5 Big Tips for Building on Small Blocks
The home of your dreams shouldn’t be limited by the size of your block.
More and more of our clients are downsizing, each for different reasons. For some it’s a sustainability choice. For others it’s to reduce maintenance.
After all, less time spent cleaning the house and mowing the lawn means more time enjoying the best that the Sunshine Coast has to offer.
We’ve put together 5 key tips to consider when building your dream home on a small block. We’re firm believers that although your block size may be limited, your design options are endless.
#1. Open plan, all the waY
With a small block, it’s all about creating the illusion of space. The last thing you want is your home to have is any tight or pokey spaces. To ensure that your home looks and feels bigger than its footprint, ensure that you maintain the sight lines throughout your central living spaces.
Bonus points if you can maintain your sight line from your entryway through the kitchen, dining and living spaces and into your alfresco living area.
#2. Go light and bright
Filling your home with natural light with instantly make it feel more spacious. Think voids, sky lights, windows and glass panels in various formations and in unusual places. Our Langsford home uses a long horizontal glass window underneath the staircase to fill the hallway with natural light.
The orientation of your home is important to note - North facing rooms and living areas are perfectly positioned to soak up natural light which will make sure your home feels light and welcoming all day long.
#3. The best room in the house, isn’t in the house
For a home that maximises every inch of available space, seamlessly connect your indoor and outdoor living spaces. Sliding glass doors are a simple way to flood your home with light while ensuring the alfresco area remains accessible.
Adding hardy leafy foliage into your alfresco areas will make feel as though you’re stepping into your own private tropical hideaway.
#4. Look up!
What’s better than high ceilings to give the illusion of space? We’d recommend a minimum of 2.7 m for ceilings. Get creative with your floor plan and consider how a mezzanine and void can make your home look and feel bigger than it is.
This thinking extends to building features too - in our Langsford home, we utilised a mono stringer American Oak staircase to seamlessly (and beautifully) connect the lower level of the home to the mezzanine living and bedrooms.
#5. Side Hustle
Gone are the days when front doors had to be smack bang in the middle of exterior facades. An entry door at the side of your home can be an efficient use of space for small blocks whilst adding a sense of privacy.
Our Langsford home combines a side entry door complete with a welcoming vertical garden.
View the complete Langsford gallery here.
At qldBUILT, we help turn your dreams into a reality.
We’ve got proven experience creating luxury homes on small and narrow blocks and are experts at navigating the building process.
To find out how we can design and build your dream home, contact us to schedule a Free Project Assessment meeting.