Did you know that England has the smallest homes in the EU? Recent studies reveal that the average floor area of homes in England is 71 square metres making it the smallest in the EU. The average size of new homes is also shrinking here with a focus on building more homes to address the housing crisis as opposed to the utility of homes. This means that construction companies and designers need to be intelligent in order to make the most out of small spaces.
Minimum Standards
UK standards for building homes have varied over the years and even from city to city with London having its own standards since 2021. However, since 2021, new building regulations have no minimum room size and this means that homes are becoming smaller and smaller, especially in metropolitan areas like London.
Construction Methods
Construction companies need to be both intelligent and creative when building a home when there is not a lot of space to work with. It is important to maximise the available space and to make the home both practical and comfortable. A few of the best ways to do this include open-plan living and kitchen areas, pocket doors and customisable storage. It is important to have the right tools for the projects, such as the Dewalt multi tool kit that will enable you to take on all kinds of construction tasks.
Safety Regulations
It is also important to be aware of new safety regulations that came into effect in June 2022. In particular, there are new fire safety rules for the design and construction of residential developments with changes made to meet recommendations from Phase One of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. This includes a ban on unsafe MCM PE cladding panels and stronger safety standards for combustible materials on exterior walls.
Enhanced by Design
There are also things that can be done design-wise to make a small space both look and feel much bigger. This includes using light colours on the walls to reflect light, smart placement or mirrors and smart storage solutions to keep clutter to a minimum. There are plenty of other tips and tricks to create the illusion of more space, such as furniture with legs so that more floor is visible and the use of vertical lines.
With houses getting smaller in England to address the housing crisis, it is important that construction companies and designers know how to make the most out of a small space. It is important that homes are built to maximise space and be both functional and comfortable and there are also lots of steps that you can take in the design process to make a small space both look and feel bigger and brighter.
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