7 Best Remodelling Ideas for Small Spaces

In October of 2023, the average price of a home in Calgary was more than $555,000. While it may feel tempting to sell your home and capitalize on this red-hot market, you would then find yourself paying an even higher price to buy back in again; so, for many people in Calgary’s real estate landscape, making the most of existing space – even if it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot to work with – has become the most desirable choice for many homeowners. It’s one more chapter in the endless question of whether to renovate or relocate.

For those people, now is the time to conquer clutter, update your home’s layout, and embrace organization in order unlock the true potential of your home. After all, you deserve to enjoy a fresh, updated living space – and this trend is especially true for those cozy, familiar corners of old homes. With thoughtful remodelling ideas for small spaces, every home can feel big and brand new again.

How to Renovate Small Spaces on a Budget in Calgary

Embarking on renovations shouldn’t break the bank. Many upgrades to your home’s layout (especially if they are for energy efficiency, accessibility, or other covered reasons) are eligible for grants, rebates, or tax credits, reducing the cost of your project; here at Pinnacle Group Renovations, we are well-versed in these opportunities and we will eagerly provide valuable information to guide you through the process.

In addition, strategic planning can be a powerful ally in budget-friendly changes to your home. Find out roughly how much different areas of renovation will cost in the typical Calgary home, and then prioritize your goals and undertake the upgrades in stages. This allows you to make meaningful improvements over time as your budget allows; the transformation may not be as immediate, but the effect will be much the same.

Financing Small Home Improvement Projects in Calgary

Some homeowners may not realize that financing is an option for small home improvement projects. At Pinnacle, we take pride in being your partner in turning your renovation aspirations into reality; so, when you’re ready to dive in, let’s start a conversation about how to get financing that will work for you. We understand the financial considerations involved in home improvements, and we aim to provide you with the flexibility and support you need to embark on your renovation journey with confidence.

The Best Small Interior Renovations for Calgary Homes

Southern Alberta’s homeowners are increasingly focusing on enhancing their living spaces through strategic interior renovations. Often, these small-scale transformations offer a refreshing approach to upgrading homes without the need for major overhauls. From clever storage solutions to stylish design tweaks, let’s explore some of the best small interior renovations that can breathe new life into Calgary homes.

Check Your Blueprints for Hidden Spaces

Have you looked closely at your original home blueprints lately? If you do, you might find some hidden spaces that are not immediately visible – above ceilings, behind walls, and in other unexpected places. With a professional structural engineer, you can identify and locate these concealed areas and determine whether partitions can be moved to bring them out. It may be as simple as shifting a wall or deepening a closet, but those little details can truly add up in a small home. Discovering extra square footage might also inspire creative solutions that wouldn’t otherwise be possible; they could be the key to redesigning awkward corners and nooks to utilize every inch of available room, or provide a new place for utilities to run so that other walls can be moved elsewhere. It’s worth looking before you do anything else.

Remove Walls Where You Can

When it comes to remodelling ideas for small spaces… consider the transformative power of removing walls in your home, opting for features like pass-through openings, elegant columns instead of full walls, or stylish half-height feature walls that no longer obstruct a view, but enhance it. Such subtle alteration can completely reframe the sense of spaciousness in a room, making this process a quick small-scale renovation with a significant impact.

Beyond the aesthetic benefits, the removal of walls can introduce practical advantages. In kitchens, for example, it could allow for quick transfers of food and dishes from a cooking to a dining area – an interesting quirk that adds plenty of character for a relatively small investment. Embrace this simple yet effective strategy to create a more open and inviting atmosphere in your living spaces.

Create Distinct “Home Zones”

Unlock the potential of your small space by strategically establishing distinct “zones” within your home. To do this, you can use different themes, furnishings, carpeting, paint colours, and so on to fashion areas that offer a unique ambiance distinct from the neighbouring rooms. This deliberate approach not only imparts a sense of separation, but also adds a layer of depth; revealing that there’s more to your home than initially meets the eye.

However, the application of this concept requires thoughtful consideration; while some homes benefit from these pockets of different styles, others may find a broad continuation of a single concept to be more effective. This decision hinges on the nuanced interplay of design elements in a particular space, and how they either work together to create a contiguous space, or come across as distracting and discrete.

