Small House Renovation: How we made a 1,000 Square Foot Home Functional (And Pretty)
Now that our current house is on the market, we’ve been feeling all kinds of nostalgic about the one we sold before it—a teeny little 1,000-square-foot home that we poured a whole lot of love (and paint) into.
We bought this house in 2020 when the isolation had us wanting to head back to the beach – I know, not really original because everyone was baking sourdough and doing a 180 on their lives at that time, but couple our want for a change of scenery with the 2% interest rate and house hunting was realllyyyy tempting!
Luckily for us, we found ourselves in a weird little niche where we were looking for homes that were livable but needed work AKA too expensive for flippers, and too in-need-of-work for ‘regular’ buyers.
Enter: this little cottage in desperate need of a small house renovation.
It was dark, dingy, and clearly worn down from its life as a short-term rental. It had been sitting on the market for a while, which worked in our favor—we got a pretty good deal. But it definitely needed vision (and a shop vac).
Here are some of our favorite before & afters from that little house:
The Kitchen: Budget-Friendly Glow-Up
Before:
This kitchen had good bones (read: was huge for the square footage of the home) but needed a refresh. The cabinets were structurally fine but made the whole space feel heavy and the backsplash was just paneling.
After:
We painted the existing cabinets in a moody navy blue to give some character to the space, added new hardware for a quick update, and installed a fresh, classic backsplash ourselves—yep, all on a tight budget.
We took down some of the uppers to let in more light which was a great move, too!
We also added an island and dining bench to give some function to the big open space (plus some more storage which is much-needed in a small house renovation) and it was perfect for giving a natural gathering space when we hosted. The impact was huge for such simple changes.
Budget Tip: Don’t underestimate paint and tile. You don’t need to rip out a whole kitchen to make it feel new.
The Bathroom: Same Tile, New Tricks
Before:
This space had zero personality, and the finishes didn’t flow with the rest of the house. It felt more like a utility closet than a bathroom, but it was so tiny that we had a hard time envisioning it with a makeover.
After:
We actually reused leftover floor tile from our current home’s kitchen to redo the bathroom floor, which saved a bit of money and I got to use the tile in a new way. Being that it was just a small house renovation, I got away with needing only a couple of boxes!
A new vanity, fresh lighting, and a DIY mirror frame also gave it just enough charm without a full gut.
Budget Tip: Reuse what you can and keep your color palette tight to make small spaces feel intentional.
The Living Area: Lighten Up and Let It Breathe
Before:
The living room felt cramped and dated, and there was so little natural light despite all the windows because of the trees outside.
After:
A fresh coat of white paint, lighter furniture, and adding a faux fireplace to give something interesting to the room made a huge difference. We also added a built-in bookcase on one little nook to give some much-needed storage!
Design Note: In small homes, vertical space is your best friend.
The Bedrooms: Small but Mighty
Before:
We didn’t do a ton to the bedrooms – just painted two of them white and gave the primary bedroom a green accent wall. Oh, and did the same beadboard ceilings we did through the rest of the house! When we staged, we turned one into an office to give a little variety, but it made a cute nursery when we lived there, too!
After:
Looking Back
This little house taught us so much about making a home work for you, no matter the square footage. We were raising tiny kids here, tackling projects during nap time, and learning that function doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style.
Now, as we get ready to hand over the keys to our current house, it’s been fun (and slightly emotional) to look back at this one, too. We loved this home—and we’re proud of how far it came.
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