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Compact Houses: 50 Creative Floor Plans for Well-Designed Small Homes
Discover the huge possibilities of a small house! Whether you’re building from scratch or retrofitting an existing structure, these 50 innovative floor plans will show you how to make the most of houses measuring 1,400 square feet or less. Gerald Rowan presents creative and efficient layouts that use every inch of space, with tips on fully maximizing closets, porches, bathrooms, attics, and basements. From reorganizing a small storage area to building a brand-new home, you’ll find a detailed design to fit your family’s needs.
208 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 26, 2023
Lots of good stuff here: small, energy-efficient, passive-solar, tight, well-crafted, and well-designed houses suited to a variety of climates. There is lots of detail on how to maximize storage, how best to furnish, how to site the houses, and how to take advantage of outdoor spaces. It's all practical, and could really help you find your perfect small house.
personal copy
personal copy
November 1, 2013
While you are browsing the floor plans, you might ask yourself where you would put a television. In almost every case, in the one place where a TV might go there is a fireplace or a wood burning stove. That's fine, assuming that the way you use your living space is by sitting with your cultured friends, making witty conversation and sipping an iced decaf latte while occasionally tending your fire. But if, like most of us, you spend your time watching Redskins vs. Seahawks, or the long awaited series finale of Survivor, then these floor plans just won't work. You might be thinking, "just rearrange the furniture". But in most cases there really is no way to rearrange the furniture: your only option is to put the TV above the fireplace or stove. And it's not like you can just move the fireplace or stove: they vent through chimneys, so if they are located somewhere else the entire building plan is changed.
The houses themselves are "compact", I guess, by comparison with ridiculously large suburban stick frame McMansions. But I was hoping for smaller. 1400 square feet is a pretty sizable house. The typical 1950s rambler was around 900 square feet, so the houses in this book are not really pushing any design envelopes.
Most of the floor plans seem pretty cramped. The bedrooms are shown with full-size beds, not queen size as most of us have, and often don't have much room around them. There just generally seemed to be one room too many in many of these designs.
The one part of the book that I found interesting was the chapter on design patterns and ideas for making the most of a small space. That section would have benefited from links to suppliers, but it's a book not a website, so the absence of links is understandable. I liked that he had suggestions for space saving furniture: various types of Murphy beds, a table that folds up into a mirror frame; that kind of thing.
The houses themselves are "compact", I guess, by comparison with ridiculously large suburban stick frame McMansions. But I was hoping for smaller. 1400 square feet is a pretty sizable house. The typical 1950s rambler was around 900 square feet, so the houses in this book are not really pushing any design envelopes.
Most of the floor plans seem pretty cramped. The bedrooms are shown with full-size beds, not queen size as most of us have, and often don't have much room around them. There just generally seemed to be one room too many in many of these designs.
The one part of the book that I found interesting was the chapter on design patterns and ideas for making the most of a small space. That section would have benefited from links to suppliers, but it's a book not a website, so the absence of links is understandable. I liked that he had suggestions for space saving furniture: various types of Murphy beds, a table that folds up into a mirror frame; that kind of thing.
November 9, 2018
I think highly enough of this book that even after reading it I would consider buying a copy of this book for my own collection, at least in the future when building one of these fine homes would be a possibility. As someone who greatly loves housing plans and shares a lot of similarities with the author, including a fondness for off-the grid living and some life experience in the Appalachian region of Pennsylvania, there was a great deal that resonated with me about this book. And I must admit that there was something about this book that struck me as deeply puzzling, and that was the fact that the author's attempts to paint these houses as being small houses that might cause people to need to live more efficiently and organize their space better would be larger than any space which has ever been my own. When an author paints simplifying and shrinking one's footprint and someone like myself reads it as an expansion of space, there is perhaps a bit of a sense of cross-purposes here, although I am by no means the sort of person who is as handy as most people would be in these circumstances.
