Going Tiny: Downsized, But Upgraded

Tiny homes are everywhere these days; home improvement magazines, social media – they even have their own TV shows! And if you’ve ever seen one of them, you know that downsizing to a tiny home does not mean downgrading in the least. Basically, tiny living is all about quality and not about quantity. Tiny houses are defined as dwelling units with a maximum of 37 square metres (400 sq ft) of floor area. That is small by any standard, and most would struggle to fit their lives into such a small space. Yet ‘going tiny’ is fast becoming a popular choice among all age groups.

In fact, it seems people throughout history have been drawn to the idea of simple homes. Though inspired by different reasons and circumstances, ancient nomadic communities and hipster millennials seem to share a fondness for tiny living.

Basically, tiny living is all about quality and not about quantity.

But while many are taking the plunge, the decision to go tiny is most decidedly not tiny at all. It is really a decision to shift your way of life, and it’s certainly not for everyone. There are numerous aspects and issues to consider before throwing out all your stuff and embarking on your personal tiny living adventure. We’ll get to those later, but first, let’s delve into the history of the movement.

When it all began

The tiny house movement is a social and environmental movement that promotes a paired-downed and simplified life to its followers. Compact, intentional spaces provide residents with all the amenities of a traditional home, with a smaller environmental and financial impact. Tiny houses can be built on foundations, but many are constructed on wheels. But don’t confuse these innovative structures with caravans or mobile homes. Tiny homes on wheels are built using traditional methods and materials, only smaller. As the movement gains popularity, some tiny homes are becoming even more elaborate in their design than conventional abodes.

It’s hard to pinpoint precisely when the tiny house movement began. Nomadic communities have lived in early versions of tiny homes for centuries. The first small, portable houses were likely Central Asian yurts. These dwellings have housed nomadic groups in the region for at least 3,000 years. These round tents were designed to be easily dismantled, transported, and reassembled whenever their inhabitants needed to move. An ocean apart, the same concept inspired tipis in the Americas. Nineteenth-century Europe saw the birth of Vardo wagons, ornate horse-drawn tiny homes. Throughout Scandinavia, the indigenous Sámi people use lavvus as dwellings to this day.

Clearly, the concept of a small home with the potential to travel is not a new one, nor is it limited to a single culture. But the most recent movement began in the late 1990s and exploded in the US with the 2008 recession and housing crisis. Since then, the movement has picked up speed and spread globally.

Why go tiny?

Tiny house communities are popping up all over the world. The largest tiny house communities are currently found in North America, followed by Australia and New Zealand. However, tiny homes are attracting people of all ages and persuasions in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe as well.

There’s something about tiny living that has caught the attention of people with varied lifestyles worldwide. What tiny house owners and enthusiasts have in common is the need to simplify their lives. While past generations led simpler lives with fewer belongings, consumerism has taken over most modern societies. Trying to keep up with today’s increasingly capitalistic world has left many overworked and unsatisfied.

Working long and hard to afford a home and life you have no time or energy to enjoy seems illogical to tiny home dwellers. They want their lives to be filled with experiences rather than possessions. They want to use their free time doing things they enjoy, and that usually doesn’t include all the maintenance that goes into keeping a large home.

Choosing the right design

The secret to a successful tiny house design is ensuring you have a place for everything in your life that makes you happy. Sure, we all need a place to sleep, somewhere to prepare food, and the ability to answer nature’s calls and keep ourselves clean. But for a tiny house to truly become a home, it must incorporate the things most important to its inhabitants.

When designing a tiny home, the most important thing to consider is how you will use it. There’s no point in just imagining a regular-sized home and shrinking the design. Regular-sized homes, even those on the smaller side, tend to include rooms dedicated to specific activities. Most tiny homes are essentially only one room, used in different ways throughout the day (or even simultaneously, if shared).

Since meterage is minimal, you must make sure to design the available space in line with your lifestyle. Do you love to cook but enjoy spending most days outdoors? Then devote more space to your kitchen and less to a lounge. If you work from home or have a hobby requiring specific equipment, make sure there is a dedicated space for those activities. Do you love to entertain? Then you should find a way to incorporate extra seating that can be tucked away when not needed.

A well-designed tiny house should always provide room for the things you enjoy. If it doesn’t, then no amount of décor or personal styling will make it feel like home.

Creating a multifunctional space

The best way to make the most of any small space is to opt for modular or multifunctional furniture. Pieces that quickly transform when needed but take up minimal space when not in use are ideal.

Built-In storage solutions are the most obvious way to make the most of a small space. Sofas and beds with storage compartments are popular examples of multifunctional furniture. While traditional-sized homes can also benifit from these peices, they add even greater value to a tiny house.

In keeping with the theme of built-in storage, tiny homes often make use of any hollow space for this purpose. Kitchen kickbacks can become extra drawer space, and staircases can house all sorts of equipment. Some tiny home designs even raise the floor to allow for extra-long drawers or even a pull-out bed in an otherwise unused space.

Just as important as finding space to keep things is having space to actually do things. Whether for eating, crafting, or remote working, traditional sized tables are difficult to include in tiny homes. That’s where custom work surfaces come in. Choose designs that you can fold up or slide out when needed and tuck away when not in use. The same goes for extra seating.

Decluttering & maintaining

No matter how well designed a tiny home is, you’ll still need to minimise your belongings before moving in. Decluttering is something everyone should do once in a while, but it is imperative to purge any belongings that no longer serve you before moving into a tiny house. Otherwise, you will end up with a cluttered home, and a cluttered home is rarely a comfortable one.

When it comes to tiny houses, maintaining a minimalist approach to your belongings is vital.

Once you’ve decided on which prized possessions to keep, allocate each object to a specific space in your tiny home. By the way, that advice goes for any sized house. If an item has made the cut after a decluttering, then it deserves a ‘home’ within your home, no matter its size.

When it comes to tiny houses, maintaining a minimalist approach to your belongings is vital. This means only keeping things you truly need or love. It also means committing to bringing something new into your space only when you are willing to take something out.

The pros & cons

Tiny living has many advantages, but as previously mentioned, it isn’t for everyone. Before deciding to go tiny, one should consider all aspects of this change in lifestyle. Tiny house owners would surely come up with more elaborate pros and cons lists, but if you’re contemplating the idea, here are some to think about.

The Pros:

Tiny house living is environmentally friendly and more sustainable thanks to the small footprint of a tiny home. Tiny homes free up time and energy – they cost less to build and maintain and take less time to clean. Utility bills are minimal in a tiny home, providing residents with more disposable income. Tiny houses on wheels offer the flexibility to travel without ever leaving home.

The Cons:

Storage space, or space in general for that matter, will always be limited, despite clever design tricks. For those sharing a tiny home, privacy will be a thing of the past. Tiny houses (on wheels) depreciate in value and are almost impossible to get a mortgage for. Depending on where you are, finding a spot to park your tiny house on wheels or build your stationary tiny house can be difficult due to building codes and regulations.

An environmentally friendly home that provides owners with financial freedom and time to live the life they truly desire – sounds like a dream. Most tiny house owners insist that giving up quantities of space for quality of life has been the best decision they have ever made. But the reality is that, despite its many benefits, not everyone is suited to tiny house living. Still, the idea of going tiny is certainly inspiring. Brilliantly and beautifully designed tiny homes are tempting more and more people to give the lifestyle a try. I know I’ve definitely been tempted. The question is, are you?