Doing more with less: Small home renovation ideas

by Judy Szablak 02/12/2023

Small home renovation ideas are helpful when you need a change without a complete overhaul. There are many projects you can choose from to improve your living space, whether it be building a walk-in closet, adding a kitchen island or changing light fixtures.

If you're in need of some ideas for a small house renovation, here are some ways to get started:

Open the floor plan

Interior walls divide small rooms and can eliminate many useful storage and circulation features. The same applies to kitchens in older houses, where the rooms were once thought to be isolated from the living room.

In case the kitchen and dining rooms adjoin each other but are separated by a wall, try removing the wall to open the space. In living areas close to the kitchen, the wall can be removed, so there are greater connections within each room of the home. 

Removing walls can also help exterior window lighting in a wider area and improve the house's overall appearance.

Repurpose unused or underused space

If the rooms in a small house don't have any particular function, think about repurposing them. The next step is reviewing the building process for the potential to increase the size, which will help you create additional space.

Some places with great opportunity for improving usable space are the garage, attic or basement.

Revamp a closet

Closets are incredibly important in daily life, so why not make them the best they can be? Simple DIY wardrobe revamps can improve your efficiency and allow for better storage.

Start with removing everything in the closet and replacing the interior walls with colorful patterns and colors. Choose functional items which offer multiple storage options, such as hanging shelves, storage boxes or drawers.

Incorporate banquette seating

For a practical and economical kitchen renovation, increase the size of the room by adding padded banquette chairs. Banquettes are a good way to save space, since most include built-in cupboards and storage cabinets. Add banquette seating to your island and transform it into a comfortable room for you to enjoy a quiet meal with friends.

Use built-ins where furniture would be too bulky

Functional storage spaces are essential for the small house. Built-in systems are designed to maximize spaces where furniture is inaccessible and can be customized according to room requirements. 

Shelving under the wall is the best solution to create optimum storage. Cabinetry is an excellent way of containing items, and it also keeps the home clean and tidy.

Add a sliding barn door

Using sliding barn doors for a hidden storage space in a dining and kitchen area makes for a beautiful and functional solution for your home interior. These sliding doors can be easily installed and even made DIY. 

Choose a design that will add to existing accents of the house. Or, paint your sliding door in a contrasting color to add drama to the room.

These are only a few ways you can upgrade your interior space without going overboard on remodeling. Whether you want to create more space or add better functionality to your home, these project ideas are the perfect way to begin.



About the Author
Author

Judy Szablak

With over 30 years in the industry, Realtor Judy Szablak has been on national television for her real estate expertise on the HGTV Network, featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio "Morning Living” , NPR radio as an expert real estate panelist, It’s Relevant News channel, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal for her in depth knowledge of Fairfield County Connecticut real estate.

She was also on the local NPR radio station (WSHU) as a Fairfield County CT real estate expert. Judy has provided multiple online respected news sources with her real estate expertise including The Daily Easton, The Daily Weston, The Daily Fairfield, The Daily Stamford and The Daily Greenwich, as well as in print in the New York Post. She is a weekly Real Estate Columnist for WestportNow.com, another real estate column "Real Estate With Judy” is syndicated through Hearst CT Media Online and seen in The Connecticut Post, The Danbury News-Times, The Stamford Advocate, The Greenwich Time, The Hour, Fairfield Citizen, Westport News, Darien News, New Canaan News and the Wilton Villager.

 Judy is also the author of the book, The Art of Buying or Selling a Home, available at all major book retailers. Additionally, Judy has been nationally recognized in a number of national real estate trade magazines, some with distribution to over 1 million members. She was featured in Real Estate Today as early as 1994 for her commitment to, and implementation of technology in real estate. Judy appeared in the Certified Residential Specialist Magazine, as she provided advice on marketing strategies and ethics in the article titled "Marketing Makeovers.”

 Judy was also featured in REALTOR® Magazine, regarding image enhancement for Realtors. She was again featured in REALTOR® Magazine, in an article on "Achieving Flow” and operating at optimal peak performance. In another article in the same publication, Judy offered guidance to fellow real estate professionals as she explored the topic of implementing and maintaining personal websites. She has appeared in The Council of Residential Specialists Magazine, which featured her ideas regarding technology. Additionally, Judy authored an article on marketing and technology for the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Online Magazine. On two occasions, in 2015 and 2017, she appeared as a featured agent in Top Agent Magazine. I have a few other websites- www.TheCtrealtyBlog.com www.CtHomesAndRealEstate.com www.BestWestportHomes.com www.ThePetitePowerhouse.com www,SzablakConsulting.com