This book is organized very simply. The author begins with a justification of living small (again, this is odd to me, since these homes would be large by my own standards of housing) After that there are 50 plans for compact houses designed for various places--some warm weather, some of them with gorgeous views. Although there is a lot of variety to be found, there are at least a few parallels that come through many of these plans, including the advocacy of passive and active solar heating, open floor plans, Japanese bathrooms that allow for the simultaneous use of the restroom by two or three people with privacy, and high windows that allow for heating and light while maintaining privacy. Many of the home plans have exterior decks, porches, sunrooms, and one even has a semi-enclosed courtyard. Many of them have reading nooks and open floor plans as well to allow for the heating of the entire house from a single fireplace or stove. After that the author spends some time talking about some key factors of design for small spaces, the importance of efficiency and sustainability, as well as how one can find and renovate a compact house. The book as a whole ends up being around two hundred pages.
One of the shrewd aspects of this particular volume is the way that the author manages to combine so many different aspects of housing design in the same approach. Are you looking to preserve the environment by living more simply and efficiently and using less energy? If so, you will find much to enjoy here. Are you looking for striking and relatively inexpensive housing plans that can provide maximum living for less than conventional building? If so, you will find much to enjoy here. Are you looking to find a lifestyle that will allow one to live a bit more off the grid and less subject to the whims of an unstable society? If so, you will find much to enjoy here. When thrifty but intelligent home shoppers, environmentalists, and slightly paranoid people can find a common ground in appreciating homes with solid design principles that are tailored to the specific site, then all involved can recognize the many motives that drive people to look for "small" houses, some of which are well over 1000 square feet and some of which are two or three stories, providing privacy and a clever use of design to provide inventive purposes for rooms with some high-concept design attributes.
This book is organized very simply. The author begins with a justification of living small (again, this is odd to me, since these homes would be large by my own standards of housing) After that there are 50 plans for compact houses designed for various places--some warm weather, some of them with gorgeous views. Although there is a lot of variety to be found, there are at least a few parallels that come through many of these plans, including the advocacy of passive and active solar heating, open floor plans, Japanese bathrooms that allow for the simultaneous use of the restroom by two or three people with privacy, and high windows that allow for heating and light while maintaining privacy. Many of the home plans have exterior decks, porches, sunrooms, and one even has a semi-enclosed courtyard. Many of them have reading nooks and open floor plans as well to allow for the heating of the entire house from a single fireplace or stove. After that the author spends some time talking about some key factors of design for small spaces, the importance of efficiency and sustainability, as well as how one can find and renovate a compact house. The book as a whole ends up being around two hundred pages.
One of the shrewd aspects of this particular volume is the way that the author manages to combine so many different aspects of housing design in the same approach. Are you looking to preserve the environment by living more simply and efficiently and using less energy? If so, you will find much to enjoy here. Are you looking for striking and relatively inexpensive housing plans that can provide maximum living for less than conventional building? If so, you will find much to enjoy here. Are you looking to find a lifestyle that will allow one to live a bit more off the grid and less subject to the whims of an unstable society? If so, you will find much to enjoy here. When thrifty but intelligent home shoppers, environmentalists, and slightly paranoid people can find a common ground in appreciating homes with solid design principles that are tailored to the specific site, then all involved can recognize the many motives that drive people to look for "small" houses, some of which are well over 1000 square feet and some of which are two or three stories, providing privacy and a clever use of design to provide inventive purposes for rooms with some high-concept design attributes.
March 23, 2014
These are NOT compact houses. These are houses with 1/4 more rooms but the same square footage as the home I currently live in. Wait let me modify that statement, these houses are compact, in the sense that you take a 2000+ sqft home and compact it by removing floorspace. Like dehydrating a McMansion.
What these are is uncomfortably cramped houses. And the designs...wow all that exposure in a northern climate will make these houses pretty damn cold. Then there is the matter of aesthetics, I could forgive a lot for an attractive home that tries to save space, but these are either over-designed ranch houses or modified ranch houses. These are ugly houses that will look out of place anywhere outside of SoCal.
