Self-building of small houses is gaining more and more popularity. The advantages are obvious - own courtyard and lack of neighbors in the immediate vicinity, which is always observed in high-rise buildings. How to create the most comfortable and functional home in a relatively small area?
Popular Options
The layout of small houses has many options that are created taking into account the used area, number of storeys and other nuances. The following projects are considered the most popular:
- One-story houses with a small space most often have a combined bathroom, a living room, which serves as a dining room, a small bedroom or kitchen.
- Housing with an attic is a rather interesting option, as it combines a full ground floor and an annex from above, in which, as a rule, the bedroom is located. The first floor is divided into a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room. Perhaps the location of one or two living rooms.
- The layout of a small two-story house gives enough free space for several living rooms, a spacious kitchen and a living room. In this case, the bathroom can be placed on the first floor and duplicated on the second.
Houses with a small area are quite easy to design and build, but require accurate calculations for the installation of ventilation and heating systems.
Materials for construction
The planning of a small house project is always carried out on the basis of the materials that will be required for its subsequent construction. The most popular materials are:
- The tree is perfect for building small cottages. It is quite expensive, but easy to work with. In addition, it is environmentally friendly. Buildings made of wooden beams always look expensive and interesting.
- Brick is used for both one-story and two-story houses. It is a heavy material, therefore it requires pouring a stable foundation. Brick has such advantages as durability and resistance to adverse external factors.
- Foam blocks are often used in construction, as this is an affordable and relatively inexpensive material. However, due to their unsightly appearance, the house will require external decoration. Such buildings hold heat perfectly, are durable and strong.
- Sandwich panels are the most budgetary material for construction. They are quite light, so they do not require a solid foundation, building a house from such material takes quite a bit of time. The main disadvantage of sandwich panels is the lack of strength (compared with other building materials).
The choice depends on personal preferences and the estimated budget for the construction of the house.
Architectural style
When planning small houses, attention is paid not only to the internal content, but also to the appearance of the structure. Often, houses are built in the following styles:
- Classic, which involves a rectangular or square house with a two- or four-pitched roof. Such houses are quite simple, convenient in design and operation. Their standard appearance fits perfectly into both urban and rural environments.
- High-tech involves the use of strict lines in the layout of the house. Such structures look quite modern and interesting. In addition, panoramic windows are often installed in them, which gives a spectacular view to the structure.
- Modern is the use of some unusual motifs. In such houses, you can often find small turrets, round windows, interesting stairs and terraces.
When designing a small house for personal use, you can give free rein to imagination and translate all desires into reality.
The advantages of small houses
For a small family, you rarely need too much space at home. Therefore, the standard structure is a set of technical rooms, a living room, several bedrooms (for parents and children). The advantages of such buildings are as follows:
- Low consumption of building materials.
- Quick erection.
- The use of simple varieties of foundation.
- The best thermal insulation.
- Profitability in terms of heating and cooling.
- Easy to care.
- Economic use of the land.
- Compactness.
Also an indisputable advantage of houses of this layout is the relatively small taxation and utilities than the owners of large buildings.
Project development
When planning small private houses, some features should be taken into account to ensure maximum durability and comfortable living conditions:
- Dimensions of the land. For psychological comfort, the windows of the house should not go out onto a blank wall (for example, a barn) and be located close to the fence, there must be free space. This is also true for those who like to cultivate beds or want to set up a small garden. The dimensions of the house must correspond to the land.
- Soil features greatly affect the choice of foundation, the number of storeys of the house and the choice of building materials.
- Room size requirements. Each person has his own beliefs about what should be the rooms in the house. At the stage of drawing up the plan, these points should be taken into account.
- Installation of autonomous communications. In a house where there is no way to connect to the central sewage system, there is a need to create a cesspool or install a septic tank. Since such communications should be at a certain distance from the house, it is necessary to leave enough space for them on the land.
The dimensions of the dwelling should be comfortable for residents, therefore, for this, all wishes should be taken into account even at the planning stage of a small one-story house.
Choosing a Ready Plan
Of course, everyone wants to build such a house, which he paints in his imagination. It should be noted that the development of an individual layout of a small house requires a lot of cash costs. However, it is possible to choose a ready-made residential building plan that will meet the requirements. In this case, you need to pay attention to some nuances:
- Land area. If it is small, you should give preference to small buildings, the area of which can be increased by using the extension of the second floor or attic.
- The estimated cost of the building, which must be indicated in the plan. It is also necessary to take into account the cost of building materials from which the house will be built.
- Typical buildings are much cheaper to build. If you want to build something individual, then you should be mentally prepared for high expenses.
- The number of rooms and their layout should be carefully thought out to fill in an additional layer of foundation for them.
It is also recommended that you take a responsible approach to choosing a construction company that offers the purchase of ready-made plans for houses. You should rely on reviews and cost.
Increased functionality
Often when planning small houses with or without an attic, they resort to such tricks to increase the usable space without changing the dimensions of the house:
- Combined bathroom.
- Adjacent rooms, due to which it is possible to significantly reduce the area of the hall in favor of a living room.
- Combining a kitchen with a dining room or living room.
At the same time, care should be taken not only about the functionality of the premises, but also about their comfort when it comes to a house for permanent residence.
Room layout
The development of a home plan should include the possible arrangement of furniture in the rooms in order to place everything necessary. Typically, in small houses of a beautiful layout, the living room is small, but spacious enough to accommodate a sofa, armchairs, TV, coffee table, fireplace and dining table.
The calculation of the area for the kitchen is made taking into account all the necessary furniture and equipment that will be there. In addition, the dining table can be placed not in the living room, but directly in the kitchen.
If the house has an attic, it is recommended that the bedrooms be placed there. On this floor creates a unique atmosphere that promotes relaxation. They will be small, but spacious enough to accommodate beds and other furniture.
A bathroom is often combined to save space. It consists of a washbasin, shower or bath and toilet. Optionally, it can accommodate the necessary cabinets and a bidet.
Heating
This is one of the main issues that must be considered when creating a project of a residential private house of any size. If the house involves the use of a stove or fireplace, you should take care of its fire safety, ventilation, as well as the layout of the chimney.
If you plan to install a solid fuel boiler (firewood, coal, etc.), it is necessary to provide a boiler room. You cannot combine it with other rooms. Moreover, the boiler room must meet the requirements of SNIPs regarding the area of the room, the height of the ceilings, lighting, and ventilation. If the house is designed small, the boiler room can be placed in the basement or in a separate building, but they must also meet the standards, otherwise no one will sign the project.
A gas boiler can be installed in the kitchen, but even here you need to comply with the standards regarding area, ventilation, distance from the stove. All these nuances must be taken into account when designing the layout of residential buildings.
Conclusion
A photo of the layout of small houses shows possible options for the arrangement of rooms. Samples can be used to make the home comfortable for permanent residence. At the same time, much attention is paid to both the internal and external decoration of the building. The number of rooms and their footage are developed taking into account the number of people living and the personal wishes of the owner.