Make Rooms Multi-Purpose, on Purpose

Elevate the versatility of your limited space by purposefully creating rooms with multi-functional designs and applications. True multi-purpose designs are intentional; they go deeper than putting a home office in a spare bedroom, or vice versa, because that’s simply where there’s more space. To maximize the space, you must tailor it to your current and future needs.

So, don’t be afraid to explore innovative solutions, such as a spare bed that folds up to transform a second bedroom into an office when no guests are using it. Consider opening up your dining area by integrating banquette seating into a kitchen corner. The key is to envision every square foot as an opportunity for dual utility, urging you to think creatively and maximize the potential of each room. Whether adapting to evolving work-from-home trends or optimizing communal spaces, strategic design choices can redefine the purpose of every nook and cranny in your home.

banquette seating

Rely on Smart Storage and Design

This may be among the most important of all renovation choices in a small space. So often, spaces feel small because of clutter and a lack of storage space; so, to alleviate this early, approach any room design with a strategic focus on smart storage solutions. Here are a few simple but highly effective examples:

1. 1. Build upwards and inwards, incorporating inset cabinets and recessed shelves to turn wasted vertical spaces and plain walls into functional storage havens.
  2. Install space-saving corner cupboards in your kitchen, giving full accessibility to their inner space.
  3. Opt for sliding doors instead of swing doors, as they need no room to move outward and thus take up less space overall.
  4. Embrace the integration of smart technology, such as automated shelves that gracefully descend when a cabinet door opens.
  5. Floating shelves, with their absence of a floor profile, not only add elegance to a room but also contribute to the illusion of spaciousness.
  6. For bedrooms with high ceilings, loft bed areas offer low-cost renovation solutions, optimizing vertical space without overwhelming the room with floor furniture.
  7. Choose fixtures that are proportionate to the space in order to maintain a harmonious balance of scale, preventing them from dominating the view.

Maximize Natural Light

Natural light is one of the most vital components in amplifying the perceived spaciousness of your small spaces. Even large rooms, when poorly lit, feel cramped and claustrophobic; strategically placing windows wherever possible not only creates a visual connection with the outdoors but also serves as a cornerstone for making a home feel warm and inviting, because light plays a pivotal role in instilling a sense of comfort and homeliness.

Studies consistently highlight the positive impact of good natural light on mental health, underscoring its importance in crafting a nurturing living environment. We highly recommend that you consider enhancing this aspect of your home if possible – enlarge existing windows incorporate additional ones, create a skylight, or even change your front door from solid wood to one with a glass pane. Build on the inherent connection between natural light and a welcoming atmosphere, and you will help your small space exude a sense of openness and well-being.

Think Outside the Home

So, you have done all you can do inside your home itself. Have you considered extending your remodelling ideas for small spaces out to the yard?

If you have a garage, explore its storage potential by adding overhead racks, wall shelves, or cabinet systems to securely stow away rarely used items. This can reclaim valuable square footage within your home. If your garage is already optimized for storage, you may want to consider the possibility of constructing a shed or other small outbuilding on your property. This external addition won’t encroach on your interior space but provides a dedicated area for items that may be occupying precious room indoors.

Finding Small-Scale Renovation Specialists in Calgary

From the hills of Tuscany and Scenic Acres to the grassy fields of Spruce Meadows and Silverado, the value of space in Calgary homes is more significant than ever. This also increases the significance and desirability of small-scale renovations. What we have here barely scratches the surface, though; the possibilities are vast, and can make your small interior remodel a true personal testament to your lifestyle, values, and goals. So, whether you’re contemplating small kitchen renovations or curious about completely redesigning the entire inner space of your home, the key lies in unlocking the potential of every square foot in a way that is meaningful to you.

No matter what that looks like, Pinnacle Group Renovations is here to help you navigate these nuances. With our proprietary DNA Document, thorough planning, and one-of-a-kind approach by our side, our team of specialists is uniquely situated to guide you through the small-scale renovation realm, ensuring that your remodelled home not only meets but exceeds your every expectation.

All of it backed by the SCC 3-Way Guarantee on your start date, completion date, and cost.