The writing is interesting in places, and I agree with the impulse, so two stars.
What these are is uncomfortably cramped houses. And the designs...wow all that exposure in a northern climate will make these houses pretty damn cold. Then there is the matter of aesthetics, I could forgive a lot for an attractive home that tries to save space, but these are either over-designed ranch houses or modified ranch houses. These are ugly houses that will look out of place anywhere outside of SoCal.
The writing is interesting in places, and I agree with the impulse, so two stars.
January 30, 2018
Interesting ideas for minimizing necessary living space (and making multi-functional spaces, that are energy/environmentally conscious, to boot), but they feel kind of like variations on a theme, not entirely unlike something you’d be able to do in architecture school as an exercise.
Certainly helpful as a starting point for smaller living, but I think this would have done better to examine sustainable living practices first before going into the floor plans. Also lacks more timeless architectural details that can make residential architecture beautiful - it feels a lot like boxed living, so lacks a level of inspiration imo.
Certainly helpful as a starting point for smaller living, but I think this would have done better to examine sustainable living practices first before going into the floor plans. Also lacks more timeless architectural details that can make residential architecture beautiful - it feels a lot like boxed living, so lacks a level of inspiration imo.
January 30, 2019
This book had some very beautiful and practical designs for small houses. I appreciated how they were all designed with energy efficiency and alternate energy in mind; such as passive solar, water catchment systems, and wood-burning stoves. I also liked how the author used designs from other cultures where houses are frequently much smaller. His Japanese bathroom style is genius, and I love the courtyards and incorporation of plans for outdoor space.
I found his style suggestions and design ideas very helpful for remodeling my RV, which is like the smallest of small houses!
I found his style suggestions and design ideas very helpful for remodeling my RV, which is like the smallest of small houses!
August 13, 2017
So many smart layouts. Wish we had an empty lot to build on. Many dream retirement homes in this book.
January 31, 2018
Really cool!
March 24, 2021
Really enjoyed this. I wish Rowan would write a book about medium size house floor plans.
Love there illustrations, plans and thoughts behind them.
Love there illustrations, plans and thoughts behind them.
February 14, 2022
not certain how I could love this book more
January 14, 2015
Tiny homes fascinate me. I see those articles on Yahoo about people living in 100 sq ft or something like that and I’m hooked. I have to read it and look at the pictures of how they fit their whole lives into a space smaller than my bedroom. I don’t live in a tiny house. I live in a big old rambling Victorian and wouldn’t give it up for the world but the idea of these tiny houses is just fascinating. If I did want a compact house for some reason, I would start with this book.
Compact Homes is a great introduction to these homes. Some the houses in this book are not that tiny. Many are several hundred feet, up to 1400 but they are still small by the standards of a lot of us and they are meant to be small and efficient. I really enjoy seeing how smart the utilization of space is. I love seeing all the ways the authors find to create storage spaces in homes.
This book has quite a few floorplans, about 50 I think. I get a kick out of looking these over. But this book goes far beyond just floorplans. There are chapters on each room in the house and how to get maximum use out of a few feet. It brings Japanese design into a lot of their idea because the Japanese use their floor spaced so efficiently. It talks about space saving appliances and even talks about the sink-toilet combo which grosses me out just from the name of it. There is a discussion of Usonion design¸ a word I had never heard before. It’s really interesting and explains how the neighborhoods a lot of Americans grew up in came about.
There are plenty of suggestions on how to get the proper furniture for such small spaces and how to make the furniture multi-functional. There are plenty of illustrations of their ideas. Some are quite remarkable. Again, this is all just fascinating to me because it looks like someone living in miniature.
There are good sections on trying to be sustainable and energy-efficient. Heating and cooling methods are discussed and how to customize a small home for yourself or renovate an already built small home to make it more efficient and comfortable.
