A granny flat is a small area, so there are things you can do to make it feel more spacious.

 

These are important things to consider when designing a granny flat interior:

 

• Open Plan Designs
• Multi-functional spaces
• Roof Cavities (if your design allows)
• Built-In Storage Solutions
• Garages, Carports or Sheds
• A 2nd Storey or loft space
• Natural Light – Windows, Mirrors and Decks

 

Today I will talk about the best designs for small spaces, including how to make a small space feel bigger.

 

I will discuss how to incorporate an outside deck with indoor/outdoor living, how to consider passive Solar (sun light) and how the rooms should be laid out.

 

With all this content to cover, let’s get into it!

 

Best Designs for Small Spaces

 

A granny flat is a basically a small home.

 

The size you can build yours ranges from a minimum of 40 square metres to a maximum of 100 square metres, depending on your:

 

• State
• Council
• Property size and more.

 

Still, they are quite a small floor-space, so here are some ideas on the best designs for small spaces.

 

Combine Rooms

 

More commonly referred to as “open plan” designs, simply combining rooms can make a lot of extra space.

 

For example, you can have an open plan kitchen that connects to both the dining and living area.

 

 

As this picture shows, an open kitchen naturally flows into another space, without the use for any dividing walls.

 

 

Another example is combining the laundry and the bathroom, keeping all amenities in one area which:

 

• Assists those who are less mobile, such as the elderly.

 

 

Multi-Functional Spaces

 

As a granny flat is small, its’ spaces should be adaptable. So, a great idea is layouts that can be used in various ways.

 

Feel free to read up on architecturally designed spaces for inspiration.

 

 

 

A permanent staircase is not needed – only a drop-down ladder. This means no essential floor space is wasted.

 

Built-In Storage Solutions

 

In granny flats, it is a wise idea if all storage solutions such as shelving, and cupboards are designed in place from the start.

 

Some examples of great space-saving include:

Kitchen designs with cabinets along the full width of the kitchen wall, or
Practical bedroom designs with built-in shelves above the bed.

 

Add a Garage, Carport or Shed

 

You do not need to feel restricted by your square metre floor allowance. You are legally allowed to attach garages, carports, or sheds to your granny flat to extend it.

 

These areas are all classified as “non-habitable space”, meaning they:

 

• Will not be counted as part of your allowed living area, and
• You can add them to your granny flat without losing any floor area.

 

You can even build a 2-storey granny flat, meaning you are allowed:

 

• A double garage on the ground floor, and
• Your granny flat above it.

 

This provides you even more space, as your inclusions can be upstairs in your maximum allowed living area, such as:

 

• One, two, three, even four bedrooms. (If tightly packed in)
• A kitchen in an open plan living and dining area.
• Bathrooms, and
• A laundry.

 

For the regulations and more information on how you can achieve such a design, feel free to read about using garages to expand the size of your granny flat.

 

This talks about how, for even more room, you may be allowed a balcony upstairs.

 

 

 

Similar to a garage or carport, these are not “habitable area”, so they do not take any room from your floor space restrictions.

 

What is excluded from your floor space (what you are allowed to have in addition to your maximum space), is basically all external areas, such as:

 

• Decks, patios, porches, verandah’s, awnings, overhangs, or an alfresco.
• Garages/carports.
• Sheds.

 

How to Make a Small Space Feel Bigger

 

The number one solution to making a small space ‘feel’ bigger is to add more light.

 

This is achieved through the use of larger windows.

 

Although larger windows will not actually increase the amount of space in your granny flat, the natural light will:

 

• Give you more means to see, thus making the space feel bigger.
• Highlight focal points, whilst brightening compact or otherwise unseen spaces.
• Provide you with a view outdoors, making you feel closer to the outside world, which improves your emotions.

 

Though, this can be harder to achieve than you may think. You must also consider, for the purpose of:

 

1. Privacy – The size and transparency of the windows.
2. The view – The positioning of the windows (a good view is important, a blank wall will make you feel more cramped).
3. The direction of the sunlight – The orientation of your granny flat.

 

So, it can help to enlist the assistance of a professional designer to get exactly what you want.

 

 

You can see that this designer has made the best use of natural light; highlighting a part of the granny flat with a skylight.

 

And once your windows are in, you can make more of the light by using mirrors (such as in the example above as well).

 

Mirrors will throw back the light towards isolated areas, which will stop you from having dark spaces around the granny flat.

 

Enjoy suggestions on where to use these mirrors, and more ideas on how to make a space feel bigger.

 

How to Incorporate an Outside Deck with Indoor/Outdoor Living

 

A door that opens onto an outside deck should be considered, as it allows for:

 

• A perfect source of natural light.
• Lovely views.
• A great balance between indoor and outdoor living areas.

 

In other words, it “blurs the boundary” from the indoors to the outdoors.

 

This also makes the living area seem larger.

 

 

To make the most of the deck that leads off from the open plan living room, there are also different doors you can use.

 

 

And instead of using a “stacker door” such as in the photo above a large five panel bi-fold door, or french doors, will add:

 

• Personality and light to the living room.

 

Remember, a deck can be very large – it is a way to legally increase your otherwise allowed floor space.

