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One-Bedroom House Plans: Uses, Benefits, and Layout Ideas

One-bedroom house plans offer the perfect balance of comfort and practicality. With open layouts and clever storage solutions, a one-bedroom plan can feel surprisingly spacious while staying affordable.

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3D floor plan of a one-bedroom apartment with an open living, dining, and kitchen layout.
Trude Carlsen

Typically sized between 400 and 1000 square feet (about 37 - 92 m2), one-bedroom house plans usually include one bathroom and occasionally an additional half bath or powder room.

Today's floor plans often contain an open kitchen and living area, plenty of windows or high ceilings, and modern fixtures.

If you are looking to create a vacation cottage, a rental unit or guest house on your property, or even a smaller home in which to live, this type of plan may be perfect for you.

Small Home, Big Benefits

One bedroom homes can have many benefits:

2D floor plan of a one-bedroom house measuring 23'9" x 18'10".
363 sq ft House

Top Uses

Entry-level home

Many singles or couples starting out build smaller homes on their own land or shared property. A one-bedroom house can be an affordable and practical first step.

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

Vacation cottage or bungalow

A one-bedroom house plan works well as a small vacation home, whether by the lake, in the mountains, or near the beach.

Perfect for singles or couples, you can still host extra guests by adding a sofa bed or daybed in the living room.

3D floor plan of a compact container home with a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom.
Container Home with Loft

Income from an accessory dwelling unit (ADU)

Instead of renting out space inside your home, consider a separate one-bedroom ADU.

This gives your renters privacy while creating extra income. Always check local rules before adding an ADU.

3D floor plan of a one-bedroom apartment with an open layout. The living room features a large gray sectional sofa, patterned rug, round coffee table, and bookshelves.
ADU Floor Plan

How to Make the Most of a Small Space

With limited square footage, smart choices can make your 1 bedroom house plan feel larger and more functional.

Many layouts include a porch, patio, or balcony, so set it up with a sofa and small table to add an extra living and dining area.

Inside, choose furniture that does double duty and provides storage, such as:

Even small changes like side tables with drawers in the living room can make a big difference in keeping your home organized and comfortable.


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.

Create Your Floor Plan with RoomSketcher

RoomSketcher makes it easy to explore your ideas. Create floor plans, furnish them, and see your home instantly in 3D.

  • Quick drag-and-drop floor plan drawing
  • Large library of furniture and fixtures
  • Replace materials to test colors and finishes
  • Export professional 2D and 3D Floor Plans
  • View your design in Live 3D and generate 3D Photos

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