I really enjoyed going through this book. I’ll never be able to live this way. My husband and my son are 6’4” and not super-skinny. (They are not fat, just normal size for 6’4” guys.) They would feel like giants in the houses they show. We have kids and grandkids and family and friends that come regularly and we throw pretty big parties so we can never live this way and I’m quite claustrophobic so there’s that also. It still is fascinating and intriguing for me to imagine what life in a compact house is like. This book gives a great feel for it.
Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Compact Homes is a great introduction to these homes. Some the houses in this book are not that tiny. Many are several hundred feet, up to 1400 but they are still small by the standards of a lot of us and they are meant to be small and efficient. I really enjoy seeing how smart the utilization of space is. I love seeing all the ways the authors find to create storage spaces in homes.
This book has quite a few floorplans, about 50 I think. I get a kick out of looking these over. But this book goes far beyond just floorplans. There are chapters on each room in the house and how to get maximum use out of a few feet. It brings Japanese design into a lot of their idea because the Japanese use their floor spaced so efficiently. It talks about space saving appliances and even talks about the sink-toilet combo which grosses me out just from the name of it. There is a discussion of Usonion design¸ a word I had never heard before. It’s really interesting and explains how the neighborhoods a lot of Americans grew up in came about.
There are plenty of suggestions on how to get the proper furniture for such small spaces and how to make the furniture multi-functional. There are plenty of illustrations of their ideas. Some are quite remarkable. Again, this is all just fascinating to me because it looks like someone living in miniature.
There are good sections on trying to be sustainable and energy-efficient. Heating and cooling methods are discussed and how to customize a small home for yourself or renovate an already built small home to make it more efficient and comfortable.
I really enjoyed going through this book. I’ll never be able to live this way. My husband and my son are 6’4” and not super-skinny. (They are not fat, just normal size for 6’4” guys.) They would feel like giants in the houses they show. We have kids and grandkids and family and friends that come regularly and we throw pretty big parties so we can never live this way and I’m quite claustrophobic so there’s that also. It still is fascinating and intriguing for me to imagine what life in a compact house is like. This book gives a great feel for it.
Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2013
A fascinating book with the designs for many different compact homes. I read this book cover to cover, which is unusual for me when it comes to a book like this, but it is well written and very informative. I'm not currently in the market to build or buy a house, but I have found my dream home in this book. The Ruxton is my favorite with the central atrium. I wondered how it would work, but with the glass roofing over it, it's brilliant. I've also always loved the Japanese style bathrooms, and this house makes use of it. I wouldn't need a room for a library because the hallways around the atrium are spacious enough to hold built in shelves. Also, I would replace many of the doors with the sliding doors that are present in the bathroom.
Many of the designs in this book are brilliant, and I know when I go to purchase my first home, it will be a lot where I can build the Ruxton. Anyone who is looking for a compact home should first consult this book.
Many of the designs in this book are brilliant, and I know when I go to purchase my first home, it will be a lot where I can build the Ruxton. Anyone who is looking for a compact home should first consult this book.
June 5, 2013
I'm looking into building a small home (somewhere between 1000 and 1400 sq ft) with efficient space. I'd like it to be simple, to keep construction costs down, yet attractive. This book presents a lot of good ideas that can be easily modified to meet my needs. The 50 floor plans (plus a few other more radical designs) shown tend to have open communal spaces with smallish bedrooms, a minimum of bathrooms, lots of windows, and no attached garages. If that style appeals to you, then you'll find this book useful. The plans aren't detailed, but they have the essence of what the house designs are about. Also useful for me was a subsequent chapter on the essence of good design in individual rooms. Less useful was the discussion on renovation of existing homes. If you want to build an energy efficient, compact, elegant home, this book is a good start.
September 12, 2013
3 Stars
This book is full of floor plans for small houses. Everything you READ is fabulous but that’s where things end. First off change the cover. The galley cover looks dated and does not pop from the page. The hand drawn house illustrations are great but how about some pictures of houses that have been made from these plans. Seeing plans for compact houses is one thing but seeing the real life brings home how livable these structures are.
