Designing your accessory dwelling unit (ADU) can be both exciting and a bit overwhelming. There are endless options available to you, which can make it difficult to decide what granny flat design best serves your needs. If you are struggling with your ADU layout, or just looking for some direction as you decide on an ADU floor plan, read on for five easy steps to guide your decision making in your ADU design process.
Before picking a floor plan, it’s important to determine the potential buildable space you are working with. In other words, you need to know the size and shape of the area in which you can build an ADU.
This “buildable envelope” will depend on a number of factors, including your local ADU size limits, setbacks (how far the ADU must be from your property line and other buildings on the property) and your site constraints. Feasibility studies are designed to determine whether or not you will be able to build a unit on your property and at what cost. Findings like where current utilities run can be useful to guide your ADU placement.
The study puts together a comprehensive picture of your lot so that you and your design team can determine the optimal placement for your granny flat. So, if your feasibility study finds that the corner of your backyard will be the most ADU-friendly space, you can save money on additional site work that might be needed in more challenging locations.
When designing your ideal accessory dwelling unit, you have flexibility to mold the layout to best serve your intended use of the space. If your ADU will be for you or a family member, this is the time to create the hobby space, workout room, or storage area you will need to most enjoy your new home. If your ADU will be for a rental, it’s important to consider features that are attractive to renters.
When reviewing floor plans, keep your end user in mind. We see homeowners often building dual suites for rental units so that each roommate can have an equally appealing room. Meanwhile, units built for a family member may have a large primary bedroom suite, plus a smaller second bedroom that can double as a hobby space when it is not being enjoyed by family and friends.
With your goals now clearly defined, consider how they might evolve over time. Since your ADU is built to endure, aim for a design that will continue to bring value in the coming years. A few things to consider:
Back in step one you thought about where to build your ADU. It’s also important to think about what it will be like living in the ADU given the layout of the property.
The purpose of most accessory dwelling units built for families is to provide privacy and separation from the primary dwelling, without compromising on proximity. And regardless of whether you intend to make a space for family or rent out your additional unit, a good ADU design will consider each of these design factors:
Foliage, walls, and backyard features are all fool-proof ways to offer your ADU residents more privacy and seclusion from the primary unit. Creating a private walkway to and from the ADU increases privacy and ensures your day-to-day life will not be interrupted by the movement of your ADU residents. This may look like a whole private driveway, or simply a separate walkway to the unit. It all depends on the space available to you and – as always – the intended use of your unit.
It’s helpful to see a 3D version of your plan early in the process so that you can assess how you feel about the position of the windows and exterior doors relative to your property features – like fences, pools and property lines. It’s far more expensive – and time consuming – to make a change to the floor plan during construction. Even a seemingly simple change will affect many layers of your construction plans (think engineering and energy calculations) and require resubmission to the city.
Typically, we would want to focus on placing equipment like water heaters, electrical panels, data panels, and solar disconnects in out-of-sight locations. However, it’s essential to also consider how such equipment might impact other aspects of your ADU—like medicine cabinets or shower niches. The tight spaces in ADUs often necessitate smart designs to accommodate all variables, including what will need to make sense in the field.
The outside of your ADU home will need to blend with the rest of your property and neighborhood. In fact, most municipal ADU codes mandate that the ADU exterior aesthetic match the primary home. Your designer should take this into consideration during the design phase to ensure the architectural details shown on the plans will match sufficiently with your primary home.
This is a no-brainer. Everyone wants to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of their space, which is made much easier when the interior design of your home is thoughtfully curated. Selecting a predesigned look, working with a designer, or spending hours on Pinterest if you prefer a DIY design route will ensure everyone is satisfied with your new investment. Also keep in mind how to maximize a small space.
Cost is the first thing most people consider when deciding to take on a new project around the house. Your ADU layout and design can largely affect the price of your unit, so it is important to keep your budget at the forefront when finalizing your design.
It’s a lot to consider, and we have helped hundreds of homeowners plan their ADU design and layout. Just contact us if it would be helpful to chat with an expert on our team.
If you have any questions on expandable granny flats. We will give the professional answers to your questions.