ADU Interiors: Small Space, Big Impact

ADU Interiors presents innovative design ideas that maximize small spaces and transform them into efficient and impactful living areas.

Maximizing every inch becomes crucial when dealing with limited spaces such as a garage or backyard. However, with thoughtfully designed techniques and factors, you’ll be amazed at the potential these spaces can offer, inspiring homeowners to explore the design possibilities of their ADUs.

Explore a range of ADU design concepts with intelligent storage solutions and strategic layouts that showcase how small spaces can create a substantial impact.

How Can RenoFi Help?

RenoFi is a new way to finance your ADU project. ADUs not only increase your home’s value after renovation -i.e. upon completing your ADU build - but can also generate rental income. However, ADUs are costly. If you don’t have enough equity in your current home, funding ADU construction with a home equity loan is impossible.

For example, let’s say your current home value is $500,000, and your outstanding mortgage balance is $400,000. You are planning on adding an ADU and expect the value of your home to increase to $640,000. Your current loan-to-value ratio (LTV) is already at 80%, which means that most home equity loans are out of reach because that’s the maximum LTV they allow. So, your borrowing power using your current equity is $0.

RenoFi, on the other hand, would allow you to go as high as 150% LTV of your current value or 90% of your after renovation value, whichever is lower. So, in this example, while using a standard home equity loan results in your borrowing power being $0, a RenoFi loan allows you to borrow up to $176,000 by using the after renovation value of your home!

Get started with your RenoFi loan here

ADU Interior Design Ideas to Optimize Space

ADUs are generally smaller than the primary residence, so efficient space utilization is a necessity. The secret to making a small space attractive and functional lies in careful planning and intelligent interior design decisions. 

Here are some crucial elements to consider if you’re eyeing maximizing space and improving the comfort of an ADU. 

Effective Layout

The basis of a well-planned ADU begins with a successful layout. Before considering aesthetics, it’s a great notion to set up a floor plan that enhances the flow and practicality of the area. An impactful ADU design strategy is using an open floor plan.

An open floor plan removes unnecessary walls, helping the ADU appear more spacious. This enhances the feeling of openness and facilitates versatile furniture arrangements. You can even consider integrating the kitchen, dining, and living room areas into one unified space.

Functionality and Space

When designing the interior of an ADU, comfort, style, and functionality should be your top priorities. A well-designed layout promotes smooth room transitions, stylish finishes enhance the atmosphere, and functional furniture and storage solutions optimize space. 

Effectively utilizing a small ADU involves designing spaces that serve multiple functions, reassuring homeowners that their design decisions will result in a comfortable and functional living space.

Minimalist Aesthetic

Minimalist design is ideal for ADU interiors because it emphasizes simplicity and functionality, much needed for living comfortably in small spaces. Furniture should be elegant and practical, avoiding unnecessary items that could clutter the living space. This method optimizes space and promotes a feeling of calmness and organization.

ADU Lighting for a Bright and Spacious Atmosphere

Install adequate lighting to enhance the atmosphere of every nook and cranny of your home, particularly in small areas such as ADUs. A well-planned lighting approach can create a brighter, more spacious, and inviting feel to your ADU.

Maximizing Sunlight Strategically

Large doors or skylights in an ADU maximize natural lighting for an expansive feel. These features enhance the sense of space and seamlessly integrate indoor and outdoor areas, improving overall comfort. 

Use sheer window treatments to maintain privacy while allowing ample daylight to permeate the space throughout the day. Consider floor-to-ceiling windows or sliding glass doors to maximize natural light and provide views of the outdoors, enhancing both the aesthetic and practicality of ADU design.

Thoughtful consideration of sightlines and strategic window placement can achieve a balance between privacy and openness in an ADU. Creating a comfortable and secure environment is vital for both guests and residents. Skylights offer an intelligent alternative to traditional windows.

Light Layers

In an ADU, prioritize ambient lighting with wall-mounted fixtures or recessed lights to conserve floor space. Opt for dimmable LED bulbs for adjustable brightness and create different moods throughout the day. 

Enhance room definition with strategic placement of lighting fixtures and use the table for focused illumination in specific areas. Movable lighting adds flexibility to your ADU design, adapting quickly to changing needs while maintaining aesthetic appeal and functionality.

Using Mirrors

Maximizing natural light is vital for making your ADU feel spacious and avoiding a cramped, confined atmosphere. Installing a large wall mirror opposite a window is an effective interior design strategy to maximize light reflection and increase the perceived size of each room. This technique amplifies natural light to expand ADU space visually.

Reflective Surfaces

Opt for surfaces and materials in ADU that reflect light instead of absorbing it, making the space feel larger. Choose glossy finishes for furniture and light-colored paint for walls to enhance brightness and openness. Add white lacquered walls or glossy tiles to rooms to increase spaciousness instantly. 

In small bathrooms, choose lighter tiles over darker ones to create the illusion of more room. The reflective nature of high-shine materials helps bounce light around, creating an airy and expansive atmosphere similar to using mirrors.

Smart Storage for Significant Impact

Well-organized storage solutions are essential in compact living areas like ADUs, where keeping things tidy is difficult yet necessary. Intelligent storage solutions enhance space efficiency and elevate the ADU’s visual appeal and functionality. 

Below are some innovative storage ideas to help utilize every space in the ADU effectively while maintaining organization and style.

Use of Vertical Space

Utilize vertical space to incorporate lofted beds, floating shelves, racks, hooks, and wall-mounted cabinets. These floating shelves are versatile for storing books, clothes, and other essential everyday items, helping to maximize floor space in small ADUs. Installing these features directs attention upward, providing a feeling of openness with a higher ceiling and larger room without crowding the floor.

