10 Small House Plans With Big Ideas (2024)

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With rising real estate costs, many people are getting priced out of purchasing a traditional home. In addition to offering a more affordable housing solution, tiny houses come with a number of other appealing benefits. Some small house plans can be built on a trailer, providing the possibility of mobility without having to find or build a whole new home. Additionally, the environmental impact of the utility usage of a tiny house is typically lesser than that of a traditional home.

While you could search real estate listings for available tiny homes, you may not be able to find one that offers the layout and design features you desire. Consider giving one of the small house plans below to a trusted contractor—or follow the plans to build your new home yourself—and create the tiny house of your dreams!

1. Adirondack Cabin With Loft Plans

Photo: Etsy.com

With a heated interior of 650 square feet, this 2-bedroom, 1 bath cabin is the perfect size for a guest house or a weekend getaway cabin. Build Blueprint’s plans for this 20-foot by 26-foot Adirondack-style home include a materials list, electrical and foundation plans, elevation plans, and other construction details, and comply with North American building codes. We love the cozy loft space that’s tucked under the roof’s peak.

Get the Build Blueprint Adirondack Cabin with Loft plans at Etsy for $95.

2. Barndominium Plans

These downloadable barndominium plans can help you build a small, 1,200-square-foot home with a spacious open living room and kitchen, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full-length front porch, and an attached carport. If you’re looking for small house plans with a garage, you (or a contractor) could make a few modifications to the plans to close in the carport.

Get the PaytonMcGarvey10 Barndominium Floor Plans on Etsy for $100.

3. Small Cottage Plans

Photo etsy.com

Enjoy tiny house living with this charming 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom cottage. This small house layout offers 900 square feet of space, 9-foot ceilings, a fireplace, an attic, and a crawl space. Everything you’ll need to build the house is included in the plans, such as materials lists, elevations, floor plans, foundation and roofing plans, door and window schedules, and complete dimensions.

Get the Build Blueprint Small Cottage Architectural Plans on Etsy for $95

RELATED: 15 Charming Tiny House Communities

4. Modern Bungalow Plans

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If you love modern homes, then these one-story tiny house floor plans might be for you. The downloadable file includes two sets of detailed blueprints with both imperial and metric units to help you build this 1,820-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom home with an open-concept kitchen, dining room, and great room.

Get the Panaroma House Plans Venus Modern One-Story House Plans on Etsy for $45.

5. Tiny Cabin Plans

While you could purchase a DIY home kit, these tiny house floor plans enable you to build a more unique and memorable home with greater customization options to match your preferences. The file includes two different layout options to build the home with either one or two bedrooms. Although the home has a fixed width of 24 feet, the length can be adjusted to match your lot size and desired amount of living space. When built following the plans exactly, this home offers 1,088 square feet of floor space.

Get the Architect Chin Daffodil House Plans on Etsy for $160.

6. Tiny House With Attic Plans

Photo: etsy.com

These downloadable plans include all the files you’ll need to build this inviting one-story tiny house with additional attic space. The 749-square-foot house has an open concept living room and kitchen, one bedroom, and two bathrooms on the main level. A small covered front porch is also incorporated into the design, where patio furniture, outdoor decor, and more can be placed.

Get the Plan Library Modern Tiny House Plans on Etsy for $18.

RELATED: How Much Does a Tiny House Cost?

7. Contemporary Tiny House Plans

Photo: etsy.com

If you’re looking for small house plans with porches, these contemporary tiny house plans may be right for you. The expansive front porch spans the entire width of the house, offering plenty of space to sit and enjoy the great outdoors. The downloadable plans include the original AutoCAD file, elevations, floor plan with dimensions, foundation plan, door and window schedules, roof framing plan, and more to help you build this 1,300-square-foot home with two bedrooms and one-and-a-half bathrooms.

Get the FreeHouseplans Modern Tiny House Plans on Etsy for $24.99.

8. Modern Cottage House Plans

Photo: etsy.com

These professionally drawn tiny house plans come with drawings, designs, and more to help you build this simple (yet attractive) 1,377-square-foot modern cottage. With its open kitchen design, two bedrooms, one bathroom, and spacious back deck, this tiny house could quickly become the place you call home.

Get the Wooden Arch Design Modern Cottage House Plans on Etsy for $34.

9. Sugarbush Cottage Plans

Photo: etsy.com

With these small house floor plans, you can make the lovely 1,020-square-foot Sugarbush Cottage your new home—or home away from home. The construction drawings included in the file meet the code requirements and architectural standards for most jurisdictions. This two-story house offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a spacious living room, and an eat-in kitchen.

Get the Classic House Plans Sugarbush Cottage Plans on Etsy for $25.

RELATED: These Are the Smartest Home Improvements for Small Houses

10. American Cottage Plans

Photo: etsy.com

If you’ve been searching for the best place to buy a tiny house, why not build your own with these small home plans? The American Cottage design is a modern small home with two bedrooms, plus an optional loft. The 18-page plans include the materials lists, floor plans, elevations, and everything else you’ll need to pass onto your builder to construct this 875-square-foot home.

Get the Build Blueprint American Cottage Plans on Etsy for $95.

The prices listed here are accurate as of December 1, 2022.

