Do you have a garage or outdoor shed area on your property that is no longer being used? One option to consider putting this space to good use is converting it into a granny flat. Granny flats are small, separate dwellings sharing the same area and zoning as the main property. You can consider it as an alternative miniature dwelling that can be used as a cottage, home office, or guesthouse. These granny flat designs can be either fixed up to be attached to the house or separated. However, most people prefer to build these small flats as separate structures so that they would not disrupt the original house and incur high renovation costs.
Moreover, even if you are looking for an extra room or space, then also granny flats are very economical as alternative dwellings. And today’s modern design granny flats have everything a modern home has; that is, one or two bedrooms, a fully-featured kitchen, a medium-sized bathroom and a small lounge and dining room. So, for young adults and the elderly also who need to live close by while keeping their privacy, granny flats are an ideal choice.
There are many different designs of granny flats on the market to choose from, but it is necessary to consider the four crucial things before you settle down for any design. And to know what are those four things, continue reading!
1.   Size of the Room
What is the need to build an extra dwelling if your bed cannot be accommodated in it or your TV cannot fit in the lounge area? So the first thing you need to consider when choosing a design for your granny flat is the sizes of the rooms. If the design provided to you does not display the size of the room, ask the company or your contractor to mention the detailed room sizes on the plan so that you can choose wisely. Besides this, you would need to measure the available space in your backyard to find out which design can be the most suitable one for you.
2.   Plumbing Options
Plumbing can be expensive if the design you have chosen for your granny flat has a kitchen, bathroom and laundry spaced apart. Nevertheless, you would not want a granny flat that has no space for a bathroom, kitchen and laundry or has them spaced out. Right? It is better to have them closer as they all need to come to one point in the end. So the closer they are, the cheaper the plumbing costs will be. Furthermore, you can consider positioning your granny flat in your backyard close to sewerage and water supplies because the closer they are, the more cost-effective it will be for you.
3.   Light and Windows
The next important thing to consider is the amount of natural light entering your space and the size of your windows. It is rightly said that the more the light enters your area, the more welcoming your place looks and makes you feel happier. And most importantly, if you are building a granny flat for older people, you need to provide better ventilation and allow more and more sunlight to enter the place. So to ensure this, you would need to check the windows’ measurements and their positioning in granny flat designs. Plus, don’t forget that the position you have chosen to build a granny flat will also affect the placing of windows and the entering light.
4.   Colour Scheme
When choosing colours, you have a myriad of options to choose from, and there are so many things you need to select the colour for. Therefore, it is advisable to keep it simple and natural. As such, choose the colours that comfortably blend with the surroundings and your existing property. Lastly, ensure the colour of your furniture, tile, window, walls, kitchen cabinets, and carpet also fits appropriately with your current colour scheme.
