If you’re reading this, chances are you live in a house with little to no additional space. That’s why ADUs (accessory dwelling units) are becoming increasingly popular — because they allow homeowners to add an affordable secondary unit that doesn’t take up much space. Whether it’s a converted garage, an above-ground cabin, or something else entirely, ADUs give home owners the opportunity to add a secondary dwelling unit on their property. With that said, adding an ADU to your property isn’t exactly easy. It involves a lot of permits, inspections, and other regulations. But once you clear all those hurdles and get things started, adding an ADU can be pretty simple...just like any other new addition to your home.
How to Make Your ADU Feel Big
First and foremost, make sure you’re actually maximizing space in your ADU. If you’re not, it’s nearly impossible to make the space feel big. When it comes to maximizing space in your ADU, you want to focus on three main things: layout, storage, and functionality. The layout of your home is one of the most important factors when it comes to maximizing space. Try to create an open floor plan between your main residence and your ADU. Not only does this make it feel more open and connected, but it also allows for the flow of natural light and air flow. When it comes to maximizing space, storage is key. If your ADU has a small layout and minimal windows, you’ll want to find creative ways to store items. When designing your storage, try to avoid a cluttered look. Make sure that everything has a place and is organized in order to maintain a clean and spacious look. Last but not least, your ADU should be functional. This doesn’t just relate to aesthetics — you want your ADU to be functional in more ways than one. That means making sure your ADU is easy to navigate, has functioning appliances, and of course, provides ample lighting. Putting in the extra effort to make your ADU functional will make it feel much more spacious and functional.
Stay Organized and Make the Most of Small Spaces
When it comes to staying organized and making the most of small spaces, two words come to mind: vertical storage and white space. White space is your best friend when it comes to organizing small spaces. You want to make sure that you get rid of unnecessary items that only clutter up your space. You want to get rid of any items that you don’t use and make sure that everything that you do use is neatly organized. Organizing your space vertically is another great way to make the most of a small space, try using vertical storage wherever possible. This will significantly cut down on the clutter in your space and make it feel more spacious.
Add Light and Windows
Adding light and windows is one of the easiest ways to make your ADU feel big. Not only does it allow for the flow of natural light (which is important!), but it also helps to make the space feel more open and spacious. When designing your ADU, try to add windows in the following areas:
- Front Door: The front door is the first thing that people see when they enter your home. Adding a large window to the front door is a great way to add light and color to the entrance of your home.
- Kitchen: The kitchen is typically where people spend the most time in. For this reason, it’s important to maximize natural light in the kitchen. Adding a large window to your kitchen is a great way to bring in extra light and make your kitchen feel more spacious.
- Bedroom: People typically want a bedroom that is dark and quiet. For this reason, it’s important to add windows to the bedroom, but make sure to keep them shaded so that they don’t disrupt the darkness.
Go Light With Color and textures
If you choose to bring in extra light through windows, you don’t have to go with a bright and vibrant color scheme. Instead, try to go with a light and neutral color palette with pops of color here and there. When it comes to colors, darker colors will make your space feel smaller, whereas lighter and neutral colors will help to make your space feel bigger. If you decide to go with neutral colors, you can always add pops of color through textiles, furniture, and other household items.
Install a Fan
Last but not least, you should install a fan in your ADU. Not only will it help to keep the air flowing and your home feeling fresh, but it will also help to make your ADU feel bigger. Why is that? Well, fans will help to circulate the air and make the space feel more open and spacious. There are a variety of fans to choose from depending on your space, including table fans, pedestal fans and wall fans.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, adding an ADU to your property can be a great way to make your home feel more spacious. However, it’s important to remember that it isn’t always easy to add an ADU to your property. That’s why you need to make sure you’re maximizing space, staying organized, adding light, going light with colour and textures, and installing a fan in your ADU to make it feel big.