10 Small House Plans With Big Ideas (2024)

FAQs

How to build a beautiful small house? ›

10 Best Small House Design Ideas
  1. Implementing innovative storage solutions.
  2. Using Foldable and Collapsible Furniture.
  3. Installing Multipurpose Furniture and appliances.
  4. Instilling Mirrors In Strategic Positions.
  5. Use Wall Mounted Furniture.
  6. Explore Vertical Interior Design Plans.
  7. Install Sliding Doors and Windows.

What is the most efficient house layout? ›

Simple, straight lines are not only pleasing to look at, but they are also incredibly cost-effective. Keep roof lines simple and side and rear walls straight for an elegantly modern exterior with great curb appeal. Opting for a cozy floor plan with a modern footprint is a great way to keep your home cost-efficient.

What is the best small house size? ›

For some people, 2500 square feet (232 square meters) is the perfect amount, and for others, they just need 200 square feet (19 square meters) to be happy. Although there are different sizes of small homes, a tiny house is considered one of the most popular alternatives for an individual or a small family of two.

What is the most common house plan? ›

Craftsman house plans and modern farmhouse home plans are also prominently displayed, as Craftsman and farmhouse are 2 of the most popular architectural styles.

What is the cheapest design to build a house? ›

A ranch-style house is generally more affordable to build because it has an easy, open floor plan and is traditionally available in a rectangular or U-shaped layout.

What is the least desirable style house? ›

The 10 least desired home styles:
  • Shipping container (2.8 daily views)
  • Tidewater (3.1 views)
  • Tiny house (3.5 views)
  • Beaux arts (5 views)
  • Art deco (5.1 views)
  • New traditional (5.2 views)
  • Federal (5.2 views)
  • Art moderne (8.4 views)
Mar 8, 2024

What is a bad home layout? ›

Bad layouts include a staircase that's facing the door, adjoining bedrooms, and no views from one room to another. Keep in mind that you'll likely sell the home at some point, and a bad layout could make it more challenging to sell.

What room is used the most in a house? ›

Family and living rooms are perhaps some of the most high-use rooms in a house. They act as the main setting for leisure and socializing, serve as ground-zero for childcare, and have even become the primary dining space in many of today's households.

What size house sells the fastest? ›

Homes measuring between 2,000 and 5,000 square feet, by contrast, took 102 days to sell, and homes larger than 10,000 square feet took 126 days. This trend has continued in early 2021: Luxury midsize homes take an average of 110 days to sell, while larger ones require 127 days, and smaller ones 113 days.

What does 1500 square feet look like? ›

Typically, units of this size include three bedrooms, one to two bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and potentially a dining area. Depending on the size of your family, you may have enough space for a guest room and a home office.

What size house sells the best? ›

Dream big, buy small

A 8,000-square-foot mega home receives about 30% more views than a cozy 1,000-square-footer. Reality check: How many people actually end up buying an 8,000-square-foot home? Well, the middle point between fantasy and reality is 1,500 to 2,000 square feet.

What is a simple house plan? ›

A single-story house with an open layout that usually includes a living room, dining area, kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Bungalow Floor Plans. A small, single-story house with a cozy layout. It usually includes a living room, dining area, kitchen, one or two bedrooms, and a bathroom.

What is the strongest house design? ›

Architecturally speaking, triangles are the strongest house shape. Think of some of the world's most famous architectural marvels: the Louvre Pyramid, the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Eiffel Tower.

What is the easiest house structure to build? ›

Sticking to a square or rectangular floor plan makes the building and design more straightforward. Plus, building up is generally cheaper than building a sprawling one-story home. You may want to consider planning for a multiple-story home if you need more space.

How do you make a small house look classy? ›

From high-end materials to statement decor pieces, a host of designers share their advice for how to make a small house look expensive below.
  1. Use luxe materials. ...
  2. Opt for statement furniture and decor pieces. ...
  3. Include architectural features like paneling. ...
  4. Dare to go dark. ...
  5. Make your lighting a design feature.
Jan 21, 2024

How to build a beautiful home on a budget? ›

Check out these tips for building on a budget to make sure the house of your dreams isn't a nightmare for your wallet.
  1. Choose a simple design. ...
  2. Sacrifice some space. ...
  3. Go for energy-efficient design. ...
  4. DIY when possible. ...
  5. Be your own contractor. ...
  6. Save money and the environment with eco-friendly materials.
Mar 8, 2024

How can I make my house look beautiful? ›

There are plenty of 'affordable' finishing touches which can make your home look and feel more luxurious – some of which can actually be free!
  1. Paint a feature wall. ...
  2. Go big with wall art. ...
  3. Redecorate / paint. ...
  4. Use colour cleverly. ...
  5. Declutter. ...
  6. Decorate with candles and mirrors. ...
  7. Add house plants and flowers.
Feb 7, 2022

How to decorate a small house to look expensive? ›

  1. Declutter and organize. When making a home look more expensive, less is often more. ...
  2. Use a neutral color palette. ...
  3. Focus on a few high-quality pieces. ...
  4. Create your own artwork and décor. ...
  5. Add crown molding and trim. ...
  6. Choose well-designed light fixtures. ...
  7. Use accent pillows and throws. ...
  8. Fool the eye with curtains.
Oct 3, 2023

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