Maximising Space and Style: Custom Granny Flats with Outdoor Living Areas

If you need more space and want to add value to your home, a granny flat might be the solution. The "granny flat" housing trend is not novel but has steadily risen in the Australian housing market. Discover how customising your granny flat with outdoor living areas can add space and style to your home. 

The Rise of the Granny Flats Trend

The term "granny flat" originally came from the concept of building an extra living space into an existing house as part of a senior living arrangement. Some families want to keep their senior parents close while maintaining independence, and a granny flat offers the ideal solution.

Under the current housing regulations in Australia, a granny flat must not exceed 60 square metres and can be attached or detached from the main property. Aside from the size limitations, there are no other regulations on what amenities each granny flat could contain, so many homeowners can add bathrooms to them to make them independent living areas. 

The concept of a granny flat in Australian housing has evolved. Nowadays, it is more than just a living space for seniors; it has become an additional living space that can be utilised for various purposes. Whether you want to use this space as a separate home office or studio, or others can use it as an investment property, the flexibility of a granny flat empowers you to make the most of it. Whatever the reason for adding a granny flat, this addition could increase home value.

These factors combined to the rise of the granny flats trend, allowing it to become a popular choice for many homeowners and investors. Granny flats are more affordable than other costly renovations, such as building a second-story or an extra bedroom. By choosing a granny flat, you're adding value to your property and making a smart financial decision. 

Customising Granny Flats to Maximise Space and Style

Granny flats are more than just extra rooms. Proper planning and design allow you to maximise your space and style and achieve higher efficiency. Whether you want to use the space as a working studio, an investment property, or an additional living space for family members, you must incorporate smart space-saving features and design.

Explore the various design considerations for a custom granny flat to achieve more style and space.

Choose the Right Granny Flat Layout

When designing the granny flat layout, you have two options: an open concept or a compartmentalised floor plan. The ideal design and layout vary based on your preferences and budget. However, if you want to maximise space and style, the plans will significantly differ.

An open-concept floor plan allows a seamless flow from one space to another. It enhances the perception of space, making your granny flat appear bigger than it actually is. 

While spaciousness is important, strategic room separation enhances the space's functionality and creates a sense of privacy when desired. A mix of design and layout options can be great for maximising the granny flat's use, especially as an extra living space or a rental property.

Install Multifunctional Furniture

Customising granny flats for better layout, style, and space involves using multifunctional furniture. It maximises the available floor area without adding clutter. 

For example, you can install a convertible coffee table with hidden compartments to maximise storage space. A sofa bed is another example of convertible furniture that can be used as seating during the day and as a bed at night. 

Other space-saving solutions for a granny flat include wall-mounted shelves to utilize vertical space and provide additional storage, folded kitchen tables, and storage under the beds and sofas. 

These smart and space-saving solutions can increase functionality without using more space than needed. 

Use Mirrors and Light Colours

Strategically placing mirrors inside granny flats and painting them with lighter colours can expand the space visually. Choose light and neutral colour palettes when painting a granny flat to create a sense of airiness. On the other hand, a darker finish can make it look cramped and enclosed. 

Meanwhile, adding mirrors can reflect natural light from windows and doors, creating the illusion of a larger space. 

Adaptable Design Choices

The best way to maximise the space and style of a custom granny flat is to choose an adaptable design. This means that the interior finishes and design can adapt to the changing needs of its occupants, whether they are using it as a studio, a living space for seniors, or a rental property. This adaptability ensures that your granny flat will always meet your needs, no matter how they change.

Using removable partitions and adjustable furniture can make this space efficient and adaptable to the various needs of its occupants. It can also make the space flexible to suit any lifestyle. This design principle is ideal if the intended use of the granny flat changes along with the family dynamics or if you have friends or family coming over regularly. 

Outdoor Living Areas

If you still have space, adding an outdoor living area is a smart choice for granny flats. Plenty of options exist for incorporating an outdoor space to maximise style and space.

A covered patio is a fantastic way to provide an extended living area in an outdoor setting. Installing a vertical wall mount enables you to add patio furniture where you can lounge and relax while enjoying the outdoor breeze. You can also add lighting fixtures to make this a suitable space for nighttime gatherings. 

Aside from building a deck or patio outside the granny flat, you can add a garden or plants. Adding a green space can spruce up this extra living area and foster a relaxing environment.

Strategic design options, such as large windows and doors that allow natural light, can create an indoor-outdoor flow in a granny flat. This blurs the outdoor and indoor space division, making the granny flat feel more spacious. 

Recommendations for Customising Granny Flats

Aside from an open-concept layout and multifunction furniture, working with a builder with experience designing granny flats would be advantageous. They have the experience and knowledge to work with these tiny living spaces and can make the right recommendations tailored to your intended purpose for the space. Whether building a granny flat from scratch or designing its interior, making smart decisions can maximise your investment and increase property value.