Built-in Storage

Built-in storage offers a streamlined appearance and can blend harmoniously with the overall interior design, ensuring an organized environment. Use built-in storage solutions throughout ADU for a clutter-free environment. Under-stair and under-bed drawers, built-in cupboards, and cabinetry provide ample storage while enhancing the ADU’s visual appeal.

Hidden Storage

Storage is valuable in ADUs as it provides sufficient room for belongings while preserving the small living space. Choose furniture that offers versatile storage options to optimize functionality and maintain a neat and welcoming ADU interior.

Look for sofas with lift-up seats for hidden storage, beds featuring bottom drawers in the bottom, bedside tables with drawers, and coffee tables offering open drawers/ shelves ideal for storing books, clothes, linens, and additional household stuff. These pieces serve their primary purposes and help keep ADU neat and organized by maximizing available space.

Interior Design Concepts for Individual ADU Rooms

Living Room

Invest in furniture that serves multiple functions for compact spaces. Multi-functional furniture not only saves space but also enhances the ADU’s usability. Expandable dining tables, versatile sofa beds, and ottomans with concealed storage offer practical solutions to enhance ADU usability without compromising style. These furnishings maximize limited space, providing flexibility and efficiency in your living area.

Design a versatile living area that can double as a cozy space for socializing and relaxation and even provide temporary sleeping options for guests if needed.

Kitchen

Plan a kitchen that combines practicality with space efficiency. Consider an L-shaped or U-shaped layout to maximize workflow using vertical storage options and compact appliances. Ensure the kitchen layout adheres to the work triangle principle for maximum efficiency.

Pull-out storage options prove highly efficient, particularly in kitchens. They offer accessible storage for spices, cans, pots, pans, and other small kitchen essentials. This storage solution eliminates the need to search through deep cabinets, ensuring everything is conveniently accessible and visible.

Opt for compact, efficient appliances and furnishings that maintain functionality while saving space. One option is a wall-mounted desk that transforms into a dining table alongside modular seating that adjusts to different uses. Another option is a kitchen island that serves as a dining table and workspace.

Bedroom

Explore creative bedroom arrangements like Murphy lofted beds to maximize space while ensuring comfort and privacy. A Murphy bed that neatly folds into the wall can seamlessly convert a bedroom into a functional home office during the day. ADU residents can also utilize the area beneath the regular bed for storage bins or drawers to maximize space efficiency.

Lofted/Elevated Sleeping Space

If the ceiling permits, a raised sleeping area can maximize floor space in the studio or compact ADUs, making it an excellent choice where space is limited.

Sliding Doors

Sliding doors, such as barn and pocket doors, conserve space compared to conventional swing doors. They are especially beneficial in compact areas like closets, bathrooms, and living areas. Glass-paneled pocket doors enable shared lighting while still providing room division. Moreover, they occupy minimal space, sliding neatly into the wall when not in use.

Bathroom

Choose fittings and fixtures that suit the bathroom’s dimensions and install storage solutions for a neat, organized environment. Add compact bathtubs, walk-in showers, and floating vanities to optimize the available space. Compared to traditional tubs, walk-in showers occupy less space and are simpler to maintain, while floating vanities offer extra storage choices and visually expand the area.

Styling ADU Interiors

Through thoughtful color choices, embracing minimalist ideas, and selecting decor that suits your lifestyle, you can turn ADU into a stylish and practical retreat that feels spacious yet cozy.

Balanced Color Scheme

Impressions are important. Selecting the appropriate color palette in compact spaces like ADUs brings excitement. Opting for light and neutral tones such as creams, whites, pastels, and soft greys can create a sense of spaciousness and brightness by reflecting more light into the room.

So, choose minimalist designs with simple shapes and a color scheme that is either monochromatic or uses a limited range of colors. This approach creates a unified and harmonious appearance.

Bold Accents and Textured Décor

Enhance an ADU’s design by incorporating texture into accent pillows, throw rugs, storage containers, vases, bookends, wall art, and lighting fixtures. Consider creating a focal point with an accent wall using paint, textured materials, or wallpaper to elevate the overall aesthetic.

A lack of texture can leave your home feeling flat and uninspired. However, just like the coin reads two sides, too much texture can overwhelm a room and create a chaotic atmosphere. The key is to strike a balance with textured elements that add depth and visual interest without overpowering the space.

Scandinavian Style

The Scandinavian design aesthetic is famous for its practicality, simplicity, and emphasis on nature. To achieve this style, use a greys and whites color scheme paired with natural wood accents. Scandinavian decor is ideal for fostering an airy, light-filled atmosphere in your ADU that offers a serene and organized living space.

Conclusion

Creating a limited-space ADU interior doesn’t require compromising on functionality or style. Our RenoFi team enables you to craft innovative, efficient, and visually stunning ADUs that utilize every square inch effectively for a more significant impact with the many ADU financing options we have available. 

Implementing these ADU design concepts can transform a compact living area into a spacious, comfortable space. Embrace these suggestions and unleash creativity; the perfect, space-saving ADU design is just a few steps away!

RenoFi loans offer a good financing option for home renovation projects. Unlike traditional loans, which rely on your current home value or require refinancing your primary mortgage at a potentially higher rate, RenoFi loans are based on your home’s renovation value. It enables you to borrow up to 11 times more on average, maintain a low monthly payment, and keep a favorable rate on your first mortgage.

Get started with these pre-approved ADU plans to design the perfect ADU and maximize its benefits.