Inside the ultimate river shack renovation on a budget

With over eleven renovations completed and countless people taught in their Reno School, it’s fair to say that Three Birds Renovations know a thing or two about making over a house.

In this project, the three talented friends step aside from their usual dreamy white coastal vibe to create a modern weekend house full of practical and stylish choices.

Described as their “tiniest reno ever”, the original cottage and caravan were run down and lacking in space and storage. 

By using hardy materials, rethinking the layout and creating dual-purpose furniture, the Three Birds team managed to maximise as much of the space as possible while still achieving a stylish finish. 

Watch the video above to get some clever design ideas and see how a few thoughtful changes can make a small space work harder for you.

Plus, check out our small space tips below:

Tips for maximising a small space

1. Create dual-purpose furniture

Built-in bench seats, day beds and coffee tables all make excellent storage options. Ask your builder to see where you could sneak in some extra storage into your home.

2. Maximise the connection to the outdoors 

Whether its a big window or bi-fold doors, being able to open up your house to the outdoors will make your space feel infinitely bigger. In this project, Three Birds asked their builder to add hinges to regular doors to create DIY (and budget-friendly) bi-folds.

3. Try a servery window

If your kitchen backs onto your outdoor living area a servery window is a fantastic way to connect the two spaces and create extra seating. Try extending your bench top out into the outdoor area for a really seamless connection between the spaces.

4. Get creative with beds  

In this river shack there needed to be as many sleeping options as possible. By building big day beds and bunk beds they were able to instantly increase the number of beds without losing any space. 

5. Create an outdoor room

Covering your outdoor area to create a sheltered space will extend your living space and make entertaining easy. Just add an outdoor couch, pot plants and ambient lighting for a truly welcoming vibe.

Story by: Lakshmi Krishnasamy

Photography by: Three Birds Renovations