Designing the floor plan of your accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is an important step. But what about its interior design and décor? For homeowners who are less familiar with interior design, many online resources offer ideas to brighten a small space and make it feel more open. Whether you have a tiny home, a new accessory dwelling unit, or simply need inspiration for your small bedroom, these websites offer helpful guidance for creating a comfortable, cozy space. Explore the resources below for practical decorating tips, fresh perspectives, and inspiration you can bring into your own home.
1. “ 45 Small Space Design Ideas That Make the Most of Your Square Footage, According to Experts ” - House Beautiful
This site offers a concise list of design tricks to help you make the most of your home’s available space. The advice ranges from space-saving techniques, such as installing pocket doors instead of conventional swinging doors, to visual strategies, such as using reflective materials to brighten rooms and make them feel more open. House Beautiful focuses on enhancing your home’s appearance, regardless of its size, shape, or location.
2. “ How to Decorate Small Spaces Like a Pro ” - Architectural Digest
A well-known name in interior design, Architectural Digest brings its expertise to tiny homes and ADUs in this article. Rather than encouraging readers to invest in specific pieces or decorating styles, it suggests practical ways to make a home feel larger using items they already own. For example, the first tip recommends folding items away to free up floor space. This approach helps homeowners reconsider how everyday belongings occupy a room and identify simple opportunities to reclaim usable space. While the advice may seem familiar, Architectural Digest reminds readers that small, thoughtful changes can make a substantial difference in a compact home.
3. “ 50 Smart Design Ideas for Small Spaces ” - HGTV
Another major name in interior design, HGTV, has compiled a comprehensive list of tips for homeowners decorating small spaces. This article stands out for its carefully styled photos, which illustrate each idea and serve as the focal point of the accompanying text. The examples feature a variety of decorating styles, showing readers that many aesthetics can work in a compact home, including an accessory dwelling unit. As readers browse the images, they can gather inspiration and consider how to adapt these attractive rooms to their own homes.
4. “ The 11 Best Small-Space Design Ideas We Saw This Year ” - Apartment Therapy
Apartment Therapy recaps standout design techniques from the past year, showing that a small home can still be beautiful. This article offers more room-specific advice than the resources above, discussing details such as choosing a particular headboard for a bedroom. Its focused suggestions are especially useful for readers seeking help with one room rather than an entire home. Apartment Therapy’s ideas offer potentially quick, attractive solutions to a range of decorating dilemmas, with details homeowners can adapt to their own spaces. Overall, the article provides a helpful look at the ideas people tried in their homes and the approaches that proved worth keeping.
5. “ 24 Small Space Decorating Ideas for Making the Most of Any Room in Your House ” - Country Living
As you might expect, Country Living focuses on a distinctive decorating aesthetic. From country chic to modern farmhouse, the magazine appeals to readers who appreciate classic Americana. Anyone drawn to country-inspired décor who is furnishing a tiny home, ADU, or another compact space should explore this article. As its title suggests, the design ideas address areas throughout the home rather than a single room. Together, these suggestions offer inspiration for creating a cohesive, polished look that carries across the entire space while staying true to a favorite style.
6. “ 12 Best Décor Schemes for Compact Spaces ” - Homes & Gardens
Homes & Gardens distinguishes its article from similar resources by exploring design concepts rather than specific furniture pieces or decorating styles. One helpful example is its discussion of furniture scale. Instead of automatically choosing small pieces for a small room, the article encourages readers to consider full-size furniture that supports comfort and everyday enjoyment. The emphasis is on choosing furniture residents genuinely want, rather than limiting every purchase to what seems smallest, while still considering the room’s dimensions and circulation. Concepts like this run throughout the article, helping readers envision a compact home that feels comfortable, functional, and thoughtfully furnished.
7. “ 5 Tips for How To Organize a Small Kitchen ” - Live Uncluttered
This article offers tips for organizing a small kitchen, including removing items that are rarely used, maximizing storage, and taking advantage of vertical space. Live Uncluttered recommends drawer dividers, shelf risers, and hanging racks to expand storage options, along with thoughtful use of window treatments. The article also emphasizes keeping the kitchen clean and uncluttered and choosing multipurpose kitchen tools to save space. Together, these suggestions provide practical guidance for anyone seeking a more organized, efficient small kitchen.
8. “ 15 Tiny House Ideas That Prove Small Spaces Unlock Big Creativity ” - Architectural Digest
Architectural Digest presents 15 smart design ideas for making the most of a compact living space. The article highlights practical strategies, including incorporating hidden storage, choosing multifunctional furniture, maximizing natural light, and strengthening indoor-outdoor connections to make small homes feel larger and function better. Although the examples draw inspiration from tiny homes, the underlying design concepts also apply to ADUs. Homeowners seeking fresh ways to enhance both style and functionality will find plenty of ideas to consider and adapt to their own spaces.
9. “ How to Design a Tiny House: 18 Creative Design & Decor Ideas ” - Extra Space Storage
Extra Space Storage offers practical decorating and organization ideas to help small homes feel more spacious and inviting. The article covers everything from neutral color palettes and carefully placed pops of color to multipurpose furniture, vertical storage, and creative built-in solutions. It also highlights simple design choices, such as adding houseplants, maximizing natural light, and using sliding doors to improve functionality and appearance. Many of these budget-friendly suggestions can be adapted to an ADU, making the article a useful resource for homeowners who want to make the most of every square foot.
10. “ I’ve Covered Hundreds of Tiny Homes, These Are the 13 Best Ideas I’ve Picked Up ” - Domino
Drawing on years of visits and interviews with small-space homeowners, Domino shares 13 practical design ideas that balance style with everyday functionality. Rather than emphasizing expensive renovations, the article highlights creative solutions, such as choosing multipurpose furniture, displaying everyday items as décor, embracing open storage, and using each room flexibly. Many suggestions come from real homes and can be adapted to an ADU without losing their personal character. This makes the article a helpful source of inspiration for homeowners seeking a space that feels distinctive, comfortable, and efficient.
Looking for more ADU inspiration? Explore our ADU Designs page and ADU Floor Plans page.
