Looking to buy a small home but need help figuring out where to start?
We've rounded up 20 of our favourite small homes, so you can gain inspiration for your next small house design.
Whether you're looking to downsize to a smaller house, or buy your first compact home, there's a design out there for everyone!
Let's dive in...
With interest rates increasing and the skyrocketing cost of living, it's no wonder so many Australians are opting for smaller homes.
The good news is, choosing a home with a smaller footprint doesn't automatically mean a cramped, uninspiring home.
Our specialty is homes that may look small on the outside but feel spacious inside.
To prove that not all small homes are made equally, we've put together some of our favourite small house designs to inspire your next abode.
This Baahouse + Baastudio home takes full advantage of every space, with clever additions like a study and laundry lining the hallway.
Perfect for the Queensland climate, this home features two decks, which serve as extra lounge spaces for a large portion of the year.
This Samford Valley small house is an excellent example of how you don't need to sacrifice what you want for a small home.
Anthony Hunt's design leans on the classic A-frame tent - but amped up.
This tiny house features sustainable Australian hardwoods and helps to make the 'ecohut' feel more at home amidst its surroundings.
The Large windows and front deck allow total admiration of the landscape so you can enjoy the quiet refuge.
This beach retreat challenges one to reflect on how much room we actually need.
The kitchen, bathroom and utilises are placed in a central pod, transforming the corridor into a crucial area.
With a tiny house plan of just 60m2, this home is designed to open up to the elements and fully appreciate an ever-changing landscape.
Waste not, want not, is the motto for Archier's Sawmill House, taking full advantage of the local resources.
Recycled blocks form the perimeter wall and feature an open and operable roof section, useful for summer breezes and heating in the winter.
Child-friendly additions are also present in this earthy design.
Reminiscent of an old workers' cottage, the Fitzroy North House 02 balances Fitzroy's vintage charm with modern functionality.
Rather than building around nature, the architects provide a new experience of "living within a garden and sleeping above it".
This stunning architecture shows you can handle luxury even with a small floor plan.
A small home on a large, rural lot, built with sustainability in mind.
Galvanised steel and raw Ironbark cladding seamlessly blend with its surroundings while it explores the simple way of life.
Prospect House is all about the outlook, from the large windows to the timber battened acoustic fabric.
This architecture includes high ceilings and abundant natural light to help make the most of a small space and a modest budget for this apartment renovation.
The apartment includes clever hidden storage throughout, and using plywood joinery defines spaces rather than creating walls.
Built on a very steep and tight block, the Copper House exudes a richness that would be otherwise unaffordable in a larger home.
Three sections of the home cleverly follow the hill's contour, and the unique butterfly roof allows for that perfect combination of natural lighting and privacy for the occupants.
Thoughtfully designed from a client's brief of wanting to downsize from the existing 3-bedroom cottage on their property, this home opens up the natural creek, amplifying the feeling of dwelling in nature.
The natural materials and low-maintenance life celebrate the simplicity of compact living, which this home design is perfect for.
When these buyers bought two cabins separated by a deck, they weren't sure what to make of it.
Transforming the deck into a covered living area turned these two cabins and the deck into a fully functioning family home, with the kitchen on one side and bedrooms on the other.
It's all about the surroundings with the Pump House, feeling a world away from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne city life.
Uniquely, the kitchen wraps around the bathroom in the centre of the house, creating a central zone with privacy given to the bedroom.
Ideal for a couple, this Darlinghurst apartment allows for inner-city living at an affordable cost.
The bedroom is separated from the lounge areas through a sliding door and step, providing a sense of seclusion despite their closeness.
With a floor area of just 27m2, this project shows how much you can accomplish in a small space.
Boardgrave Architects have entirely transformed your typical apartment with their unique design.
Multiple entrances to the bedrooms mean you can use them as is or turn them into a home office, cinema or other room.
Flexible living spaces turn this light-filled home into a highly functional and well-thought-out space.
