Home remodeling doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Often, small changes can make a big difference in how your home looks and feels.

Sliding doors free up floor space and improve the flow between rooms. We’ve also found that adding smart storage solutions, like a mudroom bench or converting an unused closet into laundry space, adds functional value to your home. To learn more, contact J&R Construction.

Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of a home. In a small space, it’s especially crucial to ensure that every detail works in tandem with both functionality and aesthetics. While a major layout change may not be an option, there are plenty of small home remodeling ideas to make your kitchen work for you.

Open up your space by removing walls that separate your kitchen from the living room or dining room. This trick makes the room feel bigger, and it also helps you stay connected to your family while cooking or eating.

Maximize storage without sacrificing floor space by adding built-in cabinets, appliance garages and other custom solutions like pull-out shelves, corner lazy Susans, or toe-kick drawers. Adding hidden storage for utensils, dishware and pantry items is a great way to keep your kitchen organized and uncluttered.

Replacing traditional solid cabinet doors with glass fronts is another simple home renovation idea that can help your small kitchen feel more spacious. Displaying your favorite cookware, decor pieces or personal photos on open shelving also creates a curated look that adds charm and character to the room.

Brighten up your kitchen with recessed ceiling lighting that helps your workspaces feel brighter and larger, which can be especially helpful in small rooms. Using dedicated task lighting to light up areas where you’ll be working will also help reduce shadows.

Infuse your space with a pop of color in the form of a vibrant backsplash or a bold paint color on an accent wall. A pop of color can be the perfect accent to bring your small kitchen back to life!

Living Room

In small living rooms, a sectional sofa is a smart choice because it maximizes seating without taking up floor space. It also allows for plenty of elbow room for movie nights, which is essential in tight spaces. Decorative elements can add to the cozy aesthetic, but too many items will make a room feel cramped and overwhelming. The best small home ideas for a living room include handpicking furniture pieces that are minimal and sleek to help create design flow in the space. Using a beautiful stone effect top coffee table and minimal side tables is an excellent way to achieve this goal.

To help a room look bigger, designers often opt for large-format porcelain floor tile. Not only does it make the space feel larger, but it is easy to clean and durable, which makes it a worthwhile investment.

Another way to make a room appear larger is by using the monochromatic color technique. This trend involves using the same shade on floors, walls, and ceilings to instantly make a space feel bigger. Designers like Greg Dutton and Midland Architecture used this trick in their small living room renovation, which paired gorgeous wood-effect porcelain floor tile with wall and ceiling tiles in the same shade.

A crowded living room can be difficult to navigate, so it’s important to have storage solutions that keep things out of sight and out of mind. Consider a custom built-in with a hidden desk, or floating storage shelving to avoid visual clutter. Another great idea, like in our 2024 Whole Home, is a concealed tv unit with a hideaway nook for media equipment.

Bedroom

If you have an open mind, decorating your bedroom on a budget can be fun. Flea markets and thrift stores offer treasure troves of decor finds that can dress up your space for very little cost. A good way to begin your bedroom design is with a theme or color palette. Then you can select decor accents, furniture, and other elements that support the theme to create a cohesive room.

Another easy way to add style and function to your bedroom is with built-in storage solutions. This might mean a custom wall-mounted desk that can be folded up against the wall when not in use, or a bed that has drawers underneath for under-bed storage. This allows you to avoid having bulky nightstands or a large closet taking up valuable floor space.

In small rooms, gaps between furniture can make the space feel awkward and cramped. To keep everything looking clean and uncluttered, consider adding a decorative piece that serves as a room divider, like a painted headboard or upholstered wall hanging. Also, opt for slimmer furniture pieces that can be pushed against the walls without taking up too much visual space. This is one of the tricks that designer Alisa Regas, whose home is featured in my book The Little Book of Living Small, used to transform her tiny bedroom.

For a quick and inexpensive upgrade, swap out your bedroom furniture for modern, sleek pieces. For example, if you have a queen-size bed, switch out the footboard for a matching platform frame to instantly give your room a fresh look. Another simple furniture trick is to paint your trim or doors a contrasting color to create a focal point in the room.

Bathroom

One of the best home remodeling ideas for small homes is to use your bathroom to create a sense of openness and space. One way to do this is by opening up the ceiling, which will make the room feel larger and give it a more spacious vibe. Another is to install a skylight or solar tube, which will let natural light flood into the room without requiring any additional wall space. This will also help the room feel bigger and more connected to the outdoors.

Adding extra storage is another small bathroom renovation idea that can greatly improve the functionality of your room. Many cabinets and vanities come with built-in storage, which can make the room feel more streamlined. You can also add extra storage using corner shelves or a freestanding corner cabinet. Corner spaces are often wasted in small bathrooms, but they can be used to add stylish accents like a woven mosaic tile backsplash.

When it comes to choosing the right color scheme for your small bathroom, the key is to choose a light shade that will reflect the most light. Dark colors can close in a room and make it feel tiny, while soft grays and pale blues can create an airy feeling.

If you’re looking for ways to add more style to your bathroom, consider adding decorative elements like soap dispensers, toothbrush holders and wastebaskets that match or complement your overall decor theme. Similarly, be sure to choose paint, mirrors and other fixtures that are appropriate for the size and style of your bathroom, so they won’t overwhelm it.

For this small bathroom remodel, the designers repurposed an Asian butcher table as a vanity in order to maintain its authenticity while adding a more modern touch. They also added a new medicine cabinet to replace the outdated original. They even hung a pebble-tile “rug” on the floor to add texture and visual interest.

Entryway

The entryway is the first thing guests see and also where people drop off their things, so it’s important to make a good impression. Fortunately, even tiny foyers can make a big impact with the right design choices. For starters, designers usually recommend adding a furniture piece with storage in the space, like a console or banquette. This makes it easy to tuck away jackets, shoes, and bags in one spot so they’re not tripping hazards or cluttering up the living room.

Floating shelves are another popular entryway remodel idea, and they can offer plenty of storage without compromising floor space. Designer Tanner Sammons used these shelves in a small entryway of his historic Maryland home to hold books, an umbrella stand, and hats. They also double as a display for a set of brass animal hooks that add whimsy and function to the space.

For a more compact entryway, repurpose an existing corner or alcove. In this 1,700-square-foot Philadelphia apartment, a narrow niche behind the door was outfitted with a bench and hanging rod for coats and scarves. A simple gallery wall and a statement mirror complete the look, while a custom shelf below the window offers an area to stash small decor pieces.

If you’re starting with a completely blank canvas, consider adding some color to the space, like this homeowner did in her quaint 500-square-foot West Village apartment. A blue textured wallpaper gives this small entryway a pop of color, and the shelf serves as a place to tuck in a few decorative accessories and a mail tray for keys.