This book is full of floor plans for small houses. Everything you READ is fabulous but that’s where things end. First off change the cover. The galley cover looks dated and does not pop from the page. The hand drawn house illustrations are great but how about some pictures of houses that have been made from these plans. Seeing plans for compact houses is one thing but seeing the real life brings home how livable these structures are.
October 8, 2013
I didn't expect to enjoy a book of house plans as much as I did, mainly because it was more than that . Would be an excellent resource for anyone new to the housing market. He broke down each part of a house as to options, both green and traditional. We've rehabbed several homes ourselves and I still learned a thing or two.
I was awarded an advance e-version of this book and have given a fair evaluation.
I was awarded an advance e-version of this book and have given a fair evaluation.
October 14, 2013
Great starting place for dreaming up a small home or retreat. Nice variety in design so you'll likely find something that works for you. The chapter on efficiency and sustainability is also very good. I really enjoyed looking through this book over and over and imagining the possibilities!
*ARC courtesy of Storey Publishing, provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*
*ARC courtesy of Storey Publishing, provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*
May 16, 2015
I think it's a good resource for building or remodeling a compact house. Through the floor plans he used, I definitely like the open floor plan for the kitchen/living areas instead of a bunch of small rooms.
He talked mostly about using a fireplace or stove for heating but I don't think that would work for me with allergies.
If I were to build or rebuild a home I'd probably use this and books by Sarah Susanka as primary resources.
He talked mostly about using a fireplace or stove for heating but I don't think that would work for me with allergies.
If I were to build or rebuild a home I'd probably use this and books by Sarah Susanka as primary resources.
January 7, 2016
Compact Cabins is more interesting
The same author did another book, Compact Cabins, that has a lot of this same information in it, plus far more creative designs. There's talent here, but there also seems to be more repetition in this volume. Maybe this book is more realistic for families, or people who want timeless design (read: kind of boring), but I look at these books to dream.
The same author did another book, Compact Cabins, that has a lot of this same information in it, plus far more creative designs. There's talent here, but there also seems to be more repetition in this volume. Maybe this book is more realistic for families, or people who want timeless design (read: kind of boring), but I look at these books to dream.
August 6, 2013
Ever dreamed of designing your own house? Compact Houses gives you 50 floor plans complete with ideas on where to add in solar panels (to help with your heating costs), and specific dimensions to bring your space to fruition. Before you build, discover the options that you can play around with. After all, it’s your dream house. Compact Houses is where architecture meets reality.
February 2, 2014
Having lived in a 826 sqft house (without children) I find living in small spaces to be easily doable. The thing to remember (as demonstrated in floor diagrams) this size home does not allow for many bookcases nor a large buffet and I don't see too many laundry rooms in these designs. Funny too that the designs remind me more of 1970s/1980s looks. Still fun to look at.
March 10, 2014
Guide to making the most of smaller homes though several of these I didn't consider small. The book gives floor plans, guides to what to consider when designing room layouts, ways to remodel small spaces to make them more energy efficient and some general ideas to make the most of every inch in your smaller home.
I was hoping for more ideas on remodeling a small home.
I was hoping for more ideas on remodeling a small home.
March 27, 2015
Tho I'm looking for a big house, down the road, I'm hoping that small houses will be built for empty nesters, and especially, for homeless and poor people. I think about designs for such houses a lot, and this book was interesting in that some of his devices are those I came up with myself.
January 1, 2016
I checked this out from the library after having seen it on the shelves at a bookstore. I'm glad I did not purchase this book. The plans have weird scaling.... and it's good to know that a garage is something that folks in the suburbs might use! There's got to be better out there.
May 27, 2014
A lot of the designs were far too modern for my tastes, but I was able to find a couple more traditional layouts that I quite liked.
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