Don’t like mowing the lawn? Well you’re in luck – today, blocks of land in new residential housing developments across Australia are around one-third to one-quarter the size they were in the 1950s, with much of the shrinking occurring post-2000.
At Beechwood we have been building new homes in NSW for nearly 40 years. Over that time, we have seen greenfield median lot sizes drop to an all-time low, particularly in Sydney.
This trend has moved particularly quickly over the last decade. In the late 2000s the blocks in Sydney we were building our new homes on were mostly 500 square metres or more; today we are regularly building new homes on blocks that are less than 400 square metres. And it’s not just new blocks of land either. Pre-existing blocks are also decreasing in size due to urban consolidation and a rise in the number of lots being sub-divided.
With the demand for land in NSW, especially across Greater Sydney, pushing land sizes down and land prices up, matching the right block of land with the right new home design from the right builder can be a challenge for home buyers in Sydney and up and down the NSW North Coast and South Coast. To address this change, we created a range of innovative new designs for smaller blocks.
How to maximise space on small or narrow blocks
Small blocks don’t necessarily mean small living spaces and uninspired homes. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. It all comes down to the home builder and the home design that you choose. Here are our top tips for building on small or narrow blocks.
Look for a versatile, compact floor plan where rooms can be used for multiple purposes. A popular modern design feature is the ‘great room’, a seamlessly blended, multi-functional space. Look for designs with a kitchen that flows into a great room that you can use as a living, dining and play space.
Look for a clever and efficient design that fits on your block of land while still creating a generous sense of spaciousness through open plan living. The best designs for small or narrow blocks are those that open up your home by doing away with superfluous walls, doors and hallways.
Ensure your design allows for light-filled spaces. The more natural light you have pouring in, the more spacious your new home will feel. Try and add windows where you can, especially on the north-facing side of your home, and consider installing skylights in areas such as bathrooms.
To maximise the sense of space in your new home, you want to create a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor living areas. The best way to do this is by using sliding doors or stacker doors that can be pulled right back to create a natural flow from indoors to outdoors.
Neutral colour schemes contribute to a sense of spaciousness and calm. Avoid loud or conflicting colours and your home will feel all the warmer and truly inviting.
A second level is an obvious choice for your small or narrow block, but also consider high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows to further add to the sense of size of your new home.
Small or narrow blocks don’t mean compromising on the things you really want
The best tip for getting the most out of your small or narrow block of land is choosing a home design and a homebuilder that has both knowledge and experience with small or narrow blocks and unique home designs that maximise living spaces. The Edgecliffe Four 29 is one of many narrow block options available from Beechwood Homes. This double storey design requires a minimum block frontage of 11m (and only 10m where the block has a zero lot boundary) and offers over 270m2 of living space as well as a double garage.
A NSW home builder with a difference
As well as giving you the confidence of building with a long-standing NSW homebuilding leader experienced in multi-generational living and knock down rebuild, when you build with Beechwood you can closely track the progress of your new home with Beechwood Pulse, our customer communication portal. Visit one of our display home centres across Sydney, the North Coast and the South Coast to find out how we can help you.
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