Modern ADU Interior

If you need to create a house dedicated to guests, a granny flat for your elderly family members, or a home office for a remote job, an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) project can be an amazing variant. But how can this building be made cozy and comfortable? In this article, we’ll provide you with a collection of the best ideas for ADU designs!

What is an ADU Structure

An accessory dwelling unit is a smaller secondary house on the same property as the primary residence — usually in the backyard. It has the same rooms as an ordinary apartment: a bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom, and, in some cases, even a living room.

ADUs can be of different types (an attached ADU, a detached ADU, a converted garage, etc.) and serve various purposes: homes for aging relatives, guest houses, personal mini-offices, or rental income sources. Also, according to various contractor companies, an ADU adds approximately 35% or even more to the property value.

In the majority of cases, people choose the design of their ADU project interior depending on its purpose. For example, the interior will be more comfy and cozy if it’s meant to be a granny flat. On the contrary, if the owner wants a home office, its design will probably be strict and minimalistic. However, basic principles exist too – for instance, using multifunctional furniture or wall storage to maximize the space.

Versatile Furniture Ideas for Granny Flats

Since an ADU is a tiny house, it has very small spaces. So, a collection of multifunctional furniture in such a small dwelling is a must, regardless of its interior style.

Let’s look at several examples:

1. A sofa with multiple functions. It can include a storage space, an in-built side table, transform into a chair or a full-fledged sleeping area;
2. A Murphy bed. It’s a bed that you attach to a wall and can store vertically. So, it can help you save much more space in the bedroom;
3. Foldable furniture;
4. A pull-out table;
5. A pull-down bed with a lifting mechanism. It’s another smart solution to optimize bedroom space in modern ADU designs. Unlike a Murphy bed, you keep it near the ceiling instead of a wall.

Using Efficient Technologies in a Modern ADU

All the best designers of ADU plans recommend equipping your tiny house with the latest technologies. They can make it safer, more comfortable, functional, and energy-efficient. Nowadays, this trend is gaining more and more popularity in modern ADU designs.

Which appliances can you use in a thoughtfully designed modern ADU structure? Let’s name at least some of them:

1. A smart thermostat. It can help you effectively regulate the temperature, even if you rent your ADU out;
2. Automatic security and lighting systems. They can provide an unprecedented level of security and convenience to your ADU plans, and also help you save time;
3. Voice-controlled ADU systems. Controlling temperature, lighting, TV display, and other appliances with nothing more than voice commands is very convenient. This option is especially crucial for elderly or disabled people;
4. Energy-efficient devices. These are various appliances that monitor electricity consumption and offer energy-saving modes, thus helping you reduce its usage in your ADU;
5. Smart shades and blinds. Another method of automatic lighting regulation. Also, you can program it to close automatically whenever you need it, providing you with much better privacy in the ADU.

Modern ADU Designs and Ideas

In ADU plans, interior design variations are as diverse as in any other house. They can be contemporary, vintage, rural, art-deco, or any other. Let’s talk about the most popular ADU designs that you can create. Explore these ideas and find inspiration for your own ADU design excellence!

Modern Style

The modern ADU project style follows the newest interior trends. Its main features are clean, sleek shapes, functionality, and minimalism. This style is suitable for those who like simple and practical design — and also for those who want to use their ADU as a home office. However, some people may find it a bit boring.

It includes the following ideas:

• Open floor ADU plans. It’s one of the main characteristics of the modern ADU style. Such a plan can help you make the interior visually larger and more spacious. Also, it creates a seamless connection between all the rooms in the house;
• Multifunctional furniture. It’s another vital element of this style. Some of the examples are convertible tables, wall beds, chairs with storage space, and so on. This furniture can allow you to utilize space in the ADU much more effectively and avoid clutter;
• Eco-friendliness. In the modern ADU style, there are many sustainable material ideas, such as lumber with an FSC certificate, low-VOC paint, and reclaimed wood;
• Large windows and lots of natural light. If windows are big, they make the ADU interior feel lighter and more spacious;
• A high ceiling, often with clerestory windows that also let skylights in. Such a ceiling gives a room an open, spacious, and inviting look.

The modern interior design style is a great combination of sustainability, effectiveness, and style. If you like minimalism, functionality, clean lines, a lot of space, and natural light — it’s an ideal option for you!

Traditional Style

Usually, a traditional ADU style resembles the design of the primary residence, making the whole lot look cohesive and harmonious.

Let’s look at its key characteristics:

• Facade symmetry. A symmetrical facade gives the ADU a well-balanced appearance that looks stylish and classic.
• Traditional materials. ADU designs in this style use mainly classic, high-quality, and durable materials that match the main home — for instance, wood or brick.
• A gabled roof. It’s one of the most traditional roof types, perfectly suitable for this design.

This style can fit you if you want your property lot to look cohesive, with everything blending together in harmony, and the ADU in the backyard perfectly matching the main house — even if it’s a detached ADU.

Rustic Style

The rustic style is super cozy and comfy, with plenty of natural materials like wood. Rustic ADU designs can be very suitable for elderly parents, in-laws, or other family members.

Its main characteristics include:

• Lots of wood. Rustic ADU designs often feature wooden siding, beams, and other interior elements. Wood makes the room look warmer, cozier, and more inviting;
• Stone accents. Various elements made of stone emphasize the natural look of the interior and beautifully contrast with the wood. In addition to that, they’re very durable;
• A covered porch. In the rustic style, outdoor spaces need to be as cozy and welcoming as indoor ones. A porch cover provides a very pleasant, relaxing environment.

The rustic ADU design is suitable for people who love the country’s aesthetic, natural world, coziness, laid-back lifestyle, and seamless blending of indoor and outdoor spaces.

Spanish Style

This ADU design style is both simple and elegant and has a distinctive rural charm. It’s a real timeless classic, beloved by lots of people.

Its main characteristics are the following:

• White stucco walls. It’s an important element of this interior design style. Such walls make the ADU interior seem brighter and more spacious, and serve as a great background for various color accents;
• Red clay tiles on the roof. It’s a traditional, distinctive element of the Spanish style;
• Details made of hand-crafted wrought iron. Light fixtures, railings, and little pretty balconies make the house look more aesthetic, elegant, and authentic;
• Arched windows and doorways. Such elements are also a key part of the Spanish ADU style;
• Saltillo tile. Its brown color adds extra warmth and coziness to the interior;
• Outdoor space. The Spanish style is famous for its patios, gardens, and courtyards. They help convert a simple backyard into a full-fledged living space, great for spending time in the warm weather.

This charming and elegant style is suitable for those who like traditional ADU designs with rich, unique cultural heritage.

Contemporary Style

This interior design style is a mixture of contemporary aesthetics and practicality, making an ADU both stylish and functional.

The primary features of such ADU designs are:

• A slanted roof. It doesn’t only look stylish but also has a practical purpose of water drainage;
• A large deck. Like a patio in the Spanish ADU design style, it adds an extra living space to the house and makes it more connected to nature. A perfect place to relax!
• Two floors. It’s another great way of optimizing small spaces in modern ADU plans – this time vertically. A two-story construction is ideal for a tiny home, especially if you intend to use it as a guest house for multiple people.

The contemporary ADU design is great for you if you appreciate both attractive style and functionality and think they should go together.