Small Space Design Lessons from Famous Architects of the Early 1900s (That Still Apply Today)

If you could invite a thoughtful designer from the early 1900s into a modern tiny home, they might be surprised by how familiar the challenges feel. While the century has changed, the core challenge remains the same: how do you make limited square footage feel comfortable, functional, and uplifting?

Designers of the early 1900s—especially those shaped by the Arts & Crafts movement, like Gustav Stickley and Greene and Greene—weren’t chasing trends. They were chasing rightness: a home that fit its environment, served the daily habits of its owner, and used materials honestly. In that mindset, small spaces were not a limitation to fight—they were a puzzle to solve with discipline, craft, and light.

When we apply these early 1900s design principles today, we find something remarkable: many “modern” small-space solutions are actually echoes of old wisdom.

Below are small space design strategies viewed through an early 1900s point of view—practical, architectural, and rooted in harmony between indoors and out.

1) Waste No Square Foot: Hallways Are a Luxury Small Homes Can’t Afford

An early 1900s designer would likely see long hallways and isolated walkways as unnecessary indulgence. In a small floorplan, every foot of floor must contribute to living.

Hallways are single-purpose space: they move people, but they don’t support daily life. In a modest home,  that is costly.

Early 1900s principle: “Let the plan serve living.”

Instead of carving space into narrow corridors, a designer from this era would prefer:

• rooms that flow into one another naturally
  
  

• circulation paths that pass through useful spaces (like a sitting room or dining area)
  
  

• openings that invite light and air deeper into the home
  
  

Design takeaway: If structural changes are possible, removing walls that create long interior hallways can immediately reclaim usable square footage and significantly improve natural light throughout the space. When those hallway walls are load-bearing and can’t be removed, a strong alternative is to replace them with minimal structural posts—maintaining support while opening up the layout. 

2) Open the Plan—But Keep a Sense of Order and Purpose

It’s tempting to think open floor plans are a purely modern idea. But early 1900s designers were already moving away from rigid room separation—especially in homes influenced by Arts & Crafts ideals.

Older floorplans used walls to strongly define and separate spaces, often resulting in a chopped-up interior. Designers of the early 1900s increasingly believed that a home should feel unified, not segmented. 

Early 1900s principle: “Unity of the interior.”

Rather than building a house as a collection of boxes, they sought:

• connected living spaces
  
  

• sightlines that create spaciousness
  
  

• rooms that support shared family life

Gustav Stickly, who brought the arts and crafts movement to the United States from England in the late 1800s, often designed the main public space of a floorplan as a single continuous room, with the dining area not walled off.

Design takeaway: In a small home, open floorplans reduce the need for low-value single-use spaces. A connected living-dining-kitchen area can make the home feel twice its size without adding a single square foot.

3) Define Rooms Without Walls: Color, Craft, and Tall Living Elements

Early 1900s designers valued structure—but not always in the form of walls. They often created “rooms within rooms” using changes in finish, ceiling treatment, built-ins, and materials.

If walls are removed, a house still needs rhythm and order. But instead of constructing new partitions, an early 1900s designer would define zones through subtle architectural signals.

Early 1900s tools for defining space

• changes in wall color to suggest different room functions
  
  

• material transitions like wood trim, plaster and stone hearths
  
  

• built-in furniture to anchor a space like benches and bookcases
  
  

• tall features like plants to create soft separation and height
  
  

Design takeaway: In a small remodel, use color and vertical elements to create zones. This keeps the layout open while maintaining the dignity and purpose of each area.

4) “Bring the Outside In” with Generous Windows and Doors

The early 1900s brought a growing belief that a home should not be sealed off from nature. Designers emphasized windows, porches, terraces, and garden views—because nature was considered essential to daily well-being.

This is where Greene and Greene’s philosophy fits beautifully: they used large windows and doors to invite natural light and the surrounding landscape into the home, blurring the line between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Early 1900s principle: “Light and air are part of the architecture.”

A small space without light becomes oppressive. A small space with light becomes cheerful and dignified.

Design takeaway: Use doors and windows to bring natural light efficiently into the home. In many cases, improving daylight will do more for perceived space than removing furniture ever could.

5) Treat the Garden as Another Room (Especially in Small Homes)

To early 1900s designers, the exterior was not separate—it was part of the whole composition.

Exterior landscape, interior design, and architecture were intertwined. A modest home could feel expansive if it opened to a courtyard, porch, or garden. In Greene and Greene work, terraces, sleeping porches, and courtyards acted as extensions of the living space.

Early 1900s principle: “The home continues beyond the walls.”

Even if your interior square footage is limited, a strong outdoor connection creates:

• psychological spaciousness
  
  

• better ventilation
  
  

• more livable space in warm seasons
  
  

Design takeaway: Plan windows and doors to frame greenery. Design your landscape intentionally so it becomes a living backdrop for the interior.

6) Follow the Sun: Window Placement Should Respect the Day

Early 1900s designers were deeply aware of climate and environment. They believed the style and layout of a house should be shaped by:

• climate
  
  

• environment
  
  

• available materials
  
  

• the owner’s habits and tastes
  
  

That means the sun’s travel mattered.

Early 1900s principle: “The home must respond to nature, not ignore it.”

Window placement should not be random or purely aesthetic. It should support how the home is used.

Design takeaway: When remodeling, consider the sun’s path before committing to window locations. Morning light belongs where people start their day. Softer light belongs where people rest.

7) Use Honest Materials to Add Richness Without Clutter

Small spaces cannot tolerate excessive ornamentation. Early 1900s designers understood this well and leaned into “truth to materials.” Wood, stone, and plaster were not just structural—they were decorative by nature.

Early 1900s principle: “Let the material speak.”

Rather than filling a small home with objects, they built beauty into the structure:

• warm wood tones
  
  

• stone hearths
  
  

• plaster walls with depth and softness
  
  

• locally sourced materials where possible
  
  

Design takeaway: Use natural materials to create character without visual noise. This adds richness while keeping the space calm and uncluttered.

Final Thoughts: Small Space Design as the Early 1900s Intended

A designer from the early 1900s would not advise you to “make do” with a small home.

They would advise you to design it honestly:

• eliminate wasted circulation space
  
  

• open the plan for unity and light
  
  

• define rooms through craft, color, and vertical elements
  
  

• use windows and gardens to connect the home to nature
  
  

• follow the sun and respect the climate
  
  

In that way, a small home becomes not cramped—but complete.

And that is the timeless goal of great design.