Maximising space in new-build homes

Suggestions on optimising your space and enhancing your daily living

The dining area in Jen Sheahan's Rathmines home, 2021 winner of Home of the Year: Banquette seating and a dining table with a central stem allows you to comfortably fit more people. Picture: Moya Nolan

There's a lot to love about new builds. Everything is clean and fresh, the boiler isn't a liability, and nobody has made questionable tiling choices in the bathroom that you now have to deal with.

The challenge is that square footage remains at a premium, so new builds tend to be compact. Personally, I love compact homes – there’s less cleaning! You just need to be a little more intentional about how you design them.