21/10/24

Reimagining Small Homes: Flexible Designs for Modern Living

While we normally consider smart home living to be centered on technology, today’s emphasis on flexibility, sustainability, and community-living means that smart design does not stop with novelties such as IoT gadgets, appliance integrations with generative AI or postmodern concepts of furniture or room layouts. Smart living is a lifestyle; it goes as far as reconsidering the meaning of “home.”  Small or even tiny home living, scales-down the structure of a home to become a flexible space that can accommodate not only single inhabitants but also the communities of people. Let’s take a closer look at how innovative spatial planning, architecture, and design can not only turn small houses into highly sustainable, functional spaces but can also deliver living experiences that are actually desirable.

Why Small Homes are the Future

Although small homes may seem to be well suited for those of us looking for a minimalist design aesthetic, the size of the spaces we live in and how we live in them are distinct concepts. Put simply, “it is about being aligned with your stuff and having surroundings that mirror your vision,” explains Joshua Becker, a sustainable living advocate and the author of ‘The More of Less’.  Similar to our home interior design philosophy at More Wow, small home living requires technical skills, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness to both properly manage square footage so that even a small home can be functional, meaningful.  

Beyond Four Walls: Rethinking the Entire Home

When we think of smart living in small spaces, it's easy to focus on what's inside—like modular furniture or hidden storage. But the true potential of small homes lies in how we rethink the entire structure, including its relationship with the surrounding environment. By integrating architectural innovations such as extendable roofs, retractable walls, and adaptable outdoor areas, we can create spaces that respond to the needs of the moment.

As architect and author Sarah Susanka puts it, “The notion of the house as a machine for living—where each piece serves multiple purposes—is key in the design of smaller spaces.” Susanka, author of The Not So Big House, emphasises that smaller homes are not about making sacrifices but about being more deliberate with how we use space. “Small is not just beautiful, it’s smarter,” she adds, which encapsulates our philosophy at More Wow.

Imagine a small home where the roof can extend to create a shaded overhang, transforming an outdoor patio into a comfortable, enclosed living area. On warmer days, the roof retracts completely, turning the same space into an open-air courtyard where you can relax or entertain under the sky. This kind of design not only increases the usable square footage but also allows for a dynamic living environment that adapts to the seasons and weather conditions.

Modular Living for Communal Spaces

Smaller homes can also be ideal for communal living, offering families or groups of friends a chance to live together while maintaining a sense of individuality. In this context, modular design becomes crucial. Imagine a community of small homes arranged around a shared outdoor area, with features like retractable walls or movable partitions allowing for a mix of private and communal spaces.

“People are increasingly looking for homes that encourage a sense of community while providing flexibility,” says Christian Schmitz, CEO of Haus. I, a company specialising in modular, off-grid homes. He adds, "Communal living spaces, where homes are designed to share resources like outdoor areas or kitchens, create an environment that’s both socially and economically sustainable."

For example, during the day, the homes might have open layouts, with walls or doors that retract to create a large, shared living area where residents can gather for meals, conversations, or outdoor activities. In the evening, the same spaces can be divided into private zones, giving each person or family their retreat.

Design Innovations for Communal and Adaptive Living

Using smaller homes as a blueprint for communal living also introduces new possibilities in design and architecture. Here are a few innovations that can transform these spaces into adaptable, communal environments:

  1. Retractable Roof Systems Imagine a group of small homes clustered together with shared outdoor spaces that can be transformed throughout the day. A retractable roof over a communal patio or kitchen allows the space to shift from an open-air area for social gatherings to a protected, shaded zone when the weather changes. This type of adaptability brings an element of dynamic living that enhances both comfort and usability.
  1. Movable Walls and Flexible Layouts Designing homes with movable walls or sliding partitions offer the freedom to expand or contract the living space as needed. This is especially beneficial in communal settings, where shared spaces can be adjusted depending on the occasion. As urban planner Brent Toderian once noted, “Good density is when people live in smaller homes but benefit from better-shared amenities.” Movable walls allow small homes to feel larger by integrating these communal amenities seamlessly into the overall design.

  1. Modular Furniture for Communal Living Modular furniture, such as tables that expand for communal meals or beds that fold away to create a larger shared space, adds a layer of functionality. For example, a dining table might double as a workspace during the day and expand for family-style meals in the evening, while fold-out seating or platforms can be rearranged for movie nights or gatherings.

  1. Shared Outdoor Spaces In communal living arrangements, outdoor spaces become a key feature. Shared gardens or outdoor dining areas, complemented by extendable roofs and versatile landscaping, can create environments that support everything from communal dinners to solo reflection. As noted by interior designer Kelly Hoppen, “Outdoor spaces, no matter how small, add an extra layer of luxury and functionality to compact homes, and communal gardens take that to the next level.”

Smaller Footprints, Bigger Possibilities

One of the often-overlooked benefits of small homes is how they encourage a more mindful approach to living. With a smaller footprint, you rely less on material possessions and more on the flexibility and adaptability of your environment. This creates an opportunity to think differently about how homes are used—particularly when it comes to communal living.

By reducing reliance on individual rooms for every function, communal small homes can promote shared resources and spaces. For example, rather than each home having its full kitchen, the community might have a shared gourmet kitchen that all residents can use, reducing the amount of space and energy required. Similarly, shared workshops, libraries, or exercise areas mean that each home doesn’t need to be equipped with all the amenities, allowing for more efficient use of space.

Another important benefit is cost management.  While creating innovative spatial layouts and functional design made to accomplishes multiple goals at once might cost extra, the overall cost of the home build of a tiny house pale in comparison to a luxury home with a large footprint. A smaller footprint means fewer and smaller rooms to fill, but also the ability to spend more budget per room in order to create spaces with bespoke furniture, luxury fittings, and high-end appliances. With a managed budget, spaces can even be enhanced with luxurious outdoor design elements, landscaping, and pool decks.

Designing for the Future: How More Wow Can Help

At More Wow, we start every project by asking one key question: How do you want to live? The design concept begins with an understanding of the environments where the client spends most time in their lifestyle. Our solutions are not only well-suited for expansive estates and brownstones, but also perfect for a small apartment, tiny house, or trying out a new creative lifestyle with your friends. We help you turn your vision of the dream into reality by providing versatile, custom-made furniture and design solutions that will help you make the most out of your space while still looking good.

In addition to the overall home and living experience design, More Wow continues to design furniture for clients with a focus on pieces that have more than one functionality. We recently designed an ottoman table—three small ottomans of different sizes, which converge into a perfect circle to form a coffee table, complete with wooden trays. We are also working on a dual-purpose furniture piece—a game table-shadow box—for a client in Florida which provides its owner with a place to play bridge, a talkable design focal point in her home, and a new way to store keepsakes without taking up additional space.  

Many home owners believe they will be forced to compromise with style when designing a compact home. That is not necessarily true. Moreover, embarking on building a small home gives an owner incredible creative freedom to solve design challenges in new exciting ways. At More Wow, we are attracted be the ability to stretch our design skills. We encourage people to think first about their values, how they want to live their lives, and to entertain new levels of flexibility in thinking about what the footprint of the home might look like. A perfect space is the one that reflects who you are, no matter how small.