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Create a Functional Home Under 1000 sq ft

If you’re building a vacation home, rental unit, or just want to live with less, a well-planned small home makes every square foot count. Explore ideas and layouts that show how smart design can make a big difference.

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2D floor plan of a one-bedroom apartment with dimensions labeled. Features an L-shaped kitchen with adjacent dining area, a spacious living room, a separate bedroom, and a bathroom with double sinks and a bathtub.
Trude Carlsen
By Trude Carlsen
Published October 20, 2025

House plans under 1000 square feet (about 100 m2) are in the “small house” category. This is a great size if you are considering a vacation home, a rental unit, or just looking to simplify your life.

Plus, with clever planning, floor plans of this size can still provide a living and dining area, kitchen, several bedrooms and bathrooms, and possibly even a laundry area.

Small, but Mighty

With a house plan under 1000 sq ft, you have many great options:

Vacation cottage, bungalow, or cabin

If you are a family that enjoys the water, perhaps a beach cottage or bungalow near a lake or the ocean. If hiking, mountain biking, or skiing are your favorite activities, perhaps a cabin in the mountains. Imagine the memories you will create over the years.

3D Floor Plan of a one-bedroom apartment created in the RoomSketcher app. The layout includes a bedroom, open living and dining area, kitchen, and bathroom. There are two balconies with outdoor seating. The apartment features wood flooring in the main areas, tile in the kitchen and bath, and modern furniture throughout.

 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)

The rise of Airbnb and other rental platforms has allowed many homeowners to start a side gig in the short-term rental business. This is a great option if you live in a popular tourist area, near a beach, mountains, national park, or an oft-visited city.

3D floor plan of a one-bedroom house with an open-plan kitchen and living area, a bedroom, and a bathroom.

Multi-generational living

Support multi-generational living with an in-law or granny flat, or aging at home unit. By adding a small house on your property, you can move your parents in to provide extra support or allow a grown child who is just starting out to move home while they build a financial cushion.

3D floor plan of a small house with one bedroom, one bathroom, open kitchen and living area, and an outdoor covered patio.

Go minimalist with a tiny home

Tiny homes are typically homes under 400 sq ft (ca. 40 m2), and although small, there are many ways to kit out this type of unit.

Mid Century Tiny 3D House Plan

Common Configurations

Single-story

Single-story house plans are the most common configuration for house plans under 1000 square feet (ca.100 m2).  At the larger end of this size range, you will find two-bedroom and two-bathroom layouts. When you get under 800 sq ft (74 m2), the configuration will most often be 1 bedroom and 1 bath.

Once the plans are below 400 sq ft (ca.40 m2), they will likely contain either a suite with a combined bedroom and living area or fall into the Tiny House category.

2D floor plan of a compact one-bedroom house measuring 12’1” by 22’1”.

Single-story with a loft

Another popular configuration in this size is single-story with a loft space. This is a common layout for a vacation house. Often, you’ll find one larger primary bedroom downstairs, and the loft space is a fun option for kids, teens, or any extra guests.

Tiny House Floor Plan With Loft

Two-story

Finally, while rarer, you can find a few two-story options in the under 1000 sq ft (100 m2) size range. House plans with two floors are a great option if you have a smaller lot and want to minimize the footprint of the home.

2D Floor Plan of a two-story home. The ground floor includes a kitchen with dining area, living room, small bathroom, and staircase. The upper floor has two bedrooms, a bathroom with bathtub, and access to a terrace with outdoor seating.

Prioritize Your Features

At this size range, every bit of space counts, and you may have some tradeoffs - for example, do you want a separate laundry room or that extra half bath? An extra bedroom, or a large living area? It’s important that you prioritize the features that are important to you to make sure the final floor plan suits your needs.

Finally, think about how you can effectively use the space around your small home. Can you add a covered porch for an extra dining area? Can you create an extra living room outdoors? If it’s a beach house, how about an outdoor shower? There are lots of ways to make a small house feel larger, and looking at how you can use the garden or the surrounding area is a great place to start.

Tablet view of the RoomSketcher app displaying a 2D floor plan of an apartment layout with labeled rooms and dimensions, including Living Room, Kitchen, Dining Room, Bedroom, Bathroom, Laundry, Closet, Hall, and Balcony. The right side shows a scrollable library of door styles available for placement in the design.

Plan Your Small Home with RoomSketcher

See how your layout really works before you build. With RoomSketcher you can:

  • Draw your floor plan to scale and add accurate measurements
  • Try different layouts to see what fits best
  • Furnish and decorate with furniture and materials
  • View your design in 3D and get a true sense of the space
  • Share your project to get feedback or ideas from others
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