 

So, when attaching a deck, the only things holding you back is setbacks, your yard space, and budget or course, as they can be expensive if you opt for man made decking or merbau timber as I did.

 

But to make a deck work for you, for the perfect balance between indoor and outdoor living, try to incorporate a door that suits your personal style.

 

What Colours Work Best for Smaller Dwellings

 

It is a common misconception that only light or white colours should be used in small dwellings.

 

But in a smaller home, there are many different colours from which you can choose that will still give it the appearance of a larger residence.

 

The key is cohesion, commonly called “flow”, which makes the spaces feel stylish and welcoming.

 

Here are a few different colours you can use in a granny flat.

 

Taupe

 

Taupe is a darker brown colour – between brown and grey. It is trendy and adds a dimensional feature to any living space.

 

So, it works in the kitchen, study, or even the living area. It looks great paired with other light colours, as this allows for a lot of natural light.

 

It can also be used in more than one way – paint your walls with this colour or include it in your decor.

 

Hazel

 

Hazel is a greenish-blue in colour. It is classic as well as ‘beachy’. Its’ benefit is that it works with many different shades.

 

So, you can use it in the kitchen with light colours and metallic’s, or in the guest bedroom with bold decor.

 

Pastel Blue

 

This lovely shade of blue works well in any spot you place it in, it is extremely adaptable. Use it in the bedroom or even the bathroom.

 

You can choose a lighter hue for a softer version, or a darker shade for a richer, bolder take.

 

The idea it to have the colour as the centre of your room, so highlight this hue by combining it with soft shades that don’t disrupt from it.

 

Grey

 

Grey is another colour that works well in any room, as it is very flexible.

 

It works extremely well in the kitchen.

 

This is as it gives the area a fashionable look – grey can add just enough colour to an all-white kitchen while still leaving it light.

 

The trick to using grey is having;

 

Bright, refreshing white throughout, which lightens the shade immediately, and a purple or blue undertone, which gives it a chic vibe.

 

Oriental Red

 

Red may seem as though it is a hard colour to work with as it is such a bold shade.

 

However, it actually works great in an otherwise neutral room.

 

The trick is to use it in small amounts, in decorative pieces, in rooms with great lighting.

 

This way it is fun and modern, but not overpowering.

 

Yellow

 

Yellow will make a big difference in any room.

 

It adds a splash of bright, bold drama and cheeriness to any room, regardless of the colours you already have in that room.

 

Yes, that’s right – if used correctly, yellow will work anywhere and make the room look bigger.

 

For example, a soft shade of yellow on the wall will bring a fresh, bright touch to a room.

 

Or, a yellow table will add a touch a brightness.

 

Patterns

 

Patterns are one of those decorative factors that a lot of people don’t quite know how to work with, or just don’t think will work in a small area.

 

But, if used correctly, a piece of pattern can make the space it is in look bigger.

 

The trick is to use similar patterns in similar colours, in small doses. Never use too many patterns in a small room.

 

Keep it simple by using similar colours to those already in the room, and you can get a great result.

 

Other handy hints are:

 

• Use clean, sharp, straight lines.
• Figure out the aesthetics you’re after (i.e. coastal or “Hamtons-esque”), then stick to that one style throughout.
• Balance is key – keep the deep, rich colours only in the essentials and you have perfected it!

 

Where Should Bedrooms be in Relation to Kitchen and Bathroom

 

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most difficult rooms to place, as they are the most complex.

 

This is because they need:

 

• Plumbing.
• Wiring, and
• Sometimes, structural modifications to support the toilet.

 

If possible, place each bathroom (that is, the main bathroom and a second bathroom if there is one);

• Back-to-back with the kitchen.

 

By sharing the same “wet wall” between the bathrooms and the kitchen, this;

• Reduces the length the pipe must run, and
• Streamlines the drain and vent stack connections.

 

Next, place each bedroom at the quietest part of the granny flat.

 

This is typically the part of the dwelling that is farthest away from the main home / primary road, as sound travels easily.

 

For the same reason, if you have more than one bedroom, having a living area between the bedrooms allowing for their separation is ideal.

 

See an example of a great design at Granny Flat Approvals.

 

Where Should the Living Room be in Relation to the Sun

 

This basis of this design is based on “passive solar heating”, which requires the living room to be north facing, so;

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Annual Report 2008 (DEHWA 2008), showed;

• Passive solar heating uses free heating directly from the sun to;

• Significantly minimise the estimated 40% of energy used in the typical Australia home on heating and cooling.

 

The best orientation is true north, but orientations of up 20 degrees west of north and 30 degrees east of north still work well.

 

 

What Position is Best to Face a Home

 

A home with the main living areas that are north facing has many advantages, including;

• These spaces can maximise the natural light as the sun moves from east-to-west.
• This access to the sunlight means you can get the most direct sunlight during the day, especially through winter when the sun is scarce.

 

Conclusion

 

It’s the little things that can make a big difference to your granny flat.

It’s crucial to consider the use of natural light when designing your granny flat – both through the use of windows, mirrors and orientation.

 

Just facing your granny flat, in particular the living areas, to the north, allows for more direct sunlight to enter where needed most.