Innovative, Affordable and Fun Tiny Homes

Tiny houses have become popular in recent years as housing prices continue to soar. Whether as an off-the-grid retreat or a way to live more simply and economically, tiny homes offer a more flexible way to live. As the popularity and need for tiny homes become ever more prevalent, knowing the necessary skills to design a tiny house for yourself is a useful skill to have. If you not into designing your own there are kits that can be purchased, along with the support you might need while doing your own building.  Before you start any tiny house project, check your local government for documents you may need. i.e., permits.

The typical American home is about 2,800 square feet, while the typical tiny house seldom exceeds 500 square feet. A tiny house on wheels is usually less than 8 by 20 ft, with livable space totaling 120 so ft or less, for ease of towing. If you are thinking of going tiny, making the commitment can be a freeing experience.  All those material items you thought you could not live without?  Once you start the process of downsizing you start to appreciate that those things just are not important to you anymore.  Keep what you love, donate the rest.

A tiny house uses every available inch of space. Most components serve more than one purpose.  For instance, a door might be used to close off the bathroom, but the outside of the door has another door that opens to reveal a pantry.  Usually the staircase serves not only as a staircase but also has a storage area under each stair. The side of the staircase also opens up to create closet space!  All open wall space is usually a cabinet.  Every nook and cranny in a tiny house are utilitarian in some way. You’d be awed by some of the creative things that can be done with teeny tiny spaces.

Tiny home living has many benefits.  As many as 66% of tiny home dwellers have no credit card debt. In addition to that, 69% don’t have a mortgage payment. And with an average of $23,000, self-built tiny homes are much more inexpensive to build than traditional homes.  It is definitely a lifestyle change for the better to some when the results can be less spending, less accumulation of stuff, and less debt.  Plus, if you get restless you can always hook it up and move to another spot!

With a little creativity and a lot of downsizing of personal “stuff”, tiny homes are an affordable and creative way to live.  And don’t forget, the smaller the house, the less to clean!