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Read Full StoryAre you planning to extend your property by building a granny flat? Hands down, it can be a great addition to your house - providing extra living space for family members or rental income. However, constructing a quality granny flat requires careful planning to ensure it becomes a well-designed, functional living space. If you aren’t sure where to start with the whole process, you have landed at the right place.
In this guide, we’ll explore some of the top granny flat designs for 2024 featuring innovative layouts, smart design elements, and style ideas to help inspire your own plans. We’ve curated a variety of modern granny flat solutions to consider as you begin shaping your vision. Dive in to explore floor plans, functional design concepts and additional tips for creating your dream granny flat addition. No matter your budget or property needs, we have granny flat design ideas to spark creativity as you embark on your building project.
What Is A Granny Flat?
Before giving you the ideas, we’ll quickly tell you what granny flats exactly are. They are self-sufficient living spaces constructed on your main property to either increase its value or for accommodation.
Granny flats are often used by ageing family members, live-in nannies, and visiting guests and relatives. Often referred to as Accessory Dwelling Units, they can be constructed in your basement, garage or backyard.
What Are The Benefits Of A Granny Flat?
There are numerous advantages to adding a granny flat to your property. Not only can a secondary dwelling increase your home’s value, but it can provide additional income through rental possibilities. According to industry experts, extra living space on your land that is designed for an independent occupation will appeal to potential buyers looking to accommodate a family. The functionality of a granny flat makes good financial sense as well. Many local governments offer tax incentives to encourage granny flat construction that can return savings on your annual tax bill.
Perhaps one of the most meaningful benefits is the ability to house elderly relatives on your property. A granny flat allows aging family members to live independently yet closely with support. The private living quarters are ideal for multi-generational living situations where all parties retain privacy and autonomy.
Additionally, the space lends itself well as a cost-effective home base. For travelling nurses, remote workers or artists working on projects, a granny flat provides a permanent yet affordable home studio or residence between destinations. The detached living arrangement can even foster creative inspiration or meditation in a tranquil, separate workspace away from the busier household.
Overall, incorporating a granny flat adds considerable value, tax savings, and functional purpose that enriches both homeowners and their families for years to come. The optimal layout and size will depend on individual needs, but the advantages are endless regardless of how you utilise the extra living quarters.
Best Granny Flat Ideas 2024
To help you build the granny flat of your dreams, we’ve put together a list of excellent ideas, so check them out:
1. Attached is Granny Flat
As the name suggests, an attached granny flat is constructed in continuation with the main property to create a seamless look. However, even though both dwellings have a common wall, they aren’t connected through an entryway. Extending your timber deck and separating your entrance from the home is also possible.
An attached granny flat can easily be built with an extra large-sized room in your house. Just seal the door to that room and create a separate entryway; brownie points if there is a separate staircase, too!
2. Detached Granny Flat
Our next suggestion for you is the detached granny flat, a standalone living space in the same plot as your main property. Depending on the area, it could be in your backyard or front yard. And you should give it a go if you want to house an ageing family member or create an investment space.
Better yet, it is also a good place for artistic endeavours like writing, painting or music composing that need a quiet environment. Need more privacy? Simply put a fence between the dwellings and pretend it is a separate plot. It is also perfect for renting out the place for some extra cash. In contrast, if you want easy access to the granny flat, open the yard and make a stone path for cosy neighbourly vibes.
3. Junior ADU
Moving on with our list, we present JADU or Junior ADU, a portion of the primary home converted into a granny flat. This is mainly done so that both dwellings can share a kitchen. It can be up to 500 square feet large with 150 square feet of egress and ingress area.
A JADU can also have a separate bathroom and kitchen, providing space to install reasonably-sized cabinets and storage units. The power outlet shouldn’t be more than 240 volts for user safety. You can rent out these dwellings, but owner-occupancy is mandatory.
