My wise mother, Wendy, has a saying about big houses, 'it's just more to clean'. And yet Australians now have the largest average house sizes in the world. No wonder we feel like we never have enough time! So, home builders, take a leaf out of Wendy's book and eschew all that extra space in favour of something more compact, so you can spend more time drinking wine and less time scrubbing the bathroom. Here are some small house plans for inspo...
Copper House: Quality Trumps Quantity in this Small House of Rich Materials
With a floor plan of just 60 square metres, this two-bedroom house is considered small by Australia's bloated standards. In reality, it contains all the essentials in a compact and space-efficient package. Plus, it melds comfortably into a difficultly steep site. Copper House is doing a lot within a small package!
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The Studio: Mighty Mouse Apartment Punches Above Its Weight
Apartments, Black Kitchens, Joinery, Black Tapware, Concrete Floors, Sliding Door
If you're a single guy (or gal) living in one of the world's most expensive cities, affording a place of your own probably seems like an impossible dream, right? This studio renovation helps to prove that wrong, transforming a dated and poorly planned apartment into a Might Mouse-inspired bachelor's pad.
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JR's Hut: A Unique Place to Retreat When You Can't People Anymore
Looking a little like the classic A-frame tent, but a lot more luxurious inside, JR's Hut is your refuge. As the architect says, "It is a place to switch off, quite literally, and forget about the distractions of modern life."
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Moonlight Cabin: A Tiny But Perfectly Detailed Beachside Cabin
Moonlight Cabin is a small footprint, 60 square metre shelter that explores the boundaries of how small is too small, challenging conventional notions of what is actually necessary in our lives. It is designed to be passively environmentally responsive, ultimately reducing energy use and running costs while maximising living (and enjoyment of those views).
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Flinders Lane Apartment: Space Efficient Apartment Renovation
Joinery, Plywood, Sliding Door, Bedrooms, Kitchens
At just 75 square metres, this apartment renovation is compact. But thanks to high ceilings and abundant natural light from windows along three of the four walls, the space feels open and light. This open, functional redesign utilises readily available, affordable materials like plywood to make the most of a small space and a modest budget.
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Keppera House: Keperra House: A Granny Flat Even The Young Want to Live In
Sometimes downscaling is seen as synonymous with downgrading. In this case, smaller isn't a dirty word. The client made the choice to downscale his three-bedroom home to a much smaller, single occupant building. By building a 'Granny flat' in the backyard, he was able to leverage his investment and take better advantage of an amazing site that overlooks a creek reserve - all without changing his postal address!
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Prospect House: A Galvanised Nugget for a Gold Prospector and His Family
Country Homes
On a windy and exposed site, nestled behind a hill, sits a metal-clad nugget; a home for a gold prospector and his family. Looking a bit like a country tin shed, this small house uses galvanised steel and raw ironbark cladding to nestle into the landscape, feeling like it's excavated from a contour.
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Samford Valley Small House: This Modern Tropical Home is a Granny Flat for a Hip Elderly Couple
Large open decks make this compact home feel spacious and connect to the lush sub-tropical garden. In this friendly climate, the decks can be used as extra living space virtually all year. With large sliding doors, the front deck is designed as an extension of the living area, making a modest living space feel much larger than it is in reality and bringing the outdoors in.
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Pump House: A Compact Off-Grid Home for Simple Living
Affordable Housing, Small Houses, Country Homes, Black Houses, Living Off The Grid
House Plans
Pump House is a compact, off-grid home for simple living. Owners and guests can enjoy a quiet night, a cup of tea and quality time with their horse, George. At just 62 square metres, this small house worries less about size and more about the beautiful surrounds.
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Darlinghurst Apartment: Proof Good Things Come in Small Packages
Apartments, Small Houses, White Houses, Black Kitchens, Joinery, Black Tapware, Timber Floors, Sliding Door, Kitchens
House Plans
The 27 square metre Darlinghurst Apartment is designed to comfortably accommodate a couple. Through high-quality design, it provides an affordable option for inner city living and challenges the need for urban sprawl…
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Footscray Apartment: Renovated for More Flexibility and Light
Concrete Floors, White Kitchens, Pendant Lighting, Kitchens, Dining Areas, Concrete Houses, Bold Colours, DuPont™ Corian®
House Plans
When you're dealing with a small space it's more important than ever to think about light and flexibility to make your home feel spacious and work more efficiently. This pretty typical apartment in Footscray was cleverly renovated into a light-filled and flexible home...
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Tintaldra: A Tiny Self-Sufficient Cabin in Rural Australia
Sitting quietly on the banks of the mighty Murray River in Victoria, Australia, with the Snowy Mountains as a backdrop is this prefabricated, self-sufficient cabin. With everything you need in 65 square metres, it's the perfect small home design.
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Sled House: A House You Can Relocate With a Tractor?
Beach Houses, Timber Houses, Folding Doors, Window Shutters, Steel Windows
On the idyllic white sand of New Zealand's Coromandel Peninsula lies a stylish double-storey hut.
Built on a sled.
The whole area is within a coastal erosion zone, meaning all structures must be removable and that concept has been taken very seriously. The small home sits on two sleds, making relocating it with a tractor a cinch (BYO tractor). Movable or not, this is a space efficient and stylish beach retreat.
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House 28: Shipping Container House Floats Among the Trees with Ocean Views
House 28 is a deceptively simple small house made from two shipping containers which clings precariously to the hillside, taking in stunning views of the ocean. Measuring just 70 square metres, the two-bedroom home packs a lot into a small space.
