything…
…and everything should stay in its place! You can’t leave storage to chance in a compact home. Create homes for all your everyday objects, from a shelf or rack for spice jars in the kitchen to a hook for keys by the front door.
That way, the temptation to leave things lying around (and the excuse for doing so) is gone.
What do you think are the secrets to enjoying life in a small home? Add your thoughts to the Comments below.
…and everything should stay in its place! You can’t leave storage to chance in a compact home. Create homes for all your everyday objects, from a shelf or rack for spice jars in the kitchen to a hook for keys by the front door.
That way, the temptation to leave things lying around (and the excuse for doing so) is gone.
What do you think are the secrets to enjoying life in a small home? Add your thoughts to the Comments below.
Stick to pale colours
Any rule about colour is there to be broken, but generally speaking, dark, saturated shades absorb light and make a space feel smaller. So by painting a petite pad white, you’re giving it the best chance to feel bigger and more open.
Add accent colours on soft furnishings or to pick up key, built-in features if you like.