FamilyHousehold

Large Family, Small House: Making It Work

Raising a family is hard without having to struggle with your tiny home! However, just because you don’t have 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a playroom and a garage, doesn’t mean you can’t have a functional and relaxing family life full of comfort and fun!


Here’s how you can make your tiny house work for your large family.

Insulate for Noise

man reading magazine on couchA full house can get very noisy, especially if you have young kids living alongside teenagers. Getting your toddler to sleep while your teen blasts music can be next to impossible!

That’s why good noise insulation is the key to a happy and peaceful small home and kids who are not cranky all the time.

Insulate all internal walls and add floor insulation to your attic and ceiling insulation to your basement if you happen to use these extra spaces for more than just storage.

Create Zones

If you want to have a functional, comfortable and stylish home, you need to divide it into different zones. Otherwise, you’re risking having toys, school books, work papers and dirty plates all over your house!

So, create a play zone, designate small corners for homework (both your kids’ and yours) and ban eating outside of the kitchen or dining room. This layout will make cleaning a breeze and prevent clutter from taking over!

Be Smart with Storage

Even the biggest of homes often struggle with storage, let alone tiny homes full of people! Take advantage of the unused wall space and go vertical.

Invest in a few wall shelves that are perfect for displaying your kids’ possessions, your books, family photos and travel souvenirs. This way you can improve your décor AND spare your closet and cabinet space!

Another way to put empty space to good use is to utilize under-the-bed space. Get beds with drawers or invest in storage bags that fit under your bed.

These are perfect for storing out-of-season clothes and extra linen.

Leave no Space Behind

If you’re only using your attic and basement for storage, you should know you’re wasting a lot of living space! If you’re ready for a more serious home improvement project, you can repurpose your attic and get an extra bedroom, family room or playroom out of it!

Also, one great way to put your basement to good use is to turn it into an office/study space. Just a few desks, chairs and computers will turn your ugly basement into a productive space. 

In turn, this space can advance your career and help your kids achieve great academic results.

If you love to multitask, turn one part of your basement office into a laundry room and kill two birds with one stone! New appliances like the new Miele washer are super quiet and effective. 

They will take care of your dirty laundry without disturbing your work! Most new appliances are also Energy Star certified, so you can save both money and energy.

Be Creative

You can repurpose other rooms just like you’ve repurposed your attic and basement! Convert your dining room into a schoolroom or use your living room as dining space.

A small home doesn’t have to bow to any traditions, so get creative and you’ll find yourself surrounded by extra space! 

Employ your Outdoor Space

If you don’t have a mudroom, you can utilize your covered patio space and turn it into storage for boots, outdoor gear, and tools that would otherwise clutter your home. Providing your garden with shelter will also give you extra living space, especially during the warmer part of the year.

Pergolas and gazebos are great, but they require big investments and plenty of space. Ditch them in favor of shade sails that are cheap, practical, easy to install and fit perfectly over any space from your deck to your outdoor spa!

Create Schedules and Stick to them

No matter how big or small your home is, the key to a functional, happy and healthy family is a good schedule! However, making a big family function like clockwork in a tiny home is a bit trickier.

In order to respect everyone’s needs and wishes, create a schedule that will be your constitution! Schedule TV remote times, pampering times and homework times, so that everyone gets the same opportunity to relax, work and have fun.

Mom playing with baby in picture windowShop Smart

Try not to bring too many new things into your home to avoid storage crisis and clutter. Buying in bulk might be a bit more cost-effective, but it will also take up all your storage space, so take calculated risks every time you go shopping.

Also, try to respect the one-in-one-out rule!

If there are things you really need to invest in, make sure to throw out or donate one thing that you can do without.

Don’t let your small home stop your large family from being the best version of itself! Think outside the box and employ these design tricks. 

You’ll have enough space for work, fun and relaxation no matter the square footage!  

About the author

About the author

Diana Smith is a full-time mom of two beautiful girls. Diana’s interested in topics related to the latest DIY projects. In her free time, she enjoys exercising and preparing healthy meals for her family.

If your wish is to have a modern and cozy personal environment, the obvious start of the whole project should be your living room. By designing this space just right, you’ll get the best possible starting point you can use for the rest of your home.

Get tips on designing a modern living room.

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