Have you decided to live in a granny flat? If you want to maximize the space, and still don’t know where to start, then you should plan everything first.
Granny flats are also called accessory dwelling units (ADU) since they’re usually added to a single property. These property owners add granny flats in their property when they need additional space for storage, as a room for guests, or rental purposes.
Furthermore, granny flats can be attached (or not) to the main house. You can also transform an old garage into one.
Going back to your planning process, if you’re living alone with a granny, it’s easier to decide where things should go, and to make your place clutter-free! So if you want to transform a simple granny flat to an amazing house, then check the list below!
1. Plan the rooms
Whether you’ve rented the granny flat or a relative let you live in it, you’ll need to plan its overall look. First, if you have existing furniture, you should measure if it can fit inside the granny flat. Otherwise, you’ll need to sell them and buy smaller pieces.
When planning the rooms, assign where you want to put the living room, kitchen, and bedroom. Of course, you need to think based on the space that you have.
So if you have limited space for the kitchen and living room, then you should just leave it open, and don’t use any divider because it might just make the space look smaller.
2. Use under the stairs as storage
As mentioned before, you may not have the ideal space where you can fit a lot of huge things so you should consider making use of free spaces. For instance, if the granny flat has stairs, then use the space under it as storage for your cleaning materials.
Are you a pet owner? You can also make use of the space under the stairs as your pet’s bedroom. Just make sure that it’s open so your pet can breathe easily.
Meanwhile, if the place doesn’t have stairs, then you can use the space under your bed as additional storage for your clothes. If that’s not enough, then you can also consider installing open shelves where you can put your collectibles like books.
3. Add hooks
Adding hooks to granny flats is an effective way to store things without making your place look messy, especially if there are high ceilings. With hooks, you can store kitchen wares and even bathroom essentials in the easiest way possible.
Another good kitchen trick you can use is hanging your herbal plants on your kitchen walls so you don’t have to put a rack for them. Make sure to add some hooks to different parts of the house because they’ll be useful for your everyday living, especially for the little things.
4. Choose furniture wisely
Have you ever seen videos on various social media platforms that showcase furniture that can be used for different purposes? If you haven’t, then a simple sofa bed can give you an idea of what it’s about.
Aside from that, nowadays, you can find a lot of pieces that can be used in many different ways. Some other examples are the table that can also be used as a small cabinet, and the couch that comes with a side table.
However, if you can’t find certain pieces that you like, you can always DIY or have them custom-made.
5. Let the natural light in
Isn’t it nice to wake up in the morning, and feel the sunlight coming inside your home? To experience that, you should consider adding more glass windows even just on the side where the sun usually rises.
Another option you can choose is adding glass walls just right below the ceiling so that the light can enter, but you can still enjoy your privacy. Aside from having enough sunlight, glass windows and walls can also make your place look bigger.
6. Think about sliding doors
Tired of your ordinary door that takes up a lot of space? Maybe it’s time to change it to sliding! So instead of the door, you can add a rack or hanging shelf right next to your new sliding door.
Aside from being a space saver, a sliding door will also make your granny flat look modern and clutter-free. Additionally, you can easily see the view outside if you also opt to change your main door to sliding.
7. Focus on ventilation
Similar to allowing more natural light to your home, ventilation is as important. Of course, you wouldn’t want a cute yet suffocating house, right? That’s why, if possible, you should open your windows during the day to let the air circulate inside your home.
If you’re worried about your privacy, you can always install some blinds or curtains. However, if you can just let your windows open for a couple of hours, make sure to install an exhaust fan.
Are you now excited to move into your granny flat? If you got everything figured out, then you should start packing! Whether it’s just for a few months or years, it’s important to make yourself feel at home in your current house. Don’t forget to share with us your tips to maximise the space when living in granny flats, by commenting below!
