8 Home Improvement Ideas For Your Cabin, Tiny Home, Or Small Space!

Remodeling a tiny home, portable cabin, or small space requires a lot of innovative thinking. By keeping function, versatility, and creativity in mind, you can make the most of every square foot. No matter how small the space is!

If the tiny home movement has taught us anything, it’s that a lack of space is no longer a barrier to creating your dream home. Whether you’re looking to update, expand, or just create some extra storage space, these home improvement ideas offer crafty solutions that will transform your home into a highly functional hideaway bursting with personality and charm.

Optimize natural lighting

The more natural light, the more pleasant your tiny home will be. Natural light through windows and skylights expand sightlines beyond the home’s interior, preventing you from feeling cramped while trying to relax. So when designing your remodel, consider adding extra windows – or a skylight! – to bring more sunshine into your home and create a sense of openness.

Create functional outdoor areas

Creating the illusion of interior space with enhanced indoor-outdoor flow is a great way to live large in a small space! A large bi-fold or stacking door that opens out to a deck or patio area is an inexpensive, yet effective way to add extra living space without intruding on floor space inside. Attached decking is a popular modern feature that creates functional outdoor space and offers a perfect setting for relaxing in the open air.

Keep the ceilings high

While there is little floor space in a tiny home or cabin, a high ceiling creates vertical space that is both functional and decorative. A high ceiling opens up your tiny space to include sleeping lofts, office spaces, and lounging areas that don’t fit into the ground floor plan. If you intend to host guests or work out of your small or portable cabin, a high ceiling brings more opportunities to do so.

Include purposeful furnishings

The idea of tiny living is to eliminate excess. For every inclusion in your remodeling plan, ask yourself: is it useful? Do all furnishings have a purpose? Furnishings with dual functions such as fold-out sofas are great for getting around the challenge of needing two items but only having space for one. Furniture can be a major space hog, so make sure you have an intended purpose for each item.

Design unique storage spaces

The idea is to include storage wherever you can. While it’s important to install fixed storage such as cupboards and shelves, there are also more subtle storage opportunities in furnishings. It pays to think outside the square with storage and utilize every possible opportunity.

• Drawers under beds and sofas eliminate the need for dressers in small spaces.
• Pull-out storage from within wardrobes for extra space to keep personal belongings.
• Storage spaces under stairs create large areas for unused items and furniture.
• Drawers within stairs – every step is a drawer? Think how much storage space that creates!
• Hanging utensil racks in the kitchen utilizes wall space and frees up limited kitchen drawer space.
• Space-saving foldaway beds free up floor space during the day.
• Recessed bathroom wall storage removes protruding storage in small bathrooms.
• Overhead bookshelves optimize floor space at all times by installing shelving on walls.

Add mirrors

Mirrors reflect light, bouncing it to all corners of your small space. When placed correctly, mirrors can make a tiny home seem much larger while also providing a decorative feature.

As wall space is at a premium in many smaller homes, consider using mirrors in more subtle ways, such as backing for shelves or kitchen counters. This will bring in more natural light without taking up space that could be used for storage and wall art.

Use light, neutral colors

Walls and ceilings can feel like they’re closing in if painted in darker shades. While darker colors absorb light and make a space look smaller, light colors make a room seem larger and are more inviting. When choosing your color palette, opt for lighter colors that will keep your small space feeling fresh and open.

Make it yours

Last, but certainly not least, add your personal touch to your tiny home improvements. The beauty of remodeling a tiny home, cabin, or small space is that it’s affordable, giving you more freedom and flexibility in your renovation design.

This is your space, so make it your own.

With plenty of success stories from those living in tiny homes, we’ve overcome the idea that this lifestyle must be cluttered and cramped. With innovative designs that optimize every square foot, tiny homes are comfortable hideaways for anyone looking to simplify their life.

About The Author: Justin Jersey is a journalist, stylist and blogger. He is an aesthetician by heart who often writes about Art, Fashion, decorating and DIY ideas. He loves sparking creativity and giving them ideas for their own spaces.  Follow him on Twitter or Pinterest.

Photo by Cara Fuller on Unsplash