Home renovations can be mentally and financially exhausting, especially when you have a small home! We are here to tell you that with these 21 small home renovation ideas you can easily transform your small space and stay within your budget! If you’ve been dreaming of giving your home a fresh and new look, you’re in the right place!
As the owner of a 1,200 square foot home that we renovated ourselves, I am here to spill all the secrets and tips so that you can get your renovation done right! We had a very tight budget and learned the hard way about the do’s and dont’s of home renovations.
In this blog post, we’ve curated 21 amazing small home renovation ideas that will help you transform your living space. From small bathrooms renovations to kitchen renovation ideas, these suggestions are designed to make the most out of your small home or apartment. Whether you’re working with a tight budget or simply looking just to refresh an area of your home, these ideas will inspire you to transform your small home into the perfect space for you and your family.
This blog post is all about small home renovation ideas.
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Best Small Home Renovation Ideas
Welcome to the ultimate guide for small home renovation ideas!
Kitchen Small Home Renovation Ideas
From kitchen cabinet paint colors to kitchen cabinetry design ideas, we have the tips and hacks for renovating a small kitchen.
CHECK OUT OUR SIMILAR BLOG POST ON SMALL KITCHEN IDEAS HERE.
SMALL KITCHEN RENOVATION TIPS:
- Keep the layout of the kitchen exactly the way it is if you are trying to stay within a budget. Anytime you move an appliance, water line or do any kind of demolition, your prices increases significantly. We kept our layout the same and were able to stay under our budget of $20,000. Not to mention, it also makes the renovation process much smoother and faster because you probably won’t need as many permits or inspections with sticking to the previous layout.
- Another budget friendly tip is to use stock cabinets in your small kitchen renovation (middle grade). We used them in our laundry room and think they are just as good as our custom cabinets.
- Measure! Every single inch of your small kitchen must be calculated to make sure that your appliances and cabinets can fit properly on install day.
SMALL KITCHEN RENOVATION CHECKLIST
- Before you get into a renovation project be sure to have a clear vision of what you want your space to look like.
- Consider what will make the most sense in your limited space for your family and everyday living.
- The next important matter of business is coming up with a budget. The budget will change during every renovation so start on the lower end just in case!
We have created a small kitchen renovation checklist (downloadable click below) that you can print out and refer to during your renovation process to be sure that everything gets done.
Small Kitchen Renovation Ideas
1. Ceiling High Kitchen Cabinets
This small home renovation hack not only makes your small kitchen feel more spacious, but also gives you bonus storage space in your cabinets! Don’t worry, this small kitchen design won’t be too detrimental to your renovation costs if you’re on a budget.
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2. Hang Open Shelves
This small house renovation before and after utilizes one of our favorite hacks to make a kitchen feel larger. Open shelves not only create the illusion of more open space, they also are the best solution to any awkward corners in your kitchen.
Open shelving in the kitchen keeps you organized and prevents you from collecting too many unnecessary kitchen items. And an added bonus, shelving is typically cheaper compared to your traditional upper cabinetry.
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We can not say enough great things about this kitchen faucet. We have this exact faucet and it still looks like the day it was installed!
3. Light Uppers & Dark Lower Cabinets
Create the illusion that your small kitchen is larger than it really is by drawing the eye upward. By keeping the upper cabinets in the kitchen a lighter paint colors and the lower cabinets in the kitchen darker, it will make your walls feel elongated.
4. Light Color Palette
Use a light color scheme in your kitchen to help bring in any extra natural light. Be sure to choose a light color scheme for your cabinets, kitchen walls, and countertops, and add a contrasting dark floor for dimension and balance to the overall aesthetic.
BEST LIGHT KITCHEN CABINET PAINT COLORS:
- BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE
- SHERWIN WILLIAMS ALABASTER (WARM OFF WHITE)
- BENJAMIN MOORE CHANTILLY LACE
- SHERWIN WILLIAMS BALANCED BEIGE (DARK BEIGE)
- BENJAMIN MOORE SMOKE (LIGHT BLUE)
- BENJAMIN MOORE CREAMY WHITE
- FARROW AND BALL DOVE TALE (LIGHT WARM GREY)
- BENJAMIN MOORE CAROLINA GULL (SAGE GREEN)
5. Glass Cabinets
Glass cabinetry not only looks aesthetically pleasing, but also helps makes the cabinets feel less bulky and makes them disappear in your small kitchen. In a small home, anything clear whether it’s decor or windows can help make the space appear more open.
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Bathroom Small Home Renovation Ideas
As someone who has renovated two small bathrooms, I am not a stranger to the bathroom renovation process. Here are some ideas, budget tips, and advice for you before you begin your renovation adventure.
SMALL BATHROOM RENOVATION TIPS:
- We have the same advice as the kitchen renovation ideas, which is to keep the layout the same to save space, money, and time. Odds are your bathroom is so tiny that you can’t change the layout anyway!
- BUDGET TIP: Home Depot and Lowes are your best friends for selecting tile. Don’t go to the tile stores and warehouses, the prices are double the price for the same tile design.
- If there is one area in the small bathroom to try to DIY, it would be installing the floor tile. We don’t recommend installing the showers and shower floor tile for beginners because you don’t want any leaks. That should be left to the professionals!
