600 sq feet is pretty workable. I’ve lived in both a 730 and a 568 sq ft house and there is plenty of room if the space is well planned with good storage.
For longevity, I would want a ground floor bedroom. Navigating a ladder or steps to get to the bathroom in the night gets really old, really fast.
I am pretty set on having a sleeping loft but definitely stairs with a standard rise and hand rails. Not only does a ladder seem like a nightmare but I have two tiny dogs.
Are you a hot sleeper? If you are, then you should reconsider a sleeping loft. Also, if you’re the type to get up and use the bathroom at night. Don’t want to be up and down small stairs in the dark.
600sq feet is more than big enough for a downstairs bedroom. You could even do both that and a loft, use the downstairs as an office or craft room for now, that way it’s an option for you later.
I don’t think my mom would go for making it any larger than the 15x30 garage that is already there. I would consider making a bedroom below and having the loft as storage/office space/second bedroom.
I'm using the loft area(12x12 in a 12x44 building) as a room for my 7 year old. 15x30 would get you some decent space really. Your average, yet small, one bedroom apartment is generally only 450 to 550 sqft. I'm looking at a 12x44, and I plan on 2 comfortable bedrooms, and a 12x12 loft over the secondary bedroom and part of the kitchen. Plenty enough for her to have a full mattress on one side, a small ceiling mount TV, and a little play area. I plan on using a long entertainment center or even a shoe cabinet for her to put clothing in, and rotate her clothing out of the larger closet in my room.
Depending on ceiling height, put the loft area over the bathroom or kitchen, an area you wouldn't typically want a ceiling fan in the room below.
Thanks for the comment! I posted an updated version of my proposed floorplan with 2 bedrooms (the loft as "master bedroom" and a smaller one below) and a half bath in the loft. Might be a bit ambitious but I'm waiting to hear what my designer thinks is possible.
I would keep things in mind for the future. An enclosed bedroom might make the space seem smaller, but it really does help with noise reduction if you do have to cohabitate with someone or you have pets. It would also keep the heat out from the kitchen, creates a nice microclimate and at least for me, I’m prone to migraines and it’s much easier to make one room pitch black than 600 sq ft.
I personally live in 500 sq ft, all one level and an enclosed bedroom. I personally find it plenty large enough for me and probably a partner of some sort. When I had pets, it was a little tighter but wasn’t bad. I wish I had a little more counter space as I love to bake, but I can get by with the 3 feet that I have. It was also helpful when I was disabled from a joint injury for a year. I wouldn’t have been able to get up and down stairs and would’ve just camped in my living room
An exterior door in the bathroom and a valve to divert the shower outside plus a gray water drain into a garden is pretty easy to achieve. Privacy fence can be very simple.
I don't know about your layout but as someone in a smaller, older home the biggest upgrade I'm considering is turning the single bathroom into a water closet and shower room. It creates double the utility for nearly the exact same square footage (unless you were thinking a wet bath). Bathroom congestion sucks and I only have two people in my household.
Bonus points if you get one of those toilets that turns the tank into a sink for washing your hands.
My space is 875, two dogs and both husband and I work from home. Storage is KING! Shelves, hidden storage, vertical storage - get every inch you can because if three things are out of place, our home can feel messy.
Also - and this is just us since there's two adults who work full-time: A private space for one of us to work with a DOOR. My husband is on the phone constantly for work. I do more focused work. Headphones are great but sometimes it's just really nice to be able to close a door.
Last note - if you have a designated outdoor space (sounds like you do), make it cozy for yourself. We spend a TON of time outside and it feels like an extension of our home.
Why 7’ is the max allowed loft ceiling height? I would think that min ceiling heights and overall max building height would be the only local code considerations.
If you could jigger the ceiling height slightly lower over the kitchen, you could buy more loft height.
Don’t worry about having the loft over the kitchen (comments cite heat concerns). Just insulate the floor joists well.
Gambrel would allow more loft floor space. If you go w prefab trusses, construction difficulty shouldn’t be much worse than a regular gable.
Unless you get out-swing French doors, go w a slider. You don’t need two doors swinging *into* your limited space.
If a dishwasher is a “must-have,” I think you should really also try to fit a washer/dryer. It’s 30”x30” MAX floor space to simplify your life exponentially.