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Gogo Bach: Two Uninspiring Cabins Bought for a Steal Become a Stylish Retreat
Separated by a 7-metre deck, two cabins originally bought for a bargain have been transformed into a stylish and practical small home.
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World's First Carbon Positive Prefab House Drops into Melbourne
This carbon positive, prefabricated, house represents a new movement — the carbon positive house provides the option for a more environmentally-conscious design, through both reducing embodied energy that accompanies new-home construction and maintaining positive-energy production.
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Sawmill House Rethinks Waste Materials to Create Raw, Rustic Beauty
Befitting a regional sculptor based in Yackandandah, Sawmill House is a compact handcrafted upgrade from his existing, rather rustic bohemian abode.
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Musk: A Perfectly Proportioned Prefab Cabin Secluded in a Forest Clearing
Country Homes, Timber Deck
Musk is a stylish modern prefab cabin designed as a secluded retreat to relax and enjoy 360-degree views of natural Victorian bushland. The design is broken into two separate modules — a practical way to construct the prefab house. A covered deck area separates the two modules.
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Tell us, which is your favourite compact floor plan?
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or preferences. However, I can provide information related to the concepts used in this article. Let's go through each concept mentioned in the article:
Copper House:
Copper House is a small two-bedroom house with a floor plan of just 60 square meters. Despite its small size, it is designed to efficiently utilize space and provide all the essential features. The house is built on a difficult and steep site, demonstrating its adaptability to challenging environments.
The Studio:
The Studio is a renovation project that transforms a dated and poorly planned apartment into a modern and functional living space. It is designed with a compact layout and incorporates black kitchens, joinery, black tapware, concrete floors, and sliding doors. This renovation project proves that small spaces can be creatively utilized and offer comfortable living arrangements.
JR's Hut:
JR's Hut is a unique retreat designed to provide a place of relaxation and escape from the distractions of modern life. Resembling a classic A-frame tent, the interior of the hut is luxurious and offers a switch-off atmosphere.
Moonlight Cabin:
Moonlight Cabin is a tiny beachside cabin with a small footprint of 60 square meters. It challenges conventional notions of space and explores how small is too small. The cabin is designed to be environmentally responsive, reducing energy use and maximizing enjoyment of the surrounding views.
Flinders Lane Apartment:
Flinders Lane Apartment is a compact apartment renovation project that utilizes affordable materials like plywood to make the most of a small space and modest budget. With high ceilings and abundant natural light, the apartment feels open and spacious despite its size of 75 square meters.
Keppera House:
Keppera House is a granny flat built in the backyard of a three-bedroom home. The client chose to downscale and leverage their investment by building a smaller, single-occupant building. The granny flat offers a comfortable living space and takes advantage of the site's scenic creek reserve.
Prospect House:
Prospect House is a metal-clad home designed for a gold prospector and their family. It is situated on a windy and exposed site and uses galvanized steel and raw ironbark cladding to blend into the landscape. The small house feels like it's excavated from the terrain, offering a cozy and unique living experience.
Samford Valley Small House:
Samford Valley Small House is a modern tropical home designed as a granny flat for an elderly couple. The large open decks connect the home to the sub-tropical garden, providing extra living space. The design incorporates large sliding doors to create an indoor-outdoor flow and make the living area feel more spacious.
Pump House:
Pump House is a compact, off-grid home designed for simple living. It offers a peaceful and self-sufficient lifestyle with a focus on the beautiful surroundings. The small size of the house, measuring just 62 square meters, allows for a closer connection with nature.
Darlinghurst Apartment:
Darlinghurst Apartment is a 27 square meter small apartment designed to comfortably accommodate a couple. It provides an affordable option for inner-city living and challenges the need for urban sprawl. The apartment emphasizes high-quality design and efficient use of space.
Footscray Apartment:
Footscray Apartment is a small space that was cleverly renovated to maximize light and flexibility. The renovation transformed the apartment into a light-filled and flexible home, utilizing features like concrete floors, white kitchens, pendant lighting, and bold colors.
Tintaldra:
Tintaldra is a prefabricated, self-sufficient cabin situated on the banks of the Murray River in rural Australia. With a size of 65 square meters, it offers everything one needs in a small home design and provides a peaceful retreat in a scenic location.
Sled House:
Sled House is a stylish double-story hut located on New Zealand's Coromandel Peninsula. The small home is built on sleds, making it easily relocatable with a tractor. The design focuses on space efficiency and provides a stylish beach retreat.
House 28:
House 28 is a small house made from two shipping containers, offering stunning ocean views. With a size of just 70 square meters, the two-bedroom home utilizes the containers efficiently to provide a comfortable living space.
Gogo Bach:
Gogo Bach is a stylish and practical small home created by transforming two uninspiring cabins into a single dwelling. The cabins, originally purchased at a bargain, have been redesigned to provide a functional and aesthetically pleasing living space.
World's First Carbon Positive Prefab House:
The world's first carbon-positive prefab house represents a new movement in environmentally conscious design. The house aims to reduce embodied energy associated with new-home construction and maintain positive-energy production.
Sawmill House:
Sawmill House is a compact handcrafted upgrade from a rustic bohemian abode. The house incorporates waste materials creatively to create a raw and rustic aesthetic, reflecting the work of a regional sculptor based in Yackandandah.
Musk:
Musk is a modern prefab cabin designed as a secluded retreat in the Victorian bushland. The design is broken into two separate modules, with a covered deck area separating them. The cabin offers a stylish and peaceful escape with 360-degree views.
These are the concepts mentioned in the article. Each concept represents a small house or apartment design that showcases efficient use of space and creative solutions for compact living.
