What are some diy ideas for smaller houses?

Agnes Ferrer
by Agnes Ferrer
  9 answers
  • I have a small house and yard, just adapt any project to fit your space!

  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Nov 17, 2017

    Hi Agnes, what size home projects are you looking for? We have an old farmhouse that is more "medium sized"

  • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Nov 17, 2017

    My list for a small kitchen (and I’ve had several):

    1. Paint everything white or another light color you like.

    2. If you don’t have a window, hang a mirror or reflective decoration on a cabinet door. Besides reflecting light and making the area look larger, you can see what’s happening behind you.

    3. Get rid of EVERYTHING you don’t deal with food with, or you use as decor. If you want to keep something, put it in a box in another place. If Aunt Tilly asks, “It must be in storage. I can’t find it.”

    4. If you want a coffee or tea station, use a tray underneath large enough to hold your coffee pot and cups, and maybe coffee, creamer, sugar, plastic spoons, if you use these daily. This will take up counterspace, but less than the same items spreading out over a larger space. You might prefer a baking tray, a snack tray, a chopping/slicing tray, etc. If your tray is not heavy you might be able to keep it on top of the fridge or somewhere else off your counter, but nearby for use.

    5. Use every available space. Look up at cabinet tops, fridge tops, dryer tops. Look down at under tables, lowest cabinet shelves, oven drawers, etc. Look outward at window sills, back and front of cabinet and cupboard doors, cabinet corners, the kitchen door, etc. if you need the space, use it. I had a friend who kept the flat top of her fridge loaded with canned foods. She had a flat metal rooster in bright colors in front of the food. I visited a couple of times before I realized it, and I liked it.

    6. Keep it clean and clear. Put clean dishes away, clean off counters and other surfaces daily. Keep the dishes washed and rinsed as you go when you are cooking. (Yeah, sure.) Then put away.

    7. Use the cabinet fronts to make you happy to be in your home. Colorful potholders on a cup hook. A great calendar from Dollar Tree (sunsets, Hawaii, kittens?). Photos, postcards, lightweight frames. Etc!

    8. If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with! Kitchens included. 😇

  • 861650 861650 on Nov 18, 2017

    I put my microwave on top of the refrigerator. Frees up a lot of space.

  • 27524803 27524803 on Nov 18, 2017

    I bought a smaller microwave that is designed to go in a corner... and used the top of it for the toaster oven (on a cake rack for ventilation)

    A built in banquet in the corner with storage inside, a table with drop leaves to free up space to move around... lots of projects on here to free up counter space, or organize stuff ... just keep looking and use the stuff that works....

  • Mogie Mogie on Nov 19, 2017

    A microwave cart will give you some added room plus it will provide you with some storage space too. Just paint the microwave cart to match your cabinets and it should look like a built in.

  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Dec 11, 2017

    Many ideas can be reduced...what you use in a large house will work possibly in a small one...just according on what it is

  • Beni Beni on Apr 15, 2021

    When you’re planning the decorate rooms that are smaller than the average sizes, finding DIY projects that fit might not be easy. I disagree with the idea that you should adapt whatever project you choose to the size of the rooms available. Simply because DIY furniture, for one, can be quite large. Think of a pallet bed, for example, Pallets are large and bulky and if you don’t have enough room they can occupy most of the space available. The same can be said about bookshelves made out of crates.

    What you could do, is implement a storage system that occupies spaces that are already occupied. You can add storage beneath your bed, or on the wall behind a sofa. Alternatively, just add some shelves for books instead of a bookcase. The best ideas, however, if you want to create a spacious design in a small home are to paint everything white, use light to create the illusion of a bigger space, and limit the amount of furniture you use if possible.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jul 23, 2021

    Hello,

    Look for places you could create storage of any kind.