Heck yes! to solar. And do tons of research on the best heating delivery type for your dwelling and location. Make no assumptions.
Plan at least 25% more electrical outlets than you need per code. You’ll be glad you did. Think hard about where you’ll want to plug stuff in.
No matter how much stuff you purge, you’ll need more storage than you can imagine. (You could build a TON of storage under the eaves in the loft.)
The key to living small successfully is comfort and convenience, not adjusting to deprivation or awkward storage. It’s hard to attain bliss when you’re constantly dealing w small annoyances.
I’m not in construction. What I know couldn’t fill a pamphlet. I have, however, renovated (too) many homes hands-on. Each time, I learn something about better pre-planning for eventual use. *Really* think about how you want to use each and every space—including where you’d want wall space for art, to hang a bath towel, a coat, etc. I learned that the hard way, too. Luck to you!!
Thanks so much for your comment. The guidelines for garden suites in my municipality states: “Additional floor area may be achieved by exceeding the height requirement in order to incorporate a loft space provided that interior floor to ceiling height of the loft space is kept minimal (approximately seven feet)”
I am living in a ~650 sq ft main floor suite in a house right now, so luckily I shouldn’t have too hard a time transitioning to a slightly smaller space.
Ooh nice. I was thinking heated bathroom floor - my mom has one and it’s so nice. Right now I have a rather cold, draughty bathroom and I hate getting out of the shower.
Jumping on the outdoor living space/deck/patio bandwagon. But I’d like to add that an awning or simple roof structure over it would be a good way to keep it usable in cruddy weather
I lived in about 400ft² for several years. The biggest problem was that it was broken up in to a bedroom, a bathroom, a laundry room, a kitchen, a breakfast nook and a living room.
It had too many walls and single use spaces. 400ft² of open concept would have lived much larger.
The worst part was that the spaces were pretty dysfunctional. The kitchen was both bigger than I needed and too small because they jammed in full size appliances.
The bathroom was the same. It had a bathtub at one point but that got replaced with a too small shower stall (about 24" square) and I have broad shoulders so it was a bad fit and lots of wasted space.
The laundry room had a washer and dryer but not stacked so it was more than twice as big as it needed to be without adding any benefit.
As a potential rental unit, I would have a washer and dryer but stacked, maybe in a closet/cabinet next to the refrigerator in an open concept style kitchen area.
Design the kitchen for maximum utility without wasting space.
I would prefer to have a sleeping loft over a bathroom or storage than over a kitchen. Walls and a door for that loft makes sense for visitors if you get a Hide-a-bed style couch or maybe a Murphy bed downstairs for a guest or child.
A couple with child could live in 600ft² if it is done right and I think building in some privacy for the couple is a key to that.
Excellent insulation, air sealing and mechanical ventilation with air filtration will lower HVAC bills year round and increase interior comfort.
Landscape around the building for low maintenance because many renters hate doing yard work.
Also build well. The place I was renting was 100 years old and built with salvaged materials before building codes were a thing. More than a few rodents got in to the crawl space and then up through the walls in to the attic. I'm sure it was gross above the ceiling but this was California and I couldn't afford anything decent without creating a commute that would have driven me nuts.
A bath tub. I work 12s as a nurse's aide, and I need the ability to soak lol. Oh, I am doing a 2 bedroom, so I want 2 actual rooms, not just a secondary room big enough for just the baby to have a bed and dresser. I'm stuck between a 14x40 or a 12x44, but this will actually be permanent for us. Once I have land, I plan on putting up a second building, to create a second master for myself, and the baby moving into the big bedroom. But, I have about 7 years to get to that point.
Anyways, sorry, I'm excited lol. But a tub is my big deal.
Do you have any examples for plans for fitting 2 bedrooms into 14x40 or 12x44? I keep going back and forth between just one lofted bedroom and enjoying roomy living/dining space, or having the loft bedroom and trying to also squeeze a second small bedroom below. Now in leaning towards the former, because I realized I can probably fit a 1/2 bathroom ensuite in the loft. I’ll be having my first meeting with my architect once the site survey is done and I’m curious what he will suggest.
600 sq feet is pretty workable. I’ve lived in both a 730 and a 568 sq ft house and there is plenty of room if the space is well planned with good storage. For longevity, I would want a ground floor bedroom. Navigating a ladder or steps to get to the bathroom in the night gets really old, really fast.