4. Garage Conversion
Next up is the most efficient and convenient granny flat design - a converted garage. Instead of treating your garage as a storeroom and shoving junk, you can declutter and transform it into a liveable and rentable space. It’ll be easy on your pockets because you won’t need to build a separate building from scratch.
All you need to do is deep clean the garage, run some safety checks and build a door. For added user convenience, you can get some woodwork in place, creating storage spaces and countertops to keep stuff.
5. Basement Granny Flat
We’ll wrap up our list with the basement granny flat, made by converting your basement into an independent, private, usable space. You’ll have to build a working kitchen, a bathroom, a separate staircase and an entry gate.
The basement is a large area that often goes to waste due to poor maintenance. But with a little prepping up and resources, you can create an independent dwelling out of it and earn some extra cash every month. Since it is as large as your actual house in most cases, the rent incurred is also quite significant.
Some Granny Flat Essentials
To qualify as an independently functioning “flat”, an ADU needs to have the following essentials:
1. Kitchen
The flat must have a working kitchen with a refrigerator, an oven, a sink, storage units and countertops for food preparation. It can have a dishwasher, microwave, and dining area, but they aren’t essential. Though small, the kitchen should be practical; only then will it be approved for renting. Many of these can be done with DIY kitchens and furniture.
2. Living Area
Having some space for inhabitants to lounge, watch television, read, or maybe go about their hobbies is also crucial. It isn’t a granny flat if your granny cannot sit and relax!
3. Sleeping Quarters
No living space can be accommodated if it doesn’t allow the tenants to sleep properly. Therefore, the flat should have enough space so people can sleep without feeling suffocated. The sleeping quarters can be a tiny bedroom or a wall-less area with a comfy bed.
Furthermore, it should have enough storage cabinets to safely keep your clothes, stationery, toiletries and other belongings.
4. Bathroom
Lastly, the bathroom shouldn’t just be restricted to a toilet and sink. It should have a showering unit, shelves or cupboards and a mirror. You can also add items like a towel rack and heated lights.
The bottom line is the granny flat should have all the essentials for quality long-term living. While it can be quite adorable or elegant, the basic ones should have these components for anyone to stay.
Granny Flat Designs Of 2024
On that note, we’ve reached the end of this simple granny flat guide. We hope you found the custom granny flat designs you were looking for. However, our favourite is the detached granny flat, owing to its unparalleled privacy.
If you want to build a granny flat in Sydney, give the team at FTCC a call. We are licensed and experienced Sydney builders specialising in designing, constructing and renovating granny flats that Sydney locals trust!
It’s a wrap for the day, but we’ll see you again. Until next time, take care!
Learn More About Granny Flat Designs With Our FAQs
What size bedroom granny flat can I build?
Bedroom granny flat sizes will vary depending on your budget, space availability and local council regulations. Some options include a one-bedroom flat, studio-style flat suitable for 1-2 people or larger two-bedroom flats. Even narrow or odd-shaped areas can accommodate a compact, well-designed living space.
Can I connect my granny flat to the main house?
Yes, some granny flat designs feature an attached layout connected to the main residence via a shared wall or breezeway. This offers easier access between living areas but reduces privacy. A detached flat provides more independence.
What style works best for a narrow granny flat?
Contemporary designs often make clever use of narrow granny flat floor plans. Optimise wall space with built-in storage like wardrobes. Consider a studio-style layout with no defined bedrooms. Multipurpose furniture adds versatile living areas.
How detailed do my granny flat floor plans need to be?
Council will require detailed granny flat floor plans showing layout, window/door placements, bathroom/kitchen fittings and overall dimensions. SketchUp or CAD software helps demonstrate code compliance. Consider hiring an architect for fully drafted plans to ensure approval.
What is the best granny flat floor plan for my living space?
There is no single best granny flat floor plan, as the design should suit your needs and budget. Popular options include one-bedroom layouts, open-plan studios, or multi-room designs for larger families. Evaluate space usage and flow to develop a functional floor plan customised to your living space.
