
Next up
11 terrifically tiny homesThese functional-but-small houses prove that bigger is not always better.
21 knockout built-insThese clever features can expand your existing space.
6 tips for tiny gardensThis petite patch of green is bursting with space-smart solutions.
6 design tricks for a small homeSee how a few smart strategies made the most of 1,200 square feet.
10 tiny houses you'll love big timeYou can find huge savings in these small living spaces.
5 reasons to buy a small houseLearn some of the benefits of living in less space.
Make a small home work for youLearn how you can live comfortably with less space.
Big ideas from Japan's tiny housesSmall spaces don't always mean squeezing, as these scaled-down homes show.
How to live large in a small spaceHere are 10 tips for making the most of tight quarters.

© Lisa Romerein

© Daniel Hennessy

© Mark Compton

© Mark Compton

© Thomas J. Story

© Thomas J. Story

© Alex Hayden


© Thomas J. Story

© Thomas J. Story

© Thomas J. Story

© Thomas J. Story

© Lisa Romerein

© Lisa Romerein

© Bill Timmerman

© Thomas J. Story

© Thomas J. Story

© Benjamin Benschneider

© Benjamin Benschneider

© Jeffrey Becom



© Thomas J. Story
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Inspiring small homes
By Sunset
Santa Monica cottage
Julie Hart's 900-square-foot cottage in Santa Monica, Calif., was billed as a teardown when she bought it. However, instead of starting from scratch, she renovated the home into a bright, airy gem.
In the kitchen, new oversized windows and skylights invite in the sunshine.
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- On Sunset.com: See the rest of this dramatic renovation
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San Diego bungalow
Lauren and Eric Wendlandt weren't worried about the tiny size of this San Diego bungalow when they purchased it. The use of creative furnishings — this dining-room table can extend to seat 10 people — allows them to maximize space.
- On Sunset.com: See the rest of this 700-square-foot bungalow
- Video: Best homes for less than $500,000
![]() | Design Center Get ideas for your home with our inspirational rooms and direct access to real products. Click here to begin exploring |
Inspiring small homes
Remodeled Airstream home
Landscape architect Andreas Stavropoulos lives in a remodeled 1959 Airstream trailer, which he parks behind a Berkeley, Calif., co-op. The space is only 15 feet long and 7 feet wide, but Stavropoulos makes it work by avoiding unnecessary possessions and using built-in furniture.
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Airstream home: Bedroom
Andreas Stavropoulos makes the most of his limited space by keeping his shirts and jackets hanging on a rail across from the cooktop. His built-in bed is topped with a thick piece of cut-to-fit memory foam.
- On Sunset.com: See more of this tiny Airstream home
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![]() | Design Center Get ideas for your home with our inspirational rooms and direct access to real products. Click here to begin exploring |
Inspiring small homes
Glass house
This striking glass house was built of components shipped from all over the country directly to the picturesque site in the Sierra foothills of Three Rivers, Calif. It creates an eye-popping impact with its 1,200 feet.
- Video: Chic living in 300 square feet
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Inspiring small homes
Glass house: Interior
The Fireorb fireplace frees up floor space, and the spindly tables and chairs help the home feel uncluttered.
![]() | Design Center Get ideas for your home with our inspirational rooms and direct access to real products. Click here to begin exploring |
Inspiring small homes
Modern remodel
Using clean, simple materials, Kent and Pam Greene were able to update their small, light-filled Seattle home on a tiny budget. By using bright colors, adding larger windows and taking down interior walls, they gave the house a feeling of openness.
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Modern remodel: Kitchen
In the kitchen, Kent and Pam Greene used plywood for their cabinets, another simple, cost-saving decision.
- On Sunset.com: Learn more about this budget-friendly remodel
- Video: Best homes for less than $500,000
![]() | Design Center Get ideas for your home with our inspirational rooms and direct access to real products. Click here to begin exploring |
Inspiring small homes
Modern houseboat
Matt and Jennifer Harvey's modern prefab houseboat on California's Richardson Bay is only 1,000 square feet. When they moved in with their children, Jack and Grace, in 2009, they made the most of the space by getting rid of unnecessary belongings.
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Modern houseboat: Rooftop deck
When the weather is warm, Matt and Jennifer Harvey make the most of their outdoor space by inviting friends over for dinner parties on their rooftop deck.
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Inspiring small homes
Prefab dream house
Aaron Jones' tiny, one-bedroom home in central Tucson, Ariz., is full of creative ideas for small-space living. The eco-conscious Rocio Romero prefab house is only 625 square feet.
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Prefab dream house: Bedroom
Because the house, like a studio apartment, is one big room, Aaron Jones uses furniture to divide one space from another. Here, a low chest of drawers and a couch separate the bedroom from the living room.
- On Sunset.com: See how this prefab home was built
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Inspiring small homes
Sunny bungalow
Gus and Stephanie Koven wanted a way to unite their 1,000-square-foot bungalow in Venice, Calif., to the backyard, so they built a sunny, greenhouselike addition.
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Inspiring small homes
Sunny bungalow: Addition
Now, sheets of 16-millimeter clear polycarbonate open this dark little bungalow to its garden.
- On Sunset.com: Learn everything about this light-filled addition
- Video: Best homes for less than $500,000
![]() | Design Center Get ideas for your home with our inspirational rooms and direct access to real products. Click here to begin exploring |
Inspiring small homes
Green home
This prefab house in Scottsdale, Ariz., is dynamic and livable, honoring Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy while tackling sustainable systems such as solar panels and rainwater and gray-water collection.
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Big kitchen
Christine Nelsen-Thuresson and Johan Thuresson turned three cramped rooms in their tiny San Francisco home into a large, colorful kitchen with views of their garden. The cottage itself is less than 700 square feet.
![]() | Design Center Get ideas for your home with our inspirational rooms and direct access to real products. Click here to begin exploring |
Inspiring small homes
Big kitchen: Dining room
Eliminating two interior walls brought in tons of light and made room for a dining space.
- On Sunset.com: Learn all about this kitchen remodel
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Inspiring small homes
Rooftop apartment
This smart, 800-square-foot apartment sits atop a 62,000-square-foot Seattle warehouse, tapping into previously unappreciated views.
“This is just one example of what is possible if we look at these forgotten landscapes as new opportunities,” the architects at the Miller|Hull Partnership say.
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Inspiring small homes
Rooftop apartment: View
The roof's deep overhang keeps the rooms cool even though the walls are glass.
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Inspiring small homes
Colorful bungalow
When Jeffrey Becom and his partner, Sally Jean Aberg, decided to remodel this 1,000-square-foot bungalow in Pacific Grove, Calif., they chose to use bold colors to enhance its architectural details. Becom, an artist and photographer, mixed custom paints and stains.
![]() | Design Center Get ideas for your home with our inspirational rooms and direct access to real products. Click here to begin exploring |
Inspiring small homes
Colorful bungalow: Living room
In addition to choosing bright, exciting colors, Jeffrey Becom and Sally Jean Aberg also raised the ceilings and opened up several rooms to create a larger living, dining and office space.
- On Sunset.com: Learn more about this remodel
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Inspiring small homes
Simple cabin
The interior of this cabin in Durango, Colo., consists of a sleeping/living room, a simple kitchen and a bathroom alcove.
![]() | Design Center Get ideas for your home with our inspirational rooms and direct access to real products. Click here to begin exploring |
Inspiring small homes
Modern cottage
This modular project from San Francisco-based prefab company Modern Cabana works as a vacation getaway or backyard guest suite and home office.
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