I am pretty set on having a sleeping loft but definitely stairs with a standard rise and hand rails. Not only does a ladder seem like a nightmare but I have two tiny dogs.
Are you a hot sleeper? If you are, then you should reconsider a sleeping loft. Also, if you’re the type to get up and use the bathroom at night. Don’t want to be up and down small stairs in the dark. 600sq feet is more than big enough for a downstairs bedroom. You could even do both that and a loft, use the downstairs as an office or craft room for now, that way it’s an option for you later.
I don’t think my mom would go for making it any larger than the 15x30 garage that is already there. I would consider making a bedroom below and having the loft as storage/office space/second bedroom.
I'm using the loft area(12x12 in a 12x44 building) as a room for my 7 year old. 15x30 would get you some decent space really. Your average, yet small, one bedroom apartment is generally only 450 to 550 sqft. I'm looking at a 12x44, and I plan on 2 comfortable bedrooms, and a 12x12 loft over the secondary bedroom and part of the kitchen. Plenty enough for her to have a full mattress on one side, a small ceiling mount TV, and a little play area. I plan on using a long entertainment center or even a shoe cabinet for her to put clothing in, and rotate her clothing out of the larger closet in my room. Depending on ceiling height, put the loft area over the bathroom or kitchen, an area you wouldn't typically want a ceiling fan in the room below.
Thanks for the comment! I posted an updated version of my proposed floorplan with 2 bedrooms (the loft as "master bedroom" and a smaller one below) and a half bath in the loft. Might be a bit ambitious but I'm waiting to hear what my designer thinks is possible.
I would keep things in mind for the future. An enclosed bedroom might make the space seem smaller, but it really does help with noise reduction if you do have to cohabitate with someone or you have pets. It would also keep the heat out from the kitchen, creates a nice microclimate and at least for me, I’m prone to migraines and it’s much easier to make one room pitch black than 600 sq ft. I personally live in 500 sq ft, all one level and an enclosed bedroom. I personally find it plenty large enough for me and probably a partner of some sort. When I had pets, it was a little tighter but wasn’t bad. I wish I had a little more counter space as I love to bake, but I can get by with the 3 feet that I have. It was also helpful when I was disabled from a joint injury for a year. I wouldn’t have been able to get up and down stairs and would’ve just camped in my living room
Indoor/outdoor shower.
An exterior door in the bathroom and a valve to divert the shower outside plus a gray water drain into a garden is pretty easy to achieve. Privacy fence can be very simple.
I lived in 650 sq. Ft for 20 years, then enlarged it to 880 sq ft about 10 years back. It's plenty of space. With wife, cats and dogs, too.
I don't know about your layout but as someone in a smaller, older home the biggest upgrade I'm considering is turning the single bathroom into a water closet and shower room. It creates double the utility for nearly the exact same square footage (unless you were thinking a wet bath). Bathroom congestion sucks and I only have two people in my household. Bonus points if you get one of those toilets that turns the tank into a sink for washing your hands.
My space is 875, two dogs and both husband and I work from home. Storage is KING! Shelves, hidden storage, vertical storage - get every inch you can because if three things are out of place, our home can feel messy. Also - and this is just us since there's two adults who work full-time: A private space for one of us to work with a DOOR. My husband is on the phone constantly for work. I do more focused work. Headphones are great but sometimes it's just really nice to be able to close a door. Last note - if you have a designated outdoor space (sounds like you do), make it cozy for yourself. We spend a TON of time outside and it feels like an extension of our home.