6. Board and Batten Wall
Have a little fun in your small home bathroom renovation by creating a board and batten wall with a bold yet neutral paint color. If you are up to the challenge, this accent wall is very possible to DIY to save you some money on your renovation.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THIS HELPFUL GUIDE ON HOW TO DIY A BOARD AND BATTEN WALL IN YOUR BATHROOM.
RECREATE THE LOOK FOR LESS:
Add this vintage looking bathroom rug into your small home bathroom renovation! We adore this area rug because it is machine washable and heavy duty to withstand the foot traffic of your home. This area rug is an affordable way to add that vintage inspired look into your home.
7. Add a Pop of Color
Don’t be afraid to go bold in your color choices in the bathroom. In this cute small bathroom renovation idea, they incorporated the popular forest green color in the floor tile and vanity and kept the rest of the space neutral. We also adore these black and gold finishes that bring together this look!
SIMILAR CABINET PAINT COLOR: VASPAR LUSH SAGE
RECREATE THE LOOK FOR LESS:
8. Add Texture To the Ceiling
Don’t neglect your ceilings during during your small home renovation! Add personality to your bathrooms ceiling’s by incorporating some wood or wooden beams.
Another small bathroom hack they used in this bathroom renovation is a reflective shower tile that allows any natural light to shine off of the tile. This helps give the illusion of a larger shower.
TIP: If you do decide to recreate the look, avoid any dark paint colors on the wall to prevent the bathroom from looking smaller than it already is.
9. Try Dark Floor Tile
Black tile can sometimes be intimidating for a smaller space especially a small bathroom. In this small home renovation idea, the black tile actually makes the room feel larger by bringing the visual interest downward.
10. Install a Shower Niche
When planning a small bathroom renovation, consider adding a shower niche into your design plan. A shower niche is a great decor opportunity to add a pop of color and a different texture into your bathroom’s design. If you aren’t a fan of a niche or want more of an affordable option, install shower shelves in the corner for extra storage.
11. Use Pocket Doors
Pocket doors are a game changer when it comes to small home living. Free up any space that your door may have taken up with a pocket door painted in a unique color. When the doors are left open, they will make your home feel much more open too.
12. Above the Toilet Storage Solution
In a small bathroom renovation, it is important to consider where you will store all your products, towels, and bathroom accessories. The easiest way to ensure you will have space for decor and your toiletries is by adding any above the toilet storage such as floating shelves.
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Living Room Small Home Renovation Ideas
The living room is typically one of the easiest places of your home to renovate. Usually in the living room the you will need to paint, add molding, change flooring and swap lighting. Here are some small home renovation ideas for your living room and main living space.
13. Make a Statement
Just because you have a small home doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun in your renovation. Paint the doors in your small home a unique color for an unexpected look! We love black doors because they will match most of your decor and break up a lot of the lighter tones you typically see in a small home.
GET THE LOOK ON A BUDGET:
Jute rugs are a great way to bring in natural elements into your home. When a home is newly renovated it can feel sometimes too new. By adding in a textured jute runner in your small hallway or home entrance, it can make your guest feel warm and invited in!
14. Bring in Natural Light
If possible, bring in extra natural light by opening up any walls or adding windows to your small home. Creating a bright and well lit room in your home will make the space feel airy and open.
15. Neutral Color Palette
By using a neutral color palette in your living room, it makes the room feel clutter free and more open. Consider painting the walls in your home a light paint color and decorating your home with light colored furniture too!
GET THE LOOK:
Let’s just take a moment to recognize how beautiful this area rug is! We love how modern this Persian beige and brown rug is while also having an antique touch. We love Rugs USA’s rugs because they are pet-friendly and easy to clean so you don’t have to stress about the mess. We have been using these rugs in our small home for years and can not say enough good things about the quality!
16. Add Built Ins
Consider adding built in bookshelves into your small home for an added storage area and decorative opportunity. Over the last year, we have noticed more living rooms with this exact look and have been loving all the decorative possibilities you can create with these built ins!
More Small Home Renovation Ideas
Now that your kitchen, bathroom, and living room are renovated, let’s move on to some of the other areas in your small home. Check out some more of our favorite small home renovation ideas you can copy!
17. Small Home Exterior Renovation Idea
Upgrade your front door to give the exterior of your small home an instant facelift. Click here to read our blog post about front door transformations to get you inspired!
18. Upgrade Your Homes Exterior Finishes
Swap out faded shutters with a new set to upgrade your home’s exterior. Hanging new shutters is pretty easy to DIY and is an affordable renovation project that will make a big difference in your homes exterior. If the budget allows, replace any railings, mailboxes, light fixtures and hardware in your homes exterior too!
19. Install Sliding Doors
Save as much space as possible in your small home with these sliding doors. They are also glass which makes the home feel even larger and open! Or even consider repurposing vintage doors for an antique touch in your home.
20. DIY Small Home Renovation Idea: Create a Storage Closet
Transform your unused closet into the ultimate storage area in your small home with this DIY. Owning a small home can come with storage challenges which is why it is important to dedicate space in the home for your items to be neatly put away.
21. Create Multi Purpose Areas
Do you have a basement renovation that you have been dreading to tackle? This small home basement idea is the ultimate basement design that adds more functional space to your small home. This is one of our favorite renovation ideas that incorporates all of our space savings tips.
This blog post was all about small home renovation ideas.
CHECK OUT OUR SIMILAR BLOG POSTS:
- Small Bathroom Remodel Before and After
- Small White Kitchen Ideas to Consider for a Kitchen Renovation
- Dining Room Remodel Before and After
