Savvy Renovation Tips to Make the Most of a Smaller Property

Whether you purchased an investment property with the intention of expanding and remodelling, or you’ve outgrown the space quicker than you thought you would, there are ways to maximise your available space without needing to put your property on the market.

A well-designed smaller property can often appeal to tenants and with these renovation tips, you’ll feel as though you’ve doubled your floor space without giving up your investment.

Redecorate with neutral colours

One way to revamp your property without needing to knock down walls or extend your property is to give the illusion of more space through clever colouring.

Your colour scheme can play an integral role in how big or small your property looks and feels, and it’s an affordable way to transform your property. Colour is great for adding personality to your property and making it unique to you, but if you have a smaller property, the wrong shade can be overbearing.

Neutral colours are ideal for opening a room up and making a space feel bigger, so stick to white and cream, pale greys and beige, which will give the impression of a larger room. If you want to add colour, do so through accents and furniture pieces that won’t overcrowd your property as much as colour on the walls can.

Make the kitchen multi-use

The kitchen is the heart of the home, so it needs to be functional. If you have a smaller property, chances are the kitchen space is limited, so you want to make it as practical and multi-purpose as possible. Wooden worktops are durable and can serve as food preparation areas, breakfast bars to dine or socialise at, and kitchen island work surfaces that can be moved around, and they work with a range of different décor styles.

Think about how you use the kitchen and build the layout around a tenant’s lifestyle. For example, many of us are passionate cooks, installing plenty of counter space for preparing meals is essential. But if the kitchen is more of a social area for entertaining friends and family, a movable kitchen island might be more practical and gives you the opportunity to install more cupboards and storage.

Go vertical

When we’re planning your property layout, we often plan horizontally and create layouts based at hip level. But you could be missing out on a lot of under-utilised space if you avoid vertical layouts, such as over doorways or above furniture.

From bookcases and cabinets to floor-to-ceiling wardrobes that provide you with far more storage space, think vertically when you’re designing a room and consider how you can make use of the wall space you have available that’s not currently being put to good use. For example, instead of having a freestanding desk, why not install a wall-mounted desk with shelving above that can maximise floor space without you giving up your work area.

Get creative with hidden features

Maximising space in a smaller property is often less about getting rid of things and more about getting creative with the features you have. For example, replace standard doors with pocket doors which will slide into the wall when they’re not being used to free up floor space and take up much less room, without you having to give up the door completely. Sliding barn doors are also a great option for small rooms that still provide privacy but take up less room.

Similarly, hide your TV inside a cabinet or install it on a shelf on a floor-to-ceiling bookcase, turn bay window seats into storage and build shelving into alcoves. The less furniture you have on your floor, the bigger a room will appear and the more space you’ll have to play with.

Open up the layout

A smaller property can benefit from a more open-plan layout which can be achieved by taking down connecting walls between rooms, such as between your kitchen and dining room, or by connecting them through interior windows or pass-throughs.

This renovation project is a bit more complex, but it can do wonders for creating more space and making your investment property feel more cohesive and convenient. This will also flood your property with more light which can be a game-changer if your property feels cramped and shady.

Final thoughts

With the minimalism trend still riding high and the tiny house movement in full force, having a smaller property is the goal for many landlords. But whatever you’re lacking in square meterage, you can make up for in creativity and careful planning that will ensure you’re using every inch of your property to its full potential.