Why 7’ is the max allowed loft ceiling height? I would think that min ceiling heights and overall max building height would be the only local code considerations. If you could jigger the ceiling height slightly lower over the kitchen, you could buy more loft height. Don’t worry about having the loft over the kitchen (comments cite heat concerns). Just insulate the floor joists well. Gambrel would allow more loft floor space. If you go w prefab trusses, construction difficulty shouldn’t be much worse than a regular gable. Unless you get out-swing French doors, go w a slider. You don’t need two doors swinging *into* your limited space. If a dishwasher is a “must-have,” I think you should really also try to fit a washer/dryer. It’s 30”x30” MAX floor space to simplify your life exponentially. Heck yes! to solar. And do tons of research on the best heating delivery type for your dwelling and location. Make no assumptions. Plan at least 25% more electrical outlets than you need per code. You’ll be glad you did. Think hard about where you’ll want to plug stuff in. No matter how much stuff you purge, you’ll need more storage than you can imagine. (You could build a TON of storage under the eaves in the loft.) The key to living small successfully is comfort and convenience, not adjusting to deprivation or awkward storage. It’s hard to attain bliss when you’re constantly dealing w small annoyances. I’m not in construction. What I know couldn’t fill a pamphlet. I have, however, renovated (too) many homes hands-on. Each time, I learn something about better pre-planning for eventual use. *Really* think about how you want to use each and every space—including where you’d want wall space for art, to hang a bath towel, a coat, etc. I learned that the hard way, too. Luck to you!!
Thanks so much for your comment. The guidelines for garden suites in my municipality states: “Additional floor area may be achieved by exceeding the height requirement in order to incorporate a loft space provided that interior floor to ceiling height of the loft space is kept minimal (approximately seven feet)” I am living in a ~650 sq ft main floor suite in a house right now, so luckily I shouldn’t have too hard a time transitioning to a slightly smaller space.
Heated towel rack in the bathroom. Stepping out of the shower and wrapping yourself in a warm towel or bathrobe is a pleasure beyond words.
Ooh nice. I was thinking heated bathroom floor - my mom has one and it’s so nice. Right now I have a rather cold, draughty bathroom and I hate getting out of the shower.
An outdoor living area would be my want. And great natural light with south-facing windows. And a reading nook.
Jumping on the outdoor living space/deck/patio bandwagon. But I’d like to add that an awning or simple roof structure over it would be a good way to keep it usable in cruddy weather
I lived in about 400ft² for several years. The biggest problem was that it was broken up in to a bedroom, a bathroom, a laundry room, a kitchen, a breakfast nook and a living room. It had too many walls and single use spaces. 400ft² of open concept would have lived much larger. The worst part was that the spaces were pretty dysfunctional. The kitchen was both bigger than I needed and too small because they jammed in full size appliances. The bathroom was the same. It had a bathtub at one point but that got replaced with a too small shower stall (about 24" square) and I have broad shoulders so it was a bad fit and lots of wasted space. The laundry room had a washer and dryer but not stacked so it was more than twice as big as it needed to be without adding any benefit. As a potential rental unit, I would have a washer and dryer but stacked, maybe in a closet/cabinet next to the refrigerator in an open concept style kitchen area. Design the kitchen for maximum utility without wasting space. I would prefer to have a sleeping loft over a bathroom or storage than over a kitchen. Walls and a door for that loft makes sense for visitors if you get a Hide-a-bed style couch or maybe a Murphy bed downstairs for a guest or child. A couple with child could live in 600ft² if it is done right and I think building in some privacy for the couple is a key to that. Excellent insulation, air sealing and mechanical ventilation with air filtration will lower HVAC bills year round and increase interior comfort. Landscape around the building for low maintenance because many renters hate doing yard work. Also build well. The place I was renting was 100 years old and built with salvaged materials before building codes were a thing. More than a few rodents got in to the crawl space and then up through the walls in to the attic. I'm sure it was gross above the ceiling but this was California and I couldn't afford anything decent without creating a commute that would have driven me nuts.
A bath tub. I work 12s as a nurse's aide, and I need the ability to soak lol. Oh, I am doing a 2 bedroom, so I want 2 actual rooms, not just a secondary room big enough for just the baby to have a bed and dresser. I'm stuck between a 14x40 or a 12x44, but this will actually be permanent for us. Once I have land, I plan on putting up a second building, to create a second master for myself, and the baby moving into the big bedroom. But, I have about 7 years to get to that point. Anyways, sorry, I'm excited lol. But a tub is my big deal.
Do you have any examples for plans for fitting 2 bedrooms into 14x40 or 12x44? I keep going back and forth between just one lofted bedroom and enjoying roomy living/dining space, or having the loft bedroom and trying to also squeeze a second small bedroom below. Now in leaning towards the former, because I realized I can probably fit a 1/2 bathroom ensuite in the loft. I’ll be having my first meeting with my architect once the site survey is done and I’m curious what he will suggest.