Are you thinking of downsizing? Maybe living in a tiny house is for you! Tiny houses are becoming more and more popular as people seek ways to simplify their lives. They can be an excellent option for those who want to live mortgage-free or for those who are looking for a more sustainable way of living. There are various types of tiny homes in the market to choose from. However, living tiny also has its advantages and disadvantages. Read on to learn more about living tiny.
Different Types of Tiny Homes
There are different types of tiny houses in the market. It is important you choose the perfect house that suits the climate and weather of the area you are going or staying at. Here are some of the different types of tiny houses:
- Tumbleweed Tiny Houses
Small houses that are attached to trailers for mobility | @tumbleweedhouses
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company is one of the best-known manufacturers of tiny houses. All four of its basic house models have wooden exteriors, some rustic and some modern. Their size ranges from 117 to 221 square feet, and all of them can be towed on trailers. The houses can be built to order, or buyers can buy the plan and build their own.
- Tiny Texas Houses
Materials from salvaged buildings are used to build tiny Texas houses. | @sfgate
Tiny Texas Houses are suitable for those who want something a bit larger and more permanent. They come in two sizes, 240 or 336 square feet, and are built entirely out of salvaged materials. They have a rustic and casual style. These homes are built in Luling, Texas, and then shipped to the buyer's site and built.
- Shipping Container Homes
Shipment container homes are flexible, eco-friendly, and fast to construct. | @thewowdecor
Metal shipping containers are another salvaged material used for tiny houses. Metal shipping containers are used to carry goods from one location to another. However, shipping them back empty is not usually cost-effective. Rather than turning them into scrap metal, tiny house manufacturers transform them into stylish prefab homes. G-Pod is one example. They shipped containers that contain materials necessary to build the house, which then can be unpacked and assembled on-site.
- Tiny Luxury Homes
You can build a luxury tiny home for half the price of a luxury car. | @tailoredtinyco
Despite their small size, tiny houses do not have to be simple and boring. Forbes featured a story about tiny luxury homes featuring home automation, surround sound, radiant in-floor heating, and tiny hot tubs. Although these houses are costly when priced by the square foot, they offer an opportunity to own a luxury home for as little as $35,000 – less than many luxury cars.
- Micro-Apartments
Micro apartments cost less than traditional studio apartments | @88designbox
Tiny homes are sometimes not even houses – they're "micro-apartments" for rent. This will allow single people who are just starting out to afford an apartment in the city when the rent of a full-sized apartment would be too expensive for them. Micro-apartments are usually less than 400 square feet. Buildings with micro-apartments typically include amenities such as shared spaces for entertaining and storage which helps to compensate for the small apartment sizes.
Advantages of Tiny Houses
- Less clutter/ time spent cleaning
These tiny homes usually only consist of a few rooms – usually a kitchen, living area, and bedroom. Other tiny houses could be completely open, like a studio. There would not be much space to fill with stuff in tiny homes, especially when you want a room to move around. Therefore, cleaning would be faster as you don't have a lot of things. Not only that but there are also fewer areas to clean compared to a traditional home.
- More savings
Small and repurposed, this type of home is seen as an eco-friendly option. | @yankodesign
With tiny homes, you don't have to spend a lot of money building them, especially if you can design and build the house yourself, then you will only need to spend on materials. However, there are still a lot of tiny home designers out there, but it will definitely cost more – price ranges from less than $19000 to around $50000 depending on its size and the kind of finishes you want. A lower-cost price means that you can potentially pay cash for it if you have spent enough time saving up. However, if you can't pay cash, you can take up a loan. It will still be a smaller loan compared to a traditional mortgage. By owning a tiny home, you will spend less on heating, cooling, property taxes, or home maintenance.
- Able to move freely
Tiny homes require a small footprint. Therefore, they won't need a large plot of land. Most of the tiny houses are built on trailers so that homeowners can take them along whenever they move to a new city. Many people find this an ideal way to enjoy life on the road without giving up all the comforts of home, and some use it to connect more to nature by staying off the grid.
- Lower Carbon Footprint
Compared to larger homes, tiny homes consume less energy, produce less waste, and use fewer resources. Some tiny houses are even equipped with solar panels and rainwater collectors. This will be very convenient, especially when living off the grid.
Disadvantages of Tiny Houses
- Tiny house laws aren't easy to comply with
Often, people have been shoo-ed away from even remote locations once it's been discovered that they've parked a tiny home there. Moreover, word spreads quickly about remarkably tiny homes, so it happens often. Which leads us to wonder: Why are tiny houses illegal? There are some states where tiny houses are not considered legal housing due to zoning regulations and safety concerns. Tiny houses are not considered residences by most states because of their small size, making it difficult to register or get permits. In most states, however, tiny houses are classified as recreational vehicles (RVs), so they can park at campsites and RV parks for a fee.
- Resale Value
The value of traditional houses depreciates primarily due to location, whereas tiny houses depreciate almost as much as a car. Tiny homes fall into a grey area when it comes to getting a loan, selling is hard, and they can be a crazy investment when it comes to the cost per square foot.
In most cases, tiny house prices depreciate, and people lose money on their tiny houses when they sell them. Upgrades increase the property's overall value, but they do not always result in a profit. Unless the home is exceptionally unique or incredibly well maintained, this is the sad truth. But who knows. Adding tiny houses to local zoning codes may encourage more of them to appear and stabilize the tiny house real estate market.
- Limited living space
An effective tiny house layout | @agentgrow
Building tiny homes often mean getting creative with maximizing the space, but living tiny is about having enough space for you and your family to function comfortably. This means you might find yourself spending time outside if you need a break from the rest of the family.
- Limited Storage
A tiny home might not be suitable for someone with 50 pairs of shoes or an extensive collection of family heirlooms. To live tiny, you need to live within your means and simplify your possessions, so you only have what you need.
- Difficult to entertain
It can be challenging to host large parties or even have a few friends over for dinner in a tiny house. Outdoor living spaces are perfect for entertaining guests in the warmer months, but you would need to cut down the guest list during the winter months.
Tips to Living Tiny
- Make the most of vertical space
Make use of the space under the stairs for more storage space | @homescopes
Lookup if you've run out of horizontal space to expand! Tiny home decorating demands that you be inventive, and one method to do so is by thinking outside the box when it comes to your walls. Install floating shelves, hidden tables, and wall desks to maximize vertical space while increasing storage. You may also display photographs, flora, and other decorations above eye level.
- Pick furniture that does double duty
Because of their small size, tiny living spaces need home furniture that can be used for many purposes or provides hidden storage space. Alternatives include double and single beds and pull-out drawers with storage space. Although most of us think of sleeper sofas and fold-out desks when we hear the words "functional furniture," there are now many innovative and unexpected multifunctional furnishings that provide just as much flair as functionality.
- Enjoy the outdoor space
Tiny homeowners frequently choose to live tiny because they want to spend more time outside and stay closer to nature. | @temasek
Whether you live in the country or the concrete jungle, spending time outdoors can reduce the pressure of living in a small space (especially when you share that space with others). Consider adding decks and other outdoor "rooms" to expand your living area effectively. If that isn't an option, regularly hit up a park or a local trail. It won't make your space feel any bigger, but it might help you enjoy it more once you get home.
- Use neutral colors
A neutral color scheme will make the space appear larger and less cluttered. | @tinyeasy
There's a reason why light paint hues are so popular in tiny house interiors. White, grey and beige neutrals reflect light well, making them appear airier and more prominent. While you may prefer vivid colors or wallpaper, use them cautiously since overly strong designs might make your place feel claustrophobic.
- Consider sliding doors
Do you want to create unique rooms without taking up all of your available space? Sliding doors are a fantastic way to add style while still saving space. The pocket door and rolling barn door are both small, yet they don't use up much room in the house. This tiny house decorating concept works well in enclosing a bathroom or bedroom.
A mobile tiny home is a popular choice to stay off the grid. | @mobile-tinyhouse
Tiny living may seem like a new trend, it’s actually been around for centuries. It only has gained popularity in recent years as people look for more sustainable and affordable ways to live. Although tiny living isn’t for everyone, it has a lot of advantages that should be considered if you’re thinking of downsizing. Tiny homes come in all shapes and sizes, so find the one that suits you. One of the biggest advantages is financial freedom. Usually, tiny homeowners typically spend one-sixth of what traditional homeowners do on housing costs each month. Hence, tiny homeowners can put the remaining money towards other goals, like travel and early retirement. Not only that, but tiny homes also require much less maintenance compared to traditional homes. However, the downside to a tiny home is that there is a lack of storage and limited social interaction. Even though living tiny is not for everyone, it can be an option for those who want to simplify their lives and reduce their environmental impact.
