If you’re considering a simpler lifestyle, living with less, or even downsizing to a smaller space, check out these inspiring small modern houses.
Taking cues from minimalism, the tiny house movement, and the early modernist “Less is more” mentality, we’ve got small space design on our minds. As a growing number of people are considering living in smaller spaces due to lifestyle preferences, financial reasons, or major life events, we’re seeing a lot more interest from people for small house design.
For an upcoming new small project in our office, we’ve been looking into small modern houses to draw inspiration from. From tiny houses to weekend cabins to accessory dwelling units (ADU), we’ve been finding interesting ways of expanding space, creating volume, and elegantly creating a design that is larger than its boundaries.
Whether you’re considering creating a new small house, an ADU, or a getaway retreat, the small modern houses below are great examples of how to create a design that functions well and fits within its larger context.
[Catskills HousebyJ_spy Architecture. Photos byAmanda Kirkpatrick.]
At just over 900sf, this concrete block and metal weekend home in NY is a study in minimalism and simplicity. Reading as two distinct volumes from the exterior,the materials are rendered with simple detailing. The white metal volume overhangs the concrete block base providing shading for the large window openings. On the interior, the white box roof is rendered in warm birch plywood and opens up to dramatic 14ft high ceilings that create an open airy feel to an otherwise small space.
In this project, we love the simplicity of the two distinct boxes and appreciate the tradeoffs made to create such an elegant solution–the footprint was kept small for aesthetic and financial reasons.In trading size for luxury and light, this small home prioritizes volume with high ceilings, an abundance of natural daylight with floor to ceiling glazing, and nice finishes to create a simple design solution for a limited budget.
Little House by MW|Works
[Little House byMW|Works. Photos byAndrew Pofue.]
[Little House byThis modern cabin in Washington is small in size but appears much larger than its boundaries. Located on a wooded site, this cabin pulls the landscape in with large glass openings on the north and west elevations to distant views.At 1,140sf and built over an existing foundation, thesmall compact structure is simple and efficient with sleeping quarters stacked over the living area.Interior walls are warm and bright withlight walls and soft pine plywood while the exterior is dark black cedar siding and blackened cement board panels to blend in with the surrounding landscape.
We love how this small project feels more spacious with views outward through large window openings–openings that blur the boundary between inside and out and create an expansive and ever-changing backdrop for living.
Withrow Laneway House by Studio North
[Withrow Laneway HousebyStudio North. Photos courtesyStudio North.]
[Withrow Laneway HousebyThis 850sf laneway house is tucked behind a historical home in Calgary, Canada. The ADU was created togive the homeowners more flexibility and versatility in housing solutions for family members at various points in their life and add value to their property. It provides a prime opportunity to build a small house on an existing lot and within the existing urban fabric of the neighborhood, treating the alley as its frontage and using it as a pedestrian space.
Taking into consideration the compact size, the design of the home includes efficient living solutions such as a built-in dining table that folds out to accommodate large gatherings, storage space integrated into the framing of the walls, and a sleeping loft in the vaulted ceiling space.
We like how this project provides an alternate housing solution in the urban setting that can appeal to a diverse group of people at various stages in their life: a starter home, a way for grandparents to live closer to grandchildren, a launchpad for grown children returning from college, a rental unit to subsidize a mortgage or even office space for a home-based business.
Pinwheel ADU by Scott Mooney
[Pinwheel ADU byScott Mooney. Photos byOlivia Ashton.]
[Pinwheel ADU byScott Mooney. Photos byAnother backyard ADU, this small 625sf Portland homesought to do more with less without forfeiting design excellence. Design goals aimed to create a sustainable structurethat was functionally elegant but also simple, with ample daylight and generous connections to nature and the outdoors.
A simple rectangular footprint with a gable roof provides the building form. Vaulted ceilings and large sliding glass doors expand the small space and blur the boundary between inside and out. Sustainable features likeFSC-certified timber, locally sourced Western Red Cedar, ZIP sheathing, high-performance glazing, and radiant floors enhance the project.
We like how this project is an example of how urban ADUs can be beautiful, functional, and maintain a simple design that is uniquely its own, given the constraints of regulatory codes and site limitations of the existing lot. We also appreciate how the homeowners relied on their own skill sets to keep costs down (one an architect, the other a construction engineer).
Hackney Mews House by Hutch design
[Hackney Mews House by Hutch design. Photos byHelen Cathcart.]
[Hackney Mews House by This project is a modern renovation to a small 970sf London mews house. The goal was toprovide extra accommodation for a growing family, utilize and maximize the space as much as possible, and flood the house in natural light. The design created three interconnected split-levels that offereda sense of continuity rather than separation by using consistent materials and borrowing light, space, and views from other spaces.
A greater illusion of space was also achieved with light colored walls throughout, strategically placed mirrors (over the kitchen, bathroom, and multi-functional spaces), and modern lightweight furnishings.
We like the use of level changes to both define yet connect spaces. We also appreciate the efficient use of space and the cool material palette of this project to make the project feel bigger.
Etno Hut by Utopium
[Etno Hut by Utopium. Photos byLeonas Garbacauskas.]
[Etno Hut by At a mere 150sf, this tiny modern cabin in Lithuania packs a lot of program into its tiny footprint. With afully equipped kitchenette, bathroom with shower, dining area, and queen sized bed, this small retreat providesbasic shelter in a fully immersive forested environment.
The rural cabin was assembled in three days withminimal site impact due to its SIP construction and elevated steel foundation screwed into the ground. The exterior is clad in dark fiber cement board panels and stained wood to blend in with the surrounding forest. The interior is pared back with a simple natural material palette that keeps thefocus on the outdoors.Sweeping views of the forested landscape are courtesy of large folding glass doors.
We love the simple compact design of this minimalist retreat–offering just the right amount of space to relax and enjoy the natural setting to which it is set within.
Granny Pad by Best Practice Architecture
[Granny Pad by Best Practice Architecture. Photos by Ed Sozinho.]
[Granny Pad by This detached ADU in Seattle, WA was converted and expanded from a former garage into a spacious standalone apartment for an aging grandparent looking to help with childcarefor a growing family.
The 570sf dwelling is comprised of a simple cedar-clad gable structure that steps down with the terrain. High ceilings, large windows, and skylights make space feel larger than its footprint. Main living spaces are all on the ground floor making them easily accessible to the aging family member saving the upstairs loft predominantly for storage.
We like how this accessory dwelling unit feels expansive, private, and unique given its close relationship to the main house. Strategically placed windows direct views to the yard, not the main house and offer an abundance of natural light. Exterior material choices and colors define the structure as a standalone home, distinct from its parent house.
We hope you find this round-up of small modern projects helpful in your quest for inspiring small house designs. Designing and living in a small space can be challenging but it can also provide a unique opportunity to simplify your life, generate passive income, and/or provide someone else a more affordable and enjoyable way to live.