This Modscape home operates entirely off the grid and offers a secluded yet intimate experience.
The shed-like exterior is a sharp contrast to the crisp white interior. It offers minimal environmental impact while remaining low maintenance.
This impressive small house sits on two sleds, making it easily movable if needed.
Large, folding shutters protect the home from the elements but also open up to enjoy the landscapes.
Timber is used unsparingly throughout the home, creating an inviting abode complete with a scenic roof deck.
This carbon-positive home shows what's possible in an ever-changing landscape by producing more energy on-site than it needs.
An indoor garden, many windows and a cooling tube make this home carbon-positive and offer a window to the future.
Made from 3 shipping containers, this home clings to the hillside and offers fabulous beach views.
The north side of this small house has fixings for plant wire, with the intention of the home camouflaging into the surrounding bushland.
Marine plywood is featured inside, providing natural warmth and durability.
Musk by Modscape is a perfectly proportioned home offering stunning 360-degree views of the Victorian bushland.
Dark accents such as the charcoal corrugated exterior and black oak flooring create the ideal place to bunker down for the weekend with a wood fireplace.
This GJ Gardner home is the perfect solution for families seeking a comfortable lifestyle in a compact space.
With four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a study, this home has it all.
The open-plan design means entertaining guests is no problem too!
It's a studio apartment you've probably never seen before.
This home by Nicholas Gurney is unique in that the sliding panels allow for a single zone in the house for you to use at any time.
It's perfect for inner-city living without the price tag.
When do think about your dream home, what do you see?
What makes a house a home for you? What things are on your wish list?
It's crucial to consider where your home fits your lifestyle.
You can opt for a more straightforward design if you live a lifestyle away from home often.
You may spend most of your time at home and need a place thoughtfully designed for your every need.
Creating a checklist of things that are a 'must' in your future home can be a helpful first step in choosing from small house plans.
One of the first things you'll need to consider is how many bedrooms and bathrooms you'll need.
You'll also need to consider the other things your family may need, like a study room or a large kitchen.
If you have family that visits a lot, consider multi-functional rooms such as an office with a foldout couch.
A small home doesn't mean restricting you to one living area.
You can create extra space through a second lounge room or a covered deck area with careful planning.
A double-storey home can be an excellent option for those looking for more spacious small homes, as the additional level creates more floor space without compromising land area.
The key to building a small home is clever, multi-functional spaces.
Sliding doors and hidden storage compartments can make the most significant difference in maximising space.
Turning blank walls into study spaces and storage areas is another way to maximise space in a small home.
If you're building a home on a small block, you may need a large backyard.
This is ideal for many people who prefer to avoid the maintenance that comes with lots of outdoor spaces.
Many small homes feature indoor gardens where you can give your green thumb a workout without the maintenance.
A deck can be a great way to increase your living spaces while creating an outdoor abode to get that fresh air.
From the list of homes above, it's clear that small homes don't automatically mean cookie-cutter designs.
When considering the architecture for your small home, the world is your oyster!
From clean, modern lines to rustic cabin vibes, we'll be guided by you when choosing your perfect home design.
A major bonus of small homes is their energy efficiency, using less energy to heat and cool than a traditional large home.
There are many air-conditioning options - think about what works best for you and your family.
Tiny houses can be the perfect sustainable homes, with endless material options.
Eco-friendly features such as skylights and large windows are great for the environment and can make your home feel more spacious!
Solar panels, double-glazed windows and insulation can often be costly on a larger home, so if you've always wanted these features, a small home is the way to go.
While many of the tiny houses on this list are on rural blocks of land, you can build one anywhere!
We operate in the greater Sydney area and can build your custom home in a residential area.
You can book a free consultation with our experienced team to discover how we could bring your dream home to life.
We've got tons of experience in small house designs and know how to make a small house feel big, even if you're building on a small block.
If you're looking for the perfect small house, let us tap into our network of architects to find the best design for you.
