Design an ADU around everyday life
A successful small home makes daily routines comfortable. Plan the entrance, kitchen, bathroom, laundry and storage around the future occupant.
Family, privacy and independence
- For an aging parent, discuss step-free daily routes, reachable storage, bathroom maneuvering and future support needs with the designer and occupant.
- For an adult child, consider a separate entrance, visitors, workspace, quiet hours and the balance between shared and private outdoor space.
- For guests or a future renter, consider where luggage, cleaning supplies, coats and household equipment will live. Avoid treating storage as leftover space.
Make compact rooms work harder
- Test furniture placement before fixing wall locations: bed access, dining chairs, sofa depth and a workspace all need usable clearances.
- Plan kitchen landing space, appliance-door swings and a practical route between cooking, refrigeration and washing.
- Consider where laundry noise, bathroom exhaust and mechanical equipment will be heard. Ask about sound isolation at shared walls and floors.
Design an entrance that feels like a home
- Create a clearly identifiable arrival point, lighting, weather protection and a place for deliveries.
- Look at window placement from both homes. Privacy can be improved with layout and landscaping as well as curtains.
- Compare durable, maintainable finishes and explain the intended use to your partner. Rental assumptions and family needs may lead to different priorities.
Save a personal design brief
- List must-haves, nice-to-haves and things you would trade for a lower cost. Ask the future occupant to review it.
- Save a preferred architectural direction and bring photos of your existing home. The sketches on this site are inspiration; detailed accessibility and building compliance require professional design.
Turn the checklist into a project plan
Record each open question, the person responsible, evidence needed and target date. Confirm requirements with the city and your licensed design/build professionals.
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Planning guidance. Requirements depend on the property, design and adopted local codes; this guide does not certify compliance. How our guidance is prepared