Creating Open Space Illusions In Tiny Homes

Although there are near endless projects to be done for the animals and before we can attempt to expand and personalize this modest and humble cabin, that definitely has not stopped me from gathering inspiration that will help me ensure that each space, each detail of our home is filled with intention and personality. On peaceful and quiet nights when I should be sleeping- the wee hours of the morning have made them selves my closest companions as of late. Sitting in the middle of the living room / kitchen area simply observing this home, I realized that with the rectangular layout and its smaller stature, creating the illusion of a larger space will be key in feeling like you can truly spread out. Classic “open floor plans” honestly bore me and lack creative usage of space. I feel like I start to get a bit claustrophobic in the more modern open floor plans. I start thinking, “the only space I have to move around is what I can see.” A living room meshed with a kitchen and several bedrooms right off.

No thanks.

I believe there are many tricks to creating the illusion of openness in a smaller space without needing to rip down every wall.

Usage of light / white paint colors.

Painting ceilings

Painting floors

and my recent + most favorite discovery and obsession….

Window walls.

All of these images are from Pinterest 📌 and some were simply uploaded with no link or credit. I’ve linked my “Kentucky Cabin Remodel” so that you can view them, add credit if you find the owner and see the rest of my inspo.

You can see how adding windows INSIDE the house, especially as an entire wall, could really play to the minds perception of space. Being able to view into the next room, whether that be a pantry, laundry room etc just gives you that feeling that there is more space to move around (even if there isn’t).

Our first goal is to push it the living room wall that over looks the lake (or at least it will when there are enough windows) by taking over half of our covered porch. It will be a bit sad to only have half of that beautifully elongated porch but, at time point in time we will made it bigger again. Once that is pushed out and a row of gorgeous windows shows you to view our 3 acre pond, it will add an additional 180sqft which trust me, in this current 1250sqft cabin (including the loft) it will feel like a new home. Doing this also shows us to fix the vastly too steep stairs that were built nearly vertical ! We’ll pull them out to create a gentle slope by adding a landing and having them come diagonal to the new placement of the front door.

My plan is to also, eventually take the wall where the house currently ends and add on a hall (using these window walls as inspiration) that will take you to a pantry, walk in laundry / mud room with French door access to the garden and a master bedroom with bathroom, also with access to garden.

Those plans sound so grandiose when I speak them aloud but, something in my heart tells me it’s not unattainable. We often time make the mistake of hyper fixating on the all the ways something is unachievable versus all the ways that propel you closer to that goal.

I plan on adding some photos of the areas of our humble abode in which I’m referencing here so everyone can get a better understanding.

Remember to head to my remodel board on Pinterest and sharing the source info if you happen to know it so I can upload the proper link credit 🤍 as always drop comments below with any thoughts or questions.

Xoxo