Adaptable ADU Designs For Efficient Living

Every person requires a place to live, be it their personal home or the living spaces they rent. However, over time, it becomes more and more difficult to find a home for an appropriate price. Therefore, Americans opt for more affordable options that do not need huge investments. In this regard, it is a blessing that the housing market now offers a wide variety of options that dwellers can choose from. At the same time, having such spaces located on their lots allows homeowners to generate rental income easily, which is a win-win situation for both parties. Sadly, investing in a new house is not trendy now, as cheaper and more adaptable options are now on top.

Among them, accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, have become a real trend in the US, creating additional living space for landlords and giving a better opportunity for modern living for dwellers. ADUs represent a structure, located on the same lot as the main house, but which has different use opportunities. The living experience there is on point, as while being perfectly suited for urban settings, they allow dwellers to catch some breath in a more natural environment.

ADUs can be a perfect example of efficient use, as this additional space not only allows a sustainable living environment but also can transform into space with any other idea in mind. In other words, their universal design provides excellent opportunities for transformation and adaptability, increasing property value for the owners. Let’s take a closer look at how an accessory dwelling unit can turn into a flexible living area.

ADU Types and Their Adaptability

Even though there are numerous variations of accessory dwelling units on the market, the list of ADUs that dwellers offer is pretty well-established. Let’s take a look at which options have conquered the hearts of homeowners across all states.

Attached ADU

This ADU project includes building living areas right next to your main house with which they share a wall. For sure, everyone living there will have easier access to the unit, allowing you and the dwellers to see each other more often. It provides a perfect opportunity for comfortable living for dwellers and homeowners alike. For example, you can have your older relatives there and check on them every now and then to ensure they are all right. After some time, this private space turns into anything you want, for example, a guest suite or rental space, generating rental income for you.

Detached ADU

Undoubtedly, this unit has better aesthetic appeal than the previously mentioned options, allowing you to establish an ADU design without following the design code of the main house. These units are situated on the same lot as the main house but do not share any walls, representing a totally independent living space. Providing ample space for dwellers and carefully chosen design elements are key to adapting this unit to the homeowner’s needs.

Junior ADU

The name says it all: it is a smaller unit on your lot that has great potential. Here, ADU construction doesn’t take much time, and the end result is not a unit with a large storage area or spacious feel but instead represents a compromising style. Despite these facts, this unit is one of the best ways of using your living space as a means of getting control over your property. After some time of using it as a sustainable living quarters, you can easily transform it into a property with ample storage space, allowing you to maximize the space you need.

The Need For Adaptability

In our company, we believe that every accessory dwelling unit (ADU) should be adaptable as it generates numerous use opportunities for everyone involved. Let’s discuss why you might need an adaptable living space, especially on a narrow lot.

Adaptability is crucial for ADU design because of the following reasons:

• Changing life stages

For sure, life doesn’t stand still and just like everything, your family members that live in an ADU also change and may want to move the house. So, instead of having empty in-law suites next to your primary residence, you can construct a unit with floor plans perfect for adaptability. Therefore, you will get a home office in the place of living quarters, or a guest room, or even a house with several rooms for cozy social gatherings.

• Trends

Right now, renting out units is a profitable and popular activity, but who knows what will attract more money? What if organizing a co-working space turns out to be more profitable? Hence, you need an accessory dwelling unit that transforms into something other than rental space rather easily. As a result, general contractors should start designing ADUs with this idea in mind, opting for minimalist design and large windows that contribute to easier change of the required living space.

• Complicated life situations

There are times when we need to fit several generations of our family under one roof, but normally it is really complicated. However, with a flexible dwelling unit and ADU plans, giving your family members an opportunity to transform their living area into a house with much more free space is an incalculable benefit.

All in all, adaptable living quarters can become a breath of fresh air for your surroundings, with an overall design aimed to satisfy even the pickiest dwellers.

Design Solutions For Adaptability

But what contributes to the adaptability of the living spaces that is so valuable right now? Well, there are certain elements that you will find perfect for the adaptable space, so let’s delve deeper into this topic.

Adaptability solutions include the following elements:

• Flexible floor plans

To transform the living spaces easily, you need to pursue the design that would allow it, for example, flexible floors. They may include movable partitions or even walls that could transform the feel of the units entirely. Instead of having several dining areas in one unit, you can create a single bedroom or even some small bedrooms. With pre-installed big windows, these unified structures will not lack light or any other commodity.

• Multi-functional spaces

Another way of improving your living space hides in plain sight, as you may have already introduced it, but you don’t know yet. We mean certain features of a new ADU that may serve different purposes, like hidden storage units or sliding doors. The latter can also improve the variability of your rooms as one bedroom you have as a personal sanctuary can transform into two bedrooms and vice versa.

• Adaptable exteriors

The general contractors you work with can also provide you with ADU modules that you can install whenever you need it. These include certain sections with adaptable layouts or finishes. They can provide you with enlarged kitchen spaces perfect for a day of exhausting cooking. Or a two-bedroom ADU including natural elements for better sleep.

Adaptability: Benefits and Drawbacks

The benefits of an adaptable living area should be obvious to anyone who has read our article till this moment. They include, for instance, increased functionality as your living area can transform into anything you want, even into a yoga studio from a regular home office. Moreover, in the long run, this investment may be profitable as you can offer this unit for a higher rental price to potential dwellers. For those who want to live in more natural surroundings, sustainable living is not a problem with these units; you don’t need to renovate the quarters in the future or build something in their place.

Unfortunately, there is always a fly in the ointment, as you may encounter in the process some potential drawbacks. They include, for sure, a higher cost as adaptable buildings need a more detailed floor plan. Moreover, floor-to-ceiling windows to allow natural light as well as moving parts of the unit that contribute to the comfortable living in granny flats all need a more detailed and well-established plan, leading to higher costs.

Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ

What additional elements can be installed on adaptable ADUs?

Normally, it depends on the owners what they want to see in the unit, and as long as the local building department approves it, they can have it on their property. For example, solar panels on the roof contribute to environmentally friendly living, and they can be installed in your ADU. In-law suites overall provide a wide variety of elements for your unit, but before you approach it, check their availability and include them in the ADU plans.

Do I have to get extra permits to make my ADU adaptable?

As for the permits, it always depends on the local authorities as they set the rules for homeowners concerning ADU floor plans, setback requirements, and regulations for building ADUs. Nevertheless, under no circumstances should you omit this element in your ADU plans as they are really crucial for the design and authorities will not like it if you forget about this information.

How many rooms do ADU floor plans normally include?

Just like with every accessory dwelling unit (ADU), the situation is always different and depends on the number of bedrooms, ground-level additions, and the design of your general contractor. For instance, if you have ordered a two-bedroom ADU, you need to add an extra room to the total number of rooms, so that your bedrooms would fit accordingly.