Home Designs That Pack More Into a Small Footprint

This article first appeared in the November/December 2021 issue of Pro Builder.

If there’s a magic formula for designing homes that “live bigger” than their measured square footage, I don’t believe any of us in the residential design profession have yet to discover it.

While the initial thought is to have as many spaces as physically large as possible, that’s not always the most successful approach. In fact, creating the perception of space is far more complex than just manipulating room widths and depths. Details such as the number, size, and placement of windows and doors play a huge role. Ceiling heights, floor coverings, and even wall colors are all part of various approaches that combine to make a smaller home feel spacious and also to function as it should.

The following designs target various markets and lot sizes, but each utilizes strategically placed windows, smart traffic flow, and overall functionality to create comfortable homes that all seem a bit larger than their actual square footage.

Plan 1 at One 90

DESIGNER: Dahlin Group Architecture | Planning, marketing@dahlingroup.com, 925.251.7200

DIMENSIONS: Width: 31 feet / Depth: 37 feet / Living area: 1,917 sf

One 90 is a new community on the site of a former business park wedged between a creek and an existing residential neighborhood. It offers a mix of two-story detached residences and three- and four-story townhomes and flats. A new trail along the adjacent creek with hardscaping, seating, and native plants ends at a dog park, as well as connecting to other local amenities, play spaces, lawns, communal grills and tables, and a garden.

Among the detached product, called Borelle, Plan 1 is a two-story, three-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath single-family home that offers quality livability thanks to efficient use of space and plenty of windows to bring in natural light.

Plan 1 at One 90 by Dahlin Group, first floor plan

A. A convenient powder room provides a place to clean up before entering the heart of the home

B. The spacious L-shaped gathering room and café offer long sight lines but also clear separation of uses

C. A covered, lanai-style patio with stacking glass doors extends living spaces outdoors

D. The kitchen island has plenty of space for meal prep and informal seating for a snack, studying, or work

E. A shared bathroom features dual sinks separated from the toilet and shower/tub, allowing for privacy and simultaneous use

F. The owner’s suite features a walk-in closet and primary bath with separate shower, tub, and water closet

Plan 1 at One 90 by Dahlin Group, second floor plan

Plan 1 at One 90 by Dahlin Group, outdoor living

Plan 1 at One 90 by Dahlin Group, front elevation

Carolyn

ARCHITECT: Todd Hallett, AIA, TK Design & Associates, thallett@tkhomedesign.com, 248.446.1960

DIMENSIONS: Width: 46 feet / Depth: 49 feet / Living area: 2,200 sf

This Dollhouse-style plan is a perfect example of how to make a home feel a bit larger than its 2,200 square feet suggests, thanks to long sight lines; an easy, logical flow; multipurpose spaces; and clever car storage.

Carolyn house plan design by TK design& Associates

TK Design & Associates' Carolyn home design, first floor plan

A. Open sight lines throughout the home provide the illusion of distance

B. Breaks in the architecture create a processional flow that enriches the experience of moving through the home

C. A flex room can easily be converted from an office into a fifth bedroom

D. The prep kitchen offers a space designated for not only prep but actual cooking, so the main kitchen can be a stylish space for socializing

E. The three-car tandem garage accommodates a third car while maintaining reasonable lot size width

Carolyn house plan design by TK design& Associates, second floor

Old Mill No. 25

DESIGNER: Larry W. Garnett, FAIBD, larrygarnett@larrygarnettdesigns.com, 254.205.2597

DIMENSIONS: Width: 64 feet, 4 inches / Depth: 68 feet, 8 inches / Living area: 1,780 sf

Reminiscent of early farmhouse designs, this home’s casual exterior features a combination of horizontal and vertical siding. Inside, 10-foot ceilings combine with expansive windows in the main living areas to create a space that seems much larger than the actual room dimensions.

With the spacious primary bedroom and bath, the overall house “lives bigger” than